Mathematics

Head of Department:  Ms Sue Corbett

Curriculum Intent

Mathematics lessons at King's aim to provide a rich and enjoyable mathematical experience. This involves teaching boys the knowledge, skills, concepts, techniques and processes related to their ability, aptitude and personal needs. The course is designed to provide each boy with a strong mathematical foundation and fluency for his life beyond school, including maximising his potential in public examinations and developing his problem-solving skills.

Teaching in the Department uses a whole class direct instruction approach, with explanations and modelling interspersed with short periods of independent work. All members of staff use agreed methods for key processes to ensure consistency, and vital models are introduced early in the programme so that they can be used flexibly in different areas of the mathematics curriculum.

Mathematics is taught in each Key Stage with students entering external examinations according to their strengths. Virtually all students take the Edexcel GCSE (9-1) in Mathematics at Higher Level. In the Sixth Form, a large number of students choose A level Mathematics, and many boys also take Further Mathematics at AS or A Level. The Level 3 qualification in Mathematical Studies is also offered as an enrichment activity for Sixth Form students, and these various options enable many of our young men to continue their mathematical studies beyond school.

Facilities

The Mathematics teaching rooms are situated in the lower two floors of the tower block, two additional classrooms in the Newton Block, and one in the new St. Wulframs block. All the mathematics classrooms are well-resourced with interactive whiteboards, enabling lessons to be enhanced with a variety of software. In each room there are also conventional whiteboards, which students are regularly encouraged to work on to present their solutions to extended problems.

Additional Information

A Maths Challengers club is run at lunchtime for able and interested KS4 boys to tackle problem solving activities beyond the curriculum, and able Sixth Form mathematicians can attend lunchtime sessions to prepare for University Entrance tests.

From Year 8, boys can opt to enter the UKMT Junior Mathematics Challenge, which has a large uptake in school, with large numbers of boys winning certificates. As students progress through the school some take part in the Intermediate and Senior challenges with the best scoring students qualifying for the next rounds of the National Maths Challenge competition. The school also enters the Mathematics Team Challenges and has had senior and junior teams qualifying for the National Finals. Every year we take a team to the AMSP’s Year 10 Maths Feast competition, and have seen significant success in this event.

For students who find the content being taught more challenging there is additional support available through a mentoring session run during registration. Each year group (7 to 11) have one morning where they can receive support from a student mentor two years above them. This is organised by Mrs Ball. In addition, mathematics staff can help students by request at lunchtimes if they are struggling with their work.

A department Ofsted survey inspection rated the Mathematics department as outstanding and said “Teachers are enthusiastic about their subject and model this enthusiasm in their work. They present lessons in interesting and stimulating ways, for instance by accessing websites to illustrate topics. Such approaches are available to all students because there is a strong measure of consistency in the quality of teaching in the department. Hence, students really enjoy their mathematics lessons.”

Enrichment opportunities

In addition to the above there is a weekly revision sheet reinforcing core skills.