Mathematics

Overview

Mathematics is a core subject in the National Curriculum.

The understanding of the processes used in Mathematics is the key to success; this is essential since the introduction of the Functional Mathematics element of the curriculum.

A variety of teaching and learning styles is used: individual, paired and group activities requiring oral, written and practical work. Textbooks, worksheets and software are used as appropriate. The students are expected to take on the challenges of extension work appropriate to them; however, confidence and enjoyment are paramount if they are to work with determination.

The students’ ability to reason mathematically and solve problems is nurtured through their learning. Number, Algebra, Ratio, Proportion and Rates of change, Geometry and Measures and Statistics and Probability are the key strands of learning during Key Stage Three. At KS3, we follow the White Rose Maths schemes of work. At Key Stage Four, the focus of learning remains the same but along with preparation for the GCSE examination. We are currently using the Pearson Edexcel examination board.

Students get the opportunity to study AQA level 2 Further Mathematics as an additional qualification in maths. Further Maths is an extra Level 2 qualification that would fit around the course content studied in Maths, whilst giving an insight into the content that would be studied at A-level Maths. The course provides a deeper and richer understanding of the Maths topics studied at GCSE Maths. The qualification comprises of two exams: paper 1 – non calculator and paper 2 – calculator. These exams will be taken in Year 11 alongside other GCSE exams.

Purpose of study

Mathematics is a creative and highly interconnected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

Aims

The national curriculum for mathematics at KS3 aims to ensure that all pupils:

become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non- routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions

Key Stage 3

Introduction

Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas. The programme of study for key stage 3 is organised into apparently distinct domains, but pupils should build on key stage 2 and connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge in science, geography, computing and other subjects.

Decisions about progression should be based on the security of pupils’ understanding and their readiness to progress to the next stage. Pupils who grasp concepts rapidly should be challenged through being offered rich and sophisticated problems before any acceleration through new content in preparation for key stage 4. Those who are not sufficiently fluent should consolidate their understanding, including through additional practice, before moving on.

Working mathematically

Through the mathematics content, pupils should be taught to:

Develop fluency

consolidate their numerical and mathematical capability from key stage 2 and extend their understanding of the number system and place value to include decimals, fractions, powers and roots
select and use appropriate calculation strategies to solve increasingly complex problems
use algebra to generalise the structure of arithmetic, including to formulate mathematical relationships
substitute values in expressions, rearrange and simplify expressions, and solve equations
move freely between different numerical, algebraic, graphical and diagrammatic representations [for example, equivalent fractions, fractions and decimals, and equations and graphs]
develop algebraic and graphical fluency, including understanding linear and simple quadratic functions
use language and properties precisely to analyse numbers, algebraic expressions, 2-D and 3-D shapes, probability and statistics

Reason mathematically

extend their understanding of the number system; make connections between number relationships, and their algebraic and graphical representations
extend and formalise their knowledge of ratio and proportion in working with measures and geometry, and in formulating proportional relations algebraically
identify variables and express relations between variables algebraically and graphically
make and test conjectures about patterns and relationships; look for proofs or counter-examples
begin to reason deductively in geometry, number and algebra, including using geometrical constructions
interpret when the structure of a numerical problem requires additive, multiplicative or proportional reasoning
explore what can and cannot be inferred in statistical and probabilistic settings, and begin to express their arguments formally

Solve problems

develop their mathematical knowledge, in part through solving problems and evaluating the outcomes, including multi-step problems
develop their use of formal mathematical knowledge to interpret and solve problems, including in financial mathematics
begin to model situations mathematically and express the results using a range of formal mathematical representations
select appropriate concepts, methods and techniques to apply to unfamiliar and non-routine problems

Subject content

Number

Pupils should be taught to:

