‘Mathematics is the extension of common sense by other means.’ Jordan Ellenberg
‘Mathematics is the language with which God wrote the universe’ Galileo Galilei
‘Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.’ Albert Einstein
Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.
What does our curriculum aim to achieve?
Foster a love of learning and a healthy curiosity about mathematics
Promote a seamless transition of consistent mathematics through all 3 tiers of school including common schemes of work and assessments
Use a common range of problem solving strategies, manipulatives, diagrams and representations.
Engender clear and precise mathematical language and explanations
Understand the role of mathematicians and their contribution to civilisation
Learn the mathematics specific to a particular career or real life situation
Have high aspirations and expectations for all groups of pupils.
The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:
- become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
- reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
- can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.
Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas. The programmes of study are, by necessity, organised into apparently distinct domains, but pupils should make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge to science and other subjects.
The expectation is that the majority of pupils will move through the programmes of study at broadly the same pace. However, decisions about when to progress should always be based on the security of pupils’ understanding and their readiness to progress to the next stage. Pupils who grasp concepts rapidly should be challenged through being offered rich and sophisticated problems before any acceleration through new content. Those who are not sufficiently fluent with earlier material should consolidate their understanding, including through additional practice, before moving on.
Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Maps
Autumn 1
Place Value and the Number Line
Calculation: Addition and Subtraction
Autumn 2
Calculation: Addition and Subtraction
Visualising and Constructing
Calculation: Multiplication and Division
Understanding Properties of Shapes and Angles
Autumn Assessment
Baseline assessment
TA based on work in these topics
Spring 1
Understanding Properties of Shapes and Angles
Dividing with Fractions
Reading and Calculating Time
Exploring Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
Spring 2
Exploring Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
Working with Units of Measure
Number Theory and Problem Solving
Drawing and Measuring Angles
Calculating with Fractions and Decimals
Spring Assessment
TA based on work in these topics
Summer 1
Calculating with Fractions and Decimals
Calculating in Different Dimensions
Checking, Approximating and Estimating
Describing and Applying Transformations
Summer 2
Constructing and Interpreting Graphs and Charts
Year 6 transition work (focused on four operations)
Summer Assessment
TA based on work in these topics & QCA Year 5 assessment
Autumn 1
Understanding Place Value and Number Systems
Calculation: Addition Subtraction & Multiplication
Measuring and Drawing Angles
Calculation: Division
Autumn 2
Calculation: Division
Number Theory: Structure and Relationships
Formulae and Conversion
Exploring Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
Autumn Assessment
Baseline assessment
TA based on work in these topics & SAT assessment (practice)
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Spring 1
Exploring Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
Investigating Properties of Shapes and Angles
Working with Units of Measure
Working with Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
Calculating with Fractions and Decimals
Spring 2
Calculating with Fractions and Decimals
Calculating in Different Dimensions
Exploring Sequences and Equations
Checking Approximating and Estimating
Spring Assessment
TA based on work in these topics & SAT assessment (practice)
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Summer 1
Describing and Applying Transformations
Constructing and Interpreting Graphs and Charts
Calculating and Interpreting Averages
Assessment: SATs preparation / SATs mock assesment / SATs assessment
Summer 2
Consolidation and extension of Year 6 topics
Year 7 transition work
Summer Assessment
TA based on work in these topics
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Autumn 1
Number Theory and Place Value
Comparing and Ordering on the Number Line
Calculating and Place Value
Autumn 2
Calculating and Place Value
Visualising and constructing
Investigating Properties of Shapes and Angles
Working with Units of Measure
Working with Expressions and Formulae
Autumn Assessment
Baseline assessment
TA based on work in these topics
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Spring 1
Working with Expressions and Formulae
Equivalence in Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
Generating and Describing Sequences
Proportional reasoning
Spring 2
Proportional reasoning
Calculating: Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
Solving Equations
Spring Assessment
TA based on work in these topics & AQA KS3 assessment (Year 8 standard)
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Summer 1
Solving Equations
Calculating in Different Dimensions
Transformations and Coordinate Geometry
Summer 2
Checking, Approximating and Estimating
Constructing and Interpreting Graphs and Charts
Calculating and Interpreting Averages
Understanding Probability
Summer Assessment
TA based on work in these topics
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Autumn 1
Number Theory and Place Value
Fractions, Decimals and % on the Number Line
Autumn 2
Visualising and Constructing
Working with Expressions and Formulae
Calculating: Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
Autumn Assessment
Baseline assessment
TA based on work in these topics & AQA KS3 assessment (Year 8 standard)
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Spring 1
Calculating: Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
Proportional Reasoning
Exploring Sequences
Spring 2
Exploring Sequences
Investigating Geometry
Probability
Solving Equations
Spring Assessment
TA based on work in these topics
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Summer 1
Solving Equations
Calculating in Different Dimensions
Calculating and Interpreting Averages
Summer 2
Coordinate Geometry
Constructing and Interpreting Graphs and Charts
High-school transition work
Summer Assessment
TA based on work in these topics & AQA KS3 assessment (Year 9 standard)
Unit tests covering the core objectives.
Mastering the above knowledge and skills would represent the strongest possible way for pupils to access the rationale of the department. They are our ‘Core objectives’ and are deemed as the most crucial elemental areas of maths from which many of the others are derived.
Calculation Policy
Exemplification of NC Objectives
Nearly half of our pupils achieve ‘greater depth’ according to national standards and nearly all achieve the national ‘expected’ standard.
Useful Resources and Links
Below are a selection of useful resources for helping your child with their mathematics:
MyMaths – online homework and lessons
Multiplication Trainer
10 Minutes a Day – free IOS times tables app
Times Tables Challenges – free IOS app
Times Table flash cards
Mathematics Enhancement Programme – KS3 help modules
A4 Squared Paper for maths homework
Help with KS2 SATs
Below are some websites you might find helpful for supporting your child at home during their 2 year run up to the SATs
MyMiniMaths – short focused KS2 SATs practice
MathsFrame – questions on each KS2 NC objective
Corbett Maths – 5-a-day SATs revision
Below are a set of practice materials based on the KS2 2016 Arithmetic paper (Paper 1):
2016 KS2 Content Practice Set A v2
2016 KS2 Content Practice Set B v2
2016 KS2 Content Practice Set C v2
2016 KS2 Content Practice Set D v2
2016 KS2 Practice Arithmetic Set A v2
2016 KS2 Practice Arithmetic Set B v2
2016 KS2 Practice Arithmetic Set C v2
2016 KS2 Practice Arithmetic Set D v2
Instructional Videos
SATs_in_Mins_-_Paper_2__2016_-_Video_Organiser
SATs_in_Mins_-_Paper_3__2016_-_Video_Organiser
KS2 SATs tutorials – exam question help
SATs_in_Mins_-_Paper_2_2017_-_Video_Organiser
SATs_in_Mins_-_Paper_3_2017_-_Video_Organiser
Maths_-_SATs_2017_Question_Buster