In Key Stage 3, during year 7 students build upon their maths knowledge from primary school. They will reinforce their KS2 knowledge as well as being introduced to new GCSE topics.

The core skills covered in Year 7 are:

• Number which includes basic number skills, ratio and proportion.
• Algebra which includes algebraic manipulation and linear graphs.
• Ratio, proportion and rates of change.
• Geometry and measures.
• Probability.
• Statistics.

ASSESSMENT 

Students in years 7 will sit 2 exams at the end of the year, a calculator and non-calculator paper. These based on the topics they have covered up to that point.

In years 8 to 11, students study towards the AQA (8300) GCSE qualification and are taught from the new GCSE syllabus. Students will receive a variety of ongoing feedback on their work and on how to improve.

The weighting of the topic areas has been prescribed by Ofqual and is common to all exam boards. The table below shows the approximate weighting...

ASSESSMENT 

Students are assessed with two tier papers – higher (grades 4-9) and foundation (grades 1-5).

Students will sit the linear exam which is based on three written assessments. The questions will be a mix of question styles, from short, single-mark questions to multi-step problems. The mathematical demand increases as a student progresses through the paper.

At the end of year 8 and 9 students will sit two exams, a calculator and non-calculator paper, which are based on the topics they have covered up to that point.

When students reach year 10 they are assessed with full GCSE exam papers. All content can be assessed on any of the three question papers. As such, some questions will draw together elements of maths from different topic areas.

PAPER 1: Calculator not allowed

   33⅓% of the total marks

   1 hour 30 minute exam (80 marks available).

PAPER 2: Calculator allowed

   33⅓% of the total marks

   1 hour 30 minute exam (80 marks available).

PAPER 3: Calculator allowed

   33⅓% of the total marks

      1 hour 30 minute exam (80 marks available).  

Students are given resources from a range of websites including Mathswach, Mymaths, Mathsgenie, Corbettmaths and Mathsbox. Students work from the GCSE AQA Collins text books.

Mathematics - A level

The challenge of A level Mathematics is likely to appeal to students who have enjoyed and found success in studying Mathematics at Key Stage 4.

A strength in using algebra and applying logical thinking will be necessary for higher level problem solving in topics such as Coordinate Geometry, trigonometry and Calculus. The rigour of Mathematics is highly regarded by the top universities. 

Exam Board: Person Edexcel

Year 1 Subject Content:

Pure Mathematics:

• Proof
• Algebra and functions
• Coordinate geometry in the (x,y) plane
• Sequences and series
• Trigonometry
• Exponentials and logarithms
• Differentiation
• Integration
• Vectors

Statistics and Mechanics:

• Statistical sampling
• Data presentation and interpretation
• Probability
• Statistical distributions
• Statistical hypothesis testing 
• Quantities and units in mechanics
• Kinematics
• Forces and Newton’s laws

Year 2 Subject Content

Pure Mathematics:

• Proof
• Algebra and functions
• Coordinate geometry in the (x,y) plane
• Sequences and series
• Trigonometry
• Exponentials and logarithms
• Differentiation
• Integration
• Vectors

Numerical methods:

Statistics and Mechanics:

• Statistical sampling
• Data presentation and interpretation
• Probability
• Statistical distributions
• Statistical hypothesis testing 
• Quantities and units in mechanics
• Kinematics
• Forces and Newton’s laws
• Moments            

Career Opportunities / Routes

For those with a background in Mathematics, an unlimited number of well-paid and rewarding career opportunities are available. Mathematics A-level would be applicable for the following courses/careers: Mathematics, engineering and most areas of physics (further mathematics is often helpful and often required, for some of these courses); computing, accountancy, economics, business, banking, retail management, architecture, surveying, cartography, psychology and teaching.

