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Maths

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Mathematics has, and always will, play a fundamental role in the development of society and a basic conceptual understanding of mathematical principles is an essential life skill.

Here at Hertswood, it is important that in our maths lessons we develop our students into confident, resilient and inquisitive individuals who think critically and can reflect upon their work. We develop a foundation of critical knowledge and skills which are revisited as often as possible. We then progressively build on these to connect to new topics and activate links to other areas of mathematics and the whole school curriculum.

Our bespoke scheme of work is designed to allow students to have a secure foundation and knowledge of skills on which to build, thus developing concepts and understanding, not only across the maths curriculum but also the wider whole school curriculum.

There are three branches and corresponding knowledge booklets to our scheme of work: bronze, silver and gold. There is considerable overlap between each of the branches, however the more advanced branches cover more content at a faster pace. Our classes are set by ability and each class will follow the branch that ensures students can access the work without barriers and then develop their mathematical skills to be stretched and challenged appropriately for them.

Key Stage 3

In Key Stage 3 there are three branches and corresponding knowledge booklets to our scheme of work: bronze, silver and gold. There is considerable overlap between each of the branches however the more advanced branches cover more content at a faster pace. Our classes are set by ability and each class will follow the branch that ensures students can access the work without barriers and then develop their mathematical skills to be stretched and challenged appropriately for them. Students will follow their branch dependant on set for the duration of Key Stage 3, this is reviewed when transitioning into Key Stage 4 and we decide on whether students are preparing for the higher or foundation level course.

Key Stage 4

In Key Stage 4 students follow either a foundation, foundation extension or higher branch. These follow on from bronze silver and gold. In the summer term of Year 10 we make the decision on which tier of entry students will be preparing for and the schemes of learning for the summer term of Year 10 are devised in order to make sure the transition for students studying higher content is as small as possible. We aim to of finished the teaching of the content of each branch by the spring term of Year 11. We then use the remaining time to revisit and revise topics and exam skills informed by assessments.

Throughout Key Stage 4 we increase exposure to GCSE style content and from the summer of Year 9 all students are assessed on full GCSE papers. In addition Year 11 complete a practice paper every week for homework, in addition to the independent work they are assigned on our online learning platforms. We also ensure that students have had further experience of multi topic and problem solving questions as well as targeted exam skills and practice embedded into their lessons.

Key Stage 5

For our A Level course a similar progressive approach is used to make the transition from GCSE. In Year 12 we set regular “skills check” homeworks to ensure the skills from GCSE are revisited allowing our contact time to focus in delivering the new content and extending the skills learned previously. We provide a range of resources in A-level to support independent learning including online subscriptions and past/practice papers. Our students also participate in the AMSP problem solving club which is run online at a national level. 

 

Please note that the exact topics covered will vary dependiing on group and which branch of our maths curriculum that group is following, the following is an overview.

Year

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Year 7

Mathematical symbols and notation

The Number System

Money

Metric Units and Time

Introduction to Algebra

Fractions 1

Percentages 1

Introduction to Ratio

Coordinates

Geometric Definitions

Exploring shape

Angles 1 - Basic angle facts

Probability 1

Data Project

Year 8

Revisit Content from last year

Factors Multiples and Primes

Percentages 2

Estimation 1

FDP

Revisit Content from last year

Manipulating Algebra 1

Substitution and Solving Equations 1

Patterns and Sequences

Revisit Content from last year

Angles 2 - Reasoning
Transformations

Averages

Representing and Interpreting data

Ratio Project

Year 9

Revisit Content from last year

Indices and Standard Form

Estimation 2

Manipulating Algebra 2

Substitution and Solving Equations 2

Graphs 1

Ratio and Proportion 1

Revisit Content from last year

Ratio and Proportion (ratio, value for money, compound measures, similarity)

Transformations 2

Constructions

Revisit Content from last year

Probabilty 2

Representing and Interpeting data 2

Geometry and Measure

Year 10

Revisit Content from last year

Compound Measures

Ratio and Proportion 2

Percentages 3

Angles in polygons and parallel lines

Advanced laws of indices

Quadratics and algebraic fractions

Upper and Lower Bounds

Direct and Inverse Proportion

Revisit Content from last year

Intro to vectors

Interpreting Graphs

Shape space and Measure

Quadratics continued

Combinations of transformations

Similarity 

Coordinate Geometry

Advanced Trigonometry

Revisit Content from last year

Representing and Interpreting data 3

Further algebraic manipulation

Trigonometry and Pythagoras

Circle theorems

Proof

Iterative Processes

Advanced representations and interpretations of data

Year 11 GCSE

Equations and Inequalities

Graphs 2

Constructions and Bearings

Surds

Further Quadratics

Functions

Exam Practice and Targeted revision based on assessments

  

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Year 12 A Level Maths

Advanced algebra 1

Coordinate geometry

Data, correlation, probability

Kinematics 1

Calculus 1

Exponentials and logs

Probability distributions and hypothesis testing 1

Forces and motion 1

Trigonometry 1

Large data set

Kinematics 2

Year 12 A Level Further Maths

Complex numbers 1

Matrices

Further algebra 1

Further probability distributions 1

Further algebra 2

Further coordinate geometry 1

Further calculus 1

Further Vectors

Further probability distributions 1

Limits 

Further probability distributions 2

Year 13 A Level Maths

Advanced algebra 2

Calculus 2

Trigonometry 2

Probability distributions and hypothesis testing 2

Forces and motion 2

Advanced algebra 3

Calculus 3

Large data set

Projectiles

Kinematics 3

3D vectors

Exam practice

Year 13 A Level Further Maths

Complex numbers 2

Further algebra 3

Further coordinate geometry 2

Further calculus 2

Statistical testing

Further calculus 3

Hyperbolic functions

Probability-generating functions

Further calculus 4


Independent Learning Resources

  • The Knowledge
  • Quizlet
  • MathsWatch
  • Maths Genie
  • Integral Maths
  • Kerboodle

Extra-Curricular Enrichment

  • Visits to Oxford University - Gifted and Talented
  • Mathanatics Club
  • Saturday Maths - Year 11
  • AMSP Problem Solving Club (KS5)

Useful Links