Notre Dame School

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Sixth Form

Faculty Leader – Maths
Mrs H Penman

Aims
Mathematics is the means of looking at the patterns that make up our world and the intricate and beautiful ways in which they are constructed and realised. Numeracy is the means of making that knowledge useful.

Mathematics contributes to the school curriculum by developing students’ abilities to:

Calculate
Reason logically, algebraically and geometrically
Think creatively to solve problems
Handle data
Make decisions
Form links between other subjects such as Science, Geography, Technology and Music

The subject transcends cultural boundaries and its importance is universally recognized. Mathematics helps us to understand and change the world. For Notre Dame students mathematics is the inspirational partnership of Faith and Science.

Aims

To set challenging targets with high expectations for all students.
To offer a variety of approaches to teaching and learning to engage and motivate students and demand their active participation.
To smooth the transition for students between Key Stages and ensure progression in teaching and learning throughout their time at Notre Dame.
To explore enrichment opportunities outside the curriculum to enhance students’ enjoyment of mathematics.

Objectives

At the end of her/his mathematical education in this school, each student will be able to:
Perform basic numeracy skills
Perform the basic mathematical skills needed in her/his chosen career or for entry to higher or further mathematical education
Understand the mathematics likely to be encountered in daily adult life
Reason clearly and logically, and to set out a rational argument
Identify patterns encountered in diverse situations and to extrapolate from these
Approach problems systematically, choosing appropriate techniques for their solution
Follow logical instructions clearly expressed
Experience satisfaction in and enjoyment of his/her mathematical achievements
Obtain any formal mathematical qualifications needed for her/his chosen career
Obtain her/his best possible results at KS3, KS4, AS/A Level & other Sixth Form courses
Acquire the logical abilities characteristic of a mathematician

Curriculum

Mathematics is a spiral curriculum; this means that part of all topics will be revisited each year throughout students’ school life. What a student covers may vary depending on which pathway she is on.

The following are key skills that we encourage parents to support their daughters in developing:

Year 7

Mental methods for addition, subtraction, division and multiplication

Year 8

Fraction, decimal percentage equivalents (these can be found in their planner)

Year 9

Written methods for addition, subtraction, division and multiplication with fractions and decimals Calculating area and perimeter for different objects

Year 10/11 Higher

Solving quadratic equations, calculating percentage increase, understanding index laws

Year 10/11 Foundation

Using Pythagoras, simplifying expressions, calculating a percentage and fraction of an amount

Assessment

Lessons involve a wide range of activities to encourage students to think beyond the boundaries and discuss their ideas with others, such as:

Variety of different card sorts that challenge thinkers and help eradicate misconceptions
Quick fire starters that ensure students have the necessary knowledge to go further in their subject
Individual work to ensure students have the confidence to demonstrate their abilities in exams

Each topic in KS3 contains enrichment lessons where students cover set mathematical objectives in a contextual situation. For example, when studying sequence in Year 7 students could look at various streets in Plymouth and recognise patterns so they can make predictions for builders of a fictitious street. In Year 10 students covering standard form may calculate the volume of soil that was removed in order to create space for the channel tunnel.

To ensure a more personalised curriculum the following occurs:

Year 7 and 8 cover Key Stage 3
Year 9, 10, 11 cover KS4
Tier of entry in Year 11 will be based on results of the two Year 11 Maths mocks
All students are exposed to assessment in lessons, homework and more formal end of topic tests each half term. Some movement between sets may then occur following these assessments.

KS3

1 hour end of topic test each half term
SATS style test at the end of Year 8.

KS4

Half term mini tests covering topics taught
Larger end of Year 9 test (2 x 1 hour papers)
Full GCSE Maths paper at the end of Year 10
2 full sets of mock papers in November and March of Year 11
Terminal examination at the end of Year 11

KS5

Induction assessment after 2 weeks in Year 12 to ensure students are on the correct course
Assessment after every key topic taught
Mock exam in January and Summer of Year 12 and January of Year 13
Terminal examination at the end of Year 13

Practice Papers
Useful Links

http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/diagnosticquiz2.htm

http://www.mrbartonmaths.com/gcsetakeaway.htm

Higher Tier topic list (with links to AQA website)
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Higher Paper 1
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Higher Paper 2
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Higher Paper 3
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Foundation Tier topic list (with links to AQA website)
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Foundation Paper 1
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Foundation Paper 2
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Foundation Paper 3

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More practice papers can be downloaded from the AQA website –

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-8300/assessment-resources

GCSE Mathematics topic lists (by grade)

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