Mathematics

RESULTS

WHY TAKE MATHEMATICS?

Mathematics contributes to society and to the development and functioning of individuals within it. It is useful in many other areas of learning, in everyday life and at work. Its language and symbolism provide a precise and efficient means of communication.

It contributes to the development of an individual’s autonomy by enabling that person to make more objective decisions. It can be a source of aesthetic pleasure, creative stimulation, and intellectual challenge.

Aims

The primary aim of the mathematics department is to enable each student to learn the mathematics needed to not only survive in everyday life but thrive in whichever career path they choose. We are committed to allowing students to:

• experience a wide range of mathematical activities
• gain an insight into the precision, power and aesthetic qualities of mathematics
• understand the mathematics they use
• be able to apply the mathematics they learn
• achieve their potential in mathematics

Objectives

• To develop the student’s appreciation and enjoyment of mathematics
• To develop their mathematical knowledge and oral, written and practical skills
• To solve problems, present the solutions clearly, check and interpret results
• To develop a feel for number, carry out calculations and understand the significance of the results
• To appreciate patterns and relationships in mathematics
• To acquire a foundation appropriate to future study of mathematics and other disciplines
• To analyse a problem and select a suitable strategy to obtain its solution
• To make logical deductions from given mathematical data
• To perform calculations by suitable methods
• To recognise and use spatial relationships in two and three dimensions

These are to be achieved through the scheme of work, policies and practices of the mathematics department.

KEY STAGE 3

Mathematics is a compulsory subject at KS3. There are six lessons per fortnight and students are expected to complete a piece of homework each week, sometimes on Sparx. This gives students instant feedback on what they have done and enables them to watch a video on that topic to aid their understanding.

In mathematics, students are set in classes by ability from the beginning of Year 7. Throughout KS3, lessons are designed to teach the foundational knowledge that is then revisited and built upon during KS4. Students are assessed frequently and provided with personalised and specific information on how to improve; these improvements are then made via a combination of therapy lessons in school and independent work at home using Sparx.

KEY STAGE 4

Mathematics is a compulsory subject at KS4 and students achieve a GCSE qualification. There are seven lessons per fortnight for Years 10 and 11. Students are expected to complete a piece of homework each week on Sparx.

Year 10 complete their first full GCSE mock examination near the end of the year. Students are then provided with personalised and specific information on how to improve and therapy lessons are planned to support these improvements.

A variety of tasks to enrich learning and deepen understanding are also provided. Year 11 complete a full GCSE mock examination in November and again in January. This is marked and given a predicted GCSE grade and students are then provided with personalised and specific information on how to improve. Any of these assessments may trigger some intervention work, usually in the form of after-school support or one-to-one sessions to support the students in achieving their full potential in mathematics. The GCSE scheme of work is taught by November for all classes, in time for their first set of Year 11 mock examinations. The assessment results then inform teachers as to which topics are to be covered in revision lessons, creating a highly personalised scheme of work.

GCSE Mathematics now places a renewed emphasis on problem-solving, functionality and mathematical thinking. There is a much greater emphasis in examinations on the assessment of applying mathematics and using mathematics to solve problems, and some questions will be set in contexts that students should be expected to deal with in the real world.

Students might be asked to answer questions on, for instance, decorating a room or designing a garden; or perhaps paying bills or creating rotas for shop staff. The GCSE will be entirely assessed by written examination, which means that no coursework will be expected from any student. The content of GCSE Mathematics exams:

The course followed is the Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Mathematics. All examinations are taken at the end of Year 11. There are three 90 minute papers to complete. For paper 1, a calculator CANNOT be used. For paper 2 and paper 3, a calculator CAN be used. Students in Year 11 that have demonstrated an ability to achieve a Grade 9 will also have the opportunity to study the AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics course.

THE VI FORM ACADEMY

Mathematics is an optional subject at KS5. At CSIA it is one of the most popular subjects to choose as an A Level. The qualifications we offer are:

A-level Mathematics – this includes work on the core ideas of algebra, trigonometry and calculus as well as mechanics and statistics.

A-level Further Mathematics – this includes work on the core ideas of matrices and complex numbers as well as the study of decision mathematics and further mechanics or statistics. All exams are taken in June of Year 13.
The exam board is Edexcel for A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics. There are eight lessons per fortnight. Homework tasks are set twice a week, using the online textbooks.

AQA Level 3 Mathematical Studies (Core Mathematics) – this qualification is designed for students who have achieved a grade 4 or above at GCSE. It helps to develop students’ mathematical skills and thinking, and supports courses such as A-level Psychology, Sciences and Geography as well as technical and vocational qualifications. It is a one-year course offering UCAS points equivalent to an AS.

There are several step assessments per half term that are formatively marked. These inform personalised intervention tasks and after-school sessions once a week. Milestone assessments are also completed, which are in line with the requirements of examination papers.

NEXUS

NEXUS students follow the same programme of study as above in Mathematics, but with the benefit of accessing high-level content earlier in their 5-year GCSE learning journey; this creates more time at the end of the course to focus on the problem-solving questions and cross-topic questions that need to be achieved in order to gain the very highest grades. In addition, CSMS Further Mathematics students are provided with support towards completing the STEP examination.

CAREERS

Studying mathematics helps you develop skills in logical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making, which are valued by employers across many job sectors. Jobs directly related to a Mathematics degree include:

• Actuarial analyst
• Actuary
• Chartered accountant
• Chartered certified accountant
• Data analyst
• Investment analyst
• Research scientist (maths)
• Secondary school teacher
• Statistician
• Systems developer

Jobs where a mathematics degree would be useful include:

• Civil Service fast streamer
• Financial manager
• Financial trader
• Insurance underwriter
• Meteorologist
• Operational researcher
• Quantity surveyor
• Software tester

These are not exhaustive lists. Many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, particularly mathematics.