Curriculum Sequence

Please click on the icons below to view the curriculum sequence for each Key Stage.  The curriculum sequence will show you what students should know and be able to do in the subject, alongside the key ‘tier 3’ subject specific vocabulary that your child needs to understand to allow them to access the deeper curriculum.  The curriculum sequence also lists the ‘key assessment questions’ each term/half term that your child will be asked during assessments to help your child to prepare effectively, as well as the ‘disciplinary rigour’ which explains the methods, conventions, rules and practices that are specific to that subject.

Year 7 and 8 (academic year 2023 – 24)

DELTA

THETA

PI

Maths Keys Stage 5

Curriculum Intent

We work hard to ensure that all students are confident mathematicians who enjoy the subject and possess the skills that they will need to be successful in their future lives. Through our carefully planned and expertly delivered curriculum, students are able to recognise the significance of mathematics to their own lives and to society.

The Mathematics curriculum is sequenced so that previous knowledge is built upon, and the skills needed to prepare students for the next phase of their mathematical journey are learned in a logical and coherent order. Students are encouraged to think carefully about their mathematical reasoning, developing their simplicity, problem solving and high levels of oracy to communicate their understanding.

At KS3 (Y7-9) we build on the key concepts from KS2 to ensure that all students develop a wide range of mathematical skills, improving both their fluency and confidence in the subject. The curriculum ensures that all students have a strong understanding of numeracy and proportional reasoning which feeds into all other mathematical elements of algebra, geometry and statistics.

The curriculum at KS4 is designed to further build upon student understanding to fully master mathematics, allowing opportunities to recall, revisit and extend previous learning. By the end of KS4 all students will be:

• self-analytical, thoughtful and independent
• able to apply their skills to the wider world, love learning and exploring their capabilities within mathematics.
• ready for their next phase of learning or destination

 

KS3

At key stage 3 we establish the firm foundations required for students to excel into key stage 4. Our schemes of learning are tailored towards students’ starting points in year 7 to ensure that all have the support and challenge they need to experience success. Students will be exposed to mathematics and its applications in the real world, and develop important skills surrounding proportional reasoning, financial mathematics and problem-solving strategies.

KS4

Upon completion of our key stage 3 course, students are entered into their GCSE course. The curriculum is sequenced so that all students can reach their full potential at GCSE level, providing challenge and support where necessary to ensure maximum success and confidence.

Curriculum Content

• Number– Including numerical skills with all varieties of number, numerical fluency, and applications of number.
• Algebra– Including linear and quadratic equations/expressions, creation and uses of graphs, coordinate geometry and strategic problem solving.
• MultiplicativeReasoning– Including ratio, proportion, currency conversion, algebraic proportion, value for money, percentages and financial skills.
• GeometryandMeasure – Including area, volume, angle facts, construction, transformation and applied measure.
• ProbabilityandStatistics – Including representations of data, interpretations of data, effective sampling, analysis of chance and using analysis of data/chance to make informed judgements.

 

The curriculum coverage and its opportunities for exploration of mathematics ensure that pupils develop a love of challenge and learning.

KS5

The curriculum for mathematics at key stage 5 is designed to further their knowledge from the GCSE curriculum, and allow students to take a more independent approach to learning. Students will be given new methods for otherwise unsolvable problems at GCSE, and enable them to engage with algebraic formulas in contexts, through the Statistics and Mechanics part of the course.

Pure Mathematics

This extends the Algebra and Trigonometry elements from GCSE to a higher level of understanding that enables problems to be solved such as; differentiating to find gradients of curves, integrating to find area under curves, and binomial expansion to enable us to expand large sets of brackets and make approximations.

Mechanics

This enables you to describe mathematically the motion of an object and how it responds to forces acting upon them. This is both objects along a floor, in motion through the air, or at an angle on slopes. Many of the ideas that you will meet form an essential introduction to engineering and physics.

Statistics

This enables you to analyse and summarise numerical data in order to arrive at meaningful conclusions. You will extend the range of probability concepts from GSCE too, branching into more difficult conditional probabilities. Many of the topics have wider applications in Biology and Geography for the recording of experiments.

 

Core Maths

Core Mathematics is the study of more real-life applicable mathematics. You will apply everything you do to a real-world scenario and use data and information in the questions, to keep it as realistic as possible.

There is plenty of discussion, always linking it back to the real-life scenario in the question. You will take the core concepts from GCSE and expand on them, as well as learn some new content such as; Standard deviation and variance, Linear Programming skills, and more. With this, you will then see how these new concepts can help us form a deeper understanding about a mathematical situation.

Core Mathematics is a more hands-on type of maths, that while still requires a lot of mathematical understanding and knowledge, where you must apply real world thinking and common sense to everything you do.

 

Curriculum Implementation

Students are supported with their learning journey in Mathematics through frequent opportunities to recall and retrieve portable knowledge from previous learned topics before new learning is taught. The department uses manipulatives within lessons to help students construct an understanding of ideas that they can then connect to mathematical vocabulary and symbols. As well as manipulatives students are encouraged to use checklists to support with the completion of simple and complex problems. Checklists aid students in organising mathematical steps and allows students to complete math problems independently. In Maths lessons students will us Numeracy (everyday uses of mathematics), such as a basic knowledge of numbers, calculations, interpreting mathematical information and trends. In lessons students are given opportunities to mathematical conversations and use key words to articulate their learning and explanation of methods. Students success in mathematical understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning heavily relies on literacy as it enables students to make connections across topics and identify misconception. Students have access to learning beyond the classroom through Teams and Hegarty Maths. Students are added to Teams classes and Hegarty which have a wealth of resources for students to engage with to extend their learning.

 

End of Course Assessment

GCSE Examinations:

OCR GCSE Mathematics (J560)

Foundation Level – Grades 1 – 5

Higher Level – Grades 3 – 9

Specification: https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/168982-specification-gcse-mathematics-j560.pdf

 

A-Level Examinations:

Edexcel A-Level in Mathematics

Edexcel Mathematics in Context (Level 3 Certificate in Core Mathematics)

Through our Trinity Sixth Form we also accommodate for Further Mathematics.

 

Career Links

       

St Thomas More has its very own dedicated careers team.  To find out more about careers at St Thomas More, please click here. 

 

Tips and Advice

The Maths department run a Maths Club after school on Tuesdays as well as a Chess club every lunch time. The department also offers revision sessions and clubs which are set out in the school newsletter.

 

Further Information

National Curriculum KS3: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239058/SECONDARY_national_curriculum_-_Mathematics.pdf

KS4: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/331882/KS4_maths_PoS_FINAL_170714.pdf

Hegarty Maths: https://hegartymaths.com/

Time Tables Rockstars: https://ttrockstars.com/

 

Subject Leader Information

For more information or if you have any questions please use the contact details below.

Miss B. Morton – Subject Leader bmorton@stmca.org.uk