TEACHING TO A HIGHER STANDARD
Mathematics is a core subject that is taught by the class teacher. We believe every pupil should have the chance to fulfil their mathematical potential through work that is engaging and rigorous.
Emphasis is placed on ensuring strong foundational skills and knowledge, along with problem solving and investigations, which are a good way to engage the enquiring mind. We use a variety of teaching styles – working on tasks that are appropriate for an individual’s ability. A strong emphasis is placed on students acquiring secure skills in numeracy and confidence in the use of number is encouraged from the early years.
Mathematical skills are developed through an integrated approach where practical activities and investigations support formal work. Practical and theoretical work go hand-in-hand, so that pupils can see the relevance of these studies. Pupils must learn their tables and acquire good grounding in sums, but practical applications are also extremely important. Our curriculum combines the acquisition of key mathematical skills with opportunities to apply these skills to real life situations.
Mental arithmetic skills are fostered throughout the school and a positive approach to problem solving is promoted. We also link mathematics with other areas of the curriculum.
Key ideas are revisited and built upon, year by year, giving children the opportunity to refresh their understanding and draw connections between different areas of maths. Pupils work with numbers, graphs, measures, shapes and statistics and are encouraged to generalise and be abstract. Mathematical vocabulary is hugely important as children learn to describe their methods concisely and precisely, gaining the tools that allow them to clarify, justify and explain.
We aim to make children confident in their ability and are confident that we deliver a Mathematics curriculum that supports your child in the run up to and during the transition to their senior school of choice.
-Stan Gudder, Mathematician