As the course is linear all exams are at the end of year 13. Students will sit three two hour exam papers. Two of the papers are based on pure mathematics and the other paper is based on applied mathematics (statistics and mechanics). Students all receive a copy of the Pearson A level text books, which are written to the Edexcel specification. Students will be regularly assessed during the course with chapter specific tests and full examinations covering all of the conten

Assessment

Paper 1: Pure Mathematics 1

• 33%

Paper 2: Pure mathematics 2

• 33% 

Paper 3: Statistics and Mechanics

• 33% 

Further Mathematics - A Level

If you are planning to take a degree such as Engineering, Sciences, Architecture, Computing, Finance/Economics, etc., or perhaps Mathematics itself, you will benefit enormously from taking Further Mathematics. Further Mathematics introduces new topics such as matrices and complex numbers that are vital in many STEM degrees. Students who have studied Further Mathematics find the transition to such degrees far more straightforward.

Further mathematics qualifications are highly regarded and are warmly welcomed by universities. Students who take Further Mathematics are regarded as demonstrating a strong commitment to their studies. Some prestigious university courses require students to have a Mathematics qualification and others such as Imperial, Cambridge and Oxford may adjust their grade requirements more favourably to students with Further mathematics. 

Students who reach a grade 8 or 9 at GCSE also have the opportunity to study Further Mathematics, which is also based on the Edexcel specification.

Exam Board: Person Edexcel

Year 2 Subject Content (A level is completed in Year 1 of Y12 and Further maths is completed in year 2 of Y13):

Core Pure Mathematics1/Core Pure Mathematics 2 :

● Proof

● Complex numbers

● Matrices

● Further algebra and functions

 ● Further calculus

●Further vectors

● Polar coordinates

● Hyperbolic functions

● Differential equations

Further Pure Mathematics 1 /Further Pure Mathematics 2:

● Further trigonometry

● Further calculus

● Further differential equations

● Coordinate systems

● Further vectors

●Further numerical methods

● Inequalities 

● Groups

● Further matrix Algebra

● Further complex numbers

● Number theory

● Further sequences and series

Career Opportunities / Routes

For those with a background in Mathematics, an unlimited number of well-paid and rewarding career opportunities are available. Further Mathematics would be applicable for the following courses/careers: Mathematics, engineering and, computing, accountancy, economics, business, banking, retail management, architecture, surveying, cartography, psychology and teaching.

Assessment

Paper 1: Core Pure Mathematics 1 - 90 minutes

• 25%

Paper 2: Core Pure Mathematics 2 - 90 minutes

• 25% 

Paper 3: Further Pure Mathematics 1 - 90 minutes

25% 

Paper 4: Further Pure Mathematics 2 - 90 minutes

25% 

The department organises a maths weekend trip to visit Oxford University (Jesus and Exeter College), where students take part in a number of activities on problem solving and lateral thinking.

We also run maths master classes for keen mathematics and the UK Mathematics Challenges (JMC, IMC and SMC) for KS3 and KS4 students. Successful candidate are invited to participate in other challenges such as the Pink Kangaroo and the Grey Kangaroo.

GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

To support your child’s learning in KS3/KS4 it is recommended that you:

• Check that all home learning is completed and handed in on time.
• If possible, ensure your child completes home learning where there are no distractions.
• Ask your child about what he/she has been doing in maths lessons and      get him/her to demonstrate the skills he/she learned.
• If possible assist your child in meeting home learning deadlines and catching up with work missed if absent from lessons.
• Encourage a positive attitude towards the learning of mathematics.
• Encourage your child to present his/her work clearly showing all methods of working.
• Ensure that your child comes to school with all the correct equipment which includes a pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, glue stick and most importantly a scientific calculator.
• Play games that involve maths, e.g., scrabble and card games, in which totals have to be calculated.
• Ask your child to do any calculations in everyday situations, e.g. which item is better value when shopping or sorting timings when cooking a meal.

USEFUL WEBSITES

MYMATHS.CO.UK

EXAMSOLUTIONS.NET

MATHSWATCHVLE.COM

PHYSICSANDMATHSTUTOR.COM

CORBETTMATHS.COM

S-COOL.CO.UK

MATHSMADEEASY.CO.UK