understand and use place value for decimals, measures and integers of any size
order positive and negative integers, decimals and fractions; use the number line as a model for ordering of the real numbers; use the symbols =, ≠, <, >, ≤, ≥
use the concepts and vocabulary of prime numbers, factors (or divisors), multiples, common factors, common multiples, highest common factor, lowest common multiple, prime factorisation, including using product notation and the unique factorisation property
use the 4 operations, including formal written methods, applied to integers, decimals, proper and improper fractions, and mixed numbers, all both positive and negative use conventional notation for the priority of operations, including brackets, powers, roots and reciprocals
recognise and use relationships between operations including inverse operations
use integer powers and associated real roots (square, cube and higher), recognise powers of 2, 3, 4, 5 and distinguish between exact representations of roots and their decimal approximations
interpret and compare numbers in standard form A x 10n 1≤A<10, where n is a positive or negative integer or 0
work interchangeably with terminating decimals and their corresponding fractions (such as 3.5 and 7/2 or 0.375 and 3/8 )
define percentage as ‘number of parts per hundred’, interpret percentages and percentage changes as a fraction or a decimal, interpret these multiplicatively, express 1 quantity as a percentage of another, compare 2 quantities using percentages, and work with percentages greater than 100%
interpret fractions and percentages as operators
use standard units of mass, length, time, money and other measures, including with decimal quantities
round numbers and measures to an appropriate degree of accuracy [for example, to a number of decimal places or significant figures]
use approximation through rounding to estimate answers and calculate possible resulting errors expressed using inequality notation a<x≤b
use a calculator and other technologies to calculate results accurately and then interpret them appropriately
appreciate the infinite nature of the sets of integers, real and rational numbers

Algebra

Pupils should be taught to:

use and interpret algebraic notation, including:
- ab in place of a × b
- 3y in place of y + y + y and 3 × y
- a² in place of a × a, a³ in place of a × a × a; a²b in place of a × a × b
- a/b in place of a ÷ b
- coefficients written as fractions rather than as decimals
- brackets
substitute numerical values into formulae and expressions, including scientific formulae
understand and use the concepts and vocabulary of expressions, equations, inequalities, terms and factors
simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions to maintain equivalence by:
- collecting like terms
- multiplying a single term over a bracket
- taking out common factors
- expanding products of 2 or more binomials
understand and use standard mathematical formulae; rearrange formulae to change the subject
model situations or procedures by translating them into algebraic expressions or formulae and by using graphs
use algebraic methods to solve linear equations in 1 variable (including all forms that require rearrangement)
work with coordinates in all 4 quadrants
recognise, sketch and produce graphs of linear and quadratic functions of 1 variable with appropriate scaling, using equations in x and y and the Cartesian plane
interpret mathematical relationships both algebraically and graphically
reduce a given linear equation in 2 variables to the standard form y = mx + c; calculate and interpret gradients and intercepts of graphs of such linear equations numerically, graphically and algebraically
use linear and quadratic graphs to estimate values of y for given values of x and vice versa and to find approximate solutions of simultaneous linear equations
find approximate solutions to contextual problems from given graphs of a variety of functions, including piece-wise linear, exponential and reciprocal graphs
generate terms of a sequence from either a term-to-term or a position-to-term rule
recognise arithmetic sequences and find the nth term
recognise geometric sequences and appreciate other sequences that arise

Ratio, proportion and rates of change

Pupils should be taught to:

change freely between related standard units [for example time, length, area, volume/capacity, mass]
use scale factors, scale diagrams and maps
express 1 quantity as a fraction of another, where the fraction is less than 1 and greater than 1
use ratio notation, including reduction to simplest form
divide a given quantity into 2 parts in a given part:part or part:whole ratio; express the division of a quantity into 2 parts as a ratio
understand that a multiplicative relationship between 2 quantities can be expressed as a ratio or a fraction
relate the language of ratios and the associated calculations to the arithmetic of fractions and to linear functions
solve problems involving percentage change, including: percentage increase, decrease and original value problems and simple interest in financial mathematics
solve problems involving direct and inverse proportion, including graphical and algebraic representations
use compound units such as speed, unit pricing and density to solve problems

Geometry and measures

Pupils should be taught to:

