Maths
Key Stage Three
At Key Stage 3, the curriculum has been designed to build on pupils prior knowledge from Key Stage 2, to ensure a smooth transition into Key Stage 4, and prepare pupils for the rigours of the GCSE curriculum. The curriculum itself follows a scheme of work targeted to develop pupil understanding in the fundamental areas of maths:
· Number
· Algebra
· Ratio
· Proportion and rates of change
· Geometry and measures
· Probability
· Statistics
Pupils are taught in mixed ability classes for the first half term of Year 7 and then placed in ability groups, which allows for all pupils to work at the pace they need to develop a deep and conceptual understanding within maths. Pupils will also develop greater cognitive skills of problem solving and reasoning and are expected to develop their ability to retrieve and apply knowledge in a variety of contexts.
Key Stage Four
At Key Stage 4, pupils study for their GCSE. The GCSE Mathematics examination are taken at Higher or Foundation Level. In the Higher tier, grades are awarded from 3 to 9, in the Foundation tier, grades are awarded from 1 to 5.
All pupils are being prepared for the OCR GCSE, which has three papers, each worth 100 marks and are each completed over the period of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The first paper is a calculator paper, the second paper is non-calculator and then the third paper is the final calculator paper. Below are the approximate weightings of each topic area for the GCSE exam.
Foundation Tier:
· Number - 22-28%
· Algebra - 17-23%
· Ratio, Proportion & Rates of change - 22-28%
· Geometry & Measures - 12-18%
· Statistics & Probability - 12-18%
Higher Tier:
· Number - 12-18%
· Algebra - 27-33%
· Ratio, Proportion & Rates of change - 17-23%
· Geometry & Measures - 17-23%
· Statistics & Probability - 12-18%
The curriculum has been developed to build on the work pupils have done in Key Stage 3, extending their understanding of processes and applications in the full range of topic areas.
