Key Stage 3

Year 7

In Year 7 students cover a range of mathematical topics including: Algebra, Number and Proportion, Geometry, Data and Statistics, Statistics and STEM Learning, Geometry and Measures and Maths and Art.

Year 8

In Year 8 students further develop the skills covered in year 7. Additionally, there is a focus on more extended problem-solving, where several steps may be required to reach a solution to a situation.

Students are encouraged to explore different possible methods and discuss which may be best. This to prepare for the GCSE-style questions they will encounter in year 9 and beyond.

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4 all students continue to study Mathematics where we offer EDEXCEL GCSE Mathematics.

The course builds upon the work in Key Stage 3. It is broken down into six main areas with topics such as:

1. Number – structure & calculation, fractions/decimals/percentages, measures & accuracy.
2. Algebra – notation, vocabulary & manipulation, graphs, sequences
3. Ratio - proportion & rates of change – ratios as linear functions, ratio’s as fractions, direct and