- Home
- Learning & Curriculum
- Subject Information
- Maths
Maths
BackMathematics has, and always will, play a fundamental role in the development of society and a basic conceptual understanding of mathematical principles is an essential life skill.
Here at Hertswood, it is important that in our maths lessons we develop our students into confident, resilient and inquisitive individuals who think critically and can reflect upon their work. We develop a foundation of critical knowledge and skills which are revisited as often as possible. We then progressively build on these to connect to new topics and activate links to other areas of mathematics and the whole school curriculum.
Our bespoke scheme of work is designed to allow students to have a secure foundation and knowledge of skills on which to build, thus developing concepts and understanding, not only across the maths curriculum but also the wider whole school curriculum.
There are three branches and corresponding knowledge booklets to our scheme of work: bronze, silver and gold. There is considerable overlap between each of the branches, however the more advanced branches cover more content at a faster pace. Our classes are set by ability and each class will follow the branch that ensures students can access the work without barriers and then develop their mathematical skills to be stretched and challenged appropriately for them.
Key Stage 3
In Key Stage 3 there are three branches and corresponding knowledge booklets to our scheme of work: bronze, silver and gold. There is considerable overlap between each of the branches however the more advanced branches cover more content at a faster pace. Our classes are set by ability and each class will follow the branch that ensures students can access the work without barriers and then develop their mathematical skills to be stretched and challenged appropriately for them. Students will follow their branch dependant on set for the duration of Key Stage 3, this is reviewed when transitioning into Key Stage 4 and we decide on whether students are preparing for the higher or foundation level course.
Key Stage 4
In Key Stage 4 students follow either a foundation, foundation extension or higher branch. These follow on from bronze silver and gold. In the summer term of Year 10 we make the decision on which tier of entry students will be preparing for and the schemes of learning for the summer term of Year 10 are devised in order to make sure the transition for students studying higher content is as small as possible. We aim to of finished the teaching of the content of each branch by the spring term of Year 11. We then use the remaining time to revisit and revise topics and exam skills informed by assessments.
Throughout Key Stage 4 we increase exposure to GCSE style content and from the summer of Year 9 all students are assessed on full GCSE papers. In addition Year 11 complete a practice paper every week for homework, in addition to the independent work they are assigned on our online learning platforms. We also ensure that students have had further experience of multi topic and problem solving questions as well as targeted exam skills and practice embedded into their lessons.
Key Stage 5
For our A Level course a similar progressive approach is used to make the transition from GCSE. In Year 12 we set regular “skills check” homeworks to ensure the skills from GCSE are revisited allowing our contact time to focus in delivering the new content and extending the skills learned previously. We provide a range of resources in A-level to support independent learning including online subscriptions and past/practice papers. Our students also participate in the AMSP problem solving club which is run online at a national level.
Please note that the exact topics covered will vary dependiing on group and which branch of our maths curriculum that group is following, the following is an overview.
Year |
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
---|---|---|---|
Year 7 |
Mathematical symbols and notation The Number System Money Metric Units and Time |
Introduction to Algebra Fractions 1 Percentages 1 Introduction to Ratio |
Coordinates Geometric Definitions Exploring shape Angles 1 - Basic angle facts Probability 1 Data Project |
Year 8 |
Revisit Content from last year Factors Multiples and Primes Percentages 2 Estimation 1 FDP |
Revisit Content from last year Manipulating Algebra 1 Substitution and Solving Equations 1 Patterns and Sequences |
Revisit Content from last year Angles 2 - Reasoning Averages Representing and Interpreting data Ratio Project |
Year 9 |
Revisit Content from last year Indices and Standard Form Estimation 2 Manipulating Algebra 2 Substitution and Solving Equations 2 Graphs 1 Ratio and Proportion 1 |
Revisit Content from last year Ratio and Proportion (ratio, value for money, compound measures, similarity) Transformations 2 Constructions |
Revisit Content from last year Probabilty 2 Representing and Interpeting data 2 Geometry and Measure |
Year 10 |
Revisit Content from last year Compound Measures Ratio and Proportion 2 Percentages 3 Angles in polygons and parallel lines Advanced laws of indices Quadratics and algebraic fractions Upper and Lower Bounds Direct and Inverse Proportion |
Revisit Content from last year Intro to vectors Interpreting Graphs Shape space and Measure Quadratics continued Combinations of transformations Similarity Coordinate Geometry Advanced Trigonometry |
Revisit Content from last year Representing and Interpreting data 3 Further algebraic manipulation Trigonometry and Pythagoras Circle theorems Proof Iterative Processes Advanced representations and interpretations of data |
Year 11 GCSE |
Equations and Inequalities Graphs 2 Constructions and Bearings Surds Further Quadratics Functions |
Exam Practice and Targeted revision based on assessments
|
- |
Year 12 A Level Maths |
Advanced algebra 1 Coordinate geometry Data, correlation, probability Kinematics 1 |
Calculus 1 Exponentials and logs Probability distributions and hypothesis testing 1 Forces and motion 1 |
Trigonometry 1 Large data set Kinematics 2 |
Year 12 A Level Further Maths |
Complex numbers 1 Matrices Further algebra 1 Further probability distributions 1 |
Further algebra 2 Further coordinate geometry 1 Further calculus 1 Further Vectors Further probability distributions 1 |
Limits Further probability distributions 2 |
Year 13 A Level Maths |
Advanced algebra 2 Calculus 2 Trigonometry 2 Probability distributions and hypothesis testing 2 Forces and motion 2 |
Advanced algebra 3 Calculus 3 Large data set Projectiles Kinematics 3 |
3D vectors Exam practice |
Year 13 A Level Further Maths |
Complex numbers 2 Further algebra 3 Further coordinate geometry 2 Further calculus 2 Statistical testing |
Further calculus 3 Hyperbolic functions Probability-generating functions |
Further calculus 4 |
Independent Learning Resources
- The Knowledge
- Quizlet
- MathsWatch
- Maths Genie
- Integral Maths
- Kerboodle
Extra-Curricular Enrichment
- Visits to Oxford University - Gifted and Talented
- Mathanatics Club
- Saturday Maths - Year 11
- AMSP Problem Solving Club (KS5)