derive and apply formulae to calculate and solve problems involving: perimeter and area of triangles, parallelograms, trapezia, volume of cuboids (including cubes) and other prisms (including cylinders)
calculate and solve problems involving: perimeters of 2-D shapes (including circles), areas of circles and composite shapes
draw and measure line segments and angles in geometric figures, including interpreting scale drawings
derive and use the standard ruler and compass constructions (perpendicular bisector of a line segment, constructing a perpendicular to a given line from/at a given point, bisecting a given angle); recognise and use the perpendicular distance from a point to a line as the shortest distance to the line
describe, sketch and draw using conventional terms and notations: points, lines, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, right angles, regular polygons, and other polygons that are reflectively and rotationally symmetric
use the standard conventions for labelling the sides and angles of triangle ABC, and know and use the criteria for congruence of triangles
derive and illustrate properties of triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, and other plane figures [for example, equal lengths and angles] using appropriate language and technologies
identify properties of, and describe the results of, translations, rotations and reflections applied to given figures
identify and construct congruent triangles, and construct similar shapes by enlargement, with and without coordinate grids
apply the properties of angles at a point, angles at a point on a straight line, vertically opposite angles
understand and use the relationship between parallel lines and alternate and corresponding angles
derive and use the sum of angles in a triangle and use it to deduce the angle sum in any polygon, and to derive properties of regular polygons
apply angle facts, triangle congruence, similarity and properties of quadrilaterals to derive results about angles and sides, including Pythagoras’ Theorem, and use known results to obtain simple proofs
use Pythagoras’ Theorem and trigonometric ratios in similar triangles to solve problems involving right-angled triangles
use the properties of faces, surfaces, edges and vertices of cubes, cuboids, prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones and spheres to solve problems in 3-D
interpret mathematical relationships both algebraically and geometrically

Probability

Pupils should be taught to:

record, describe and analyse the frequency of outcomes of simple probability experiments involving randomness, fairness, equally and unequally likely outcomes, using appropriate language and the 0-1 probability scale
understand that the probabilities of all possible outcomes sum to 1
enumerate sets and unions/intersections of sets systematically, using tables, grids and Venn diagrams
generate theoretical sample spaces for single and combined events with equally likely, mutually exclusive outcomes and use these to calculate theoretical probabilities

Statistics

Pupils should be taught to:

describe, interpret and compare observed distributions of a single variable through: appropriate graphical representation involving discrete, continuous and grouped data; and appropriate measures of central tendency (mean, mode, median) and spread (range, consideration of outliers)
construct and interpret appropriate tables, charts, and diagrams, including frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts, and pictograms for categorical data, and vertical line (or bar) charts for ungrouped and grouped numerical data
describe simple mathematical relationships between 2 variables (bivariate data) in observational and experimental contexts and illustrate using scatter graphs

Key Stage 4

This programme of study specifies:

the mathematical content that should be taught to all pupils, in standard type
additional mathematical content to be taught to more highly attaining pupils, in braces { }

Together, the mathematical content set out in the key stage 3 and key stage 4 programmes of study covers the full range of material contained in the GCSE Mathematics qualification. Wherever it is appropriate, given pupils’ security of understanding and readiness to progress, pupils should be taught the full content set out in this programme of study.

Working mathematically

Through the mathematics content pupils should be taught to:

Develop fluency

consolidate their numerical and mathematical capability from key stage 3 and extend their understanding of the number system to include powers, roots {and fractional indices}
select and use appropriate calculation strategies to solve increasingly complex problems, including exact calculations involving multiples of π {and surds}, use of standard form and application and interpretation of limits of accuracy
consolidate their algebraic capability from key stage 3 and extend their understanding of algebraic simplification and manipulation to include quadratic expressions, {and expressions involving surds and algebraic fractions}
extend fluency with expressions and equations from key stage 3, to include quadratic equations, simultaneous equations and inequalities
move freely between different numerical, algebraic, graphical and diagrammatic representations, including of linear, quadratic, reciprocal, {exponential and trigonometric} functions
use mathematical language and properties precisely

Reason mathematically

extend and formalise their knowledge of ratio and proportion, including trigonometric ratios, in working with measures and geometry, and in working with proportional relations algebraically and graphically
extend their ability to identify variables and express relations between variables algebraically and graphically
make and test conjectures about the generalisations that underlie patterns and relationships; look for proofs or counter-examples; begin to use algebra to support and construct arguments {and proofs}
reason deductively in geometry, number and algebra, including using geometrical constructions
interpret when the structure of a numerical problem requires additive, multiplicative or proportional reasoning
explore what can and cannot be inferred in statistical and probabilistic settings, and express their arguments formally
assess the validity of an argument and the accuracy of a given way of presenting information

Solve problems

develop their mathematical knowledge, in part through solving problems and evaluating the outcomes, including multi-step problems
develop their use of formal mathematical knowledge to interpret and solve problems, including in financial contexts
make and use connections between different parts of mathematics to solve problems
model situations mathematically and express the results using a range of formal mathematical representations, reflecting on how their solutions may have been affected by any modelling assumptions
select appropriate concepts, methods and techniques to apply to unfamiliar and non-routine problems; interpret their solution in the context of the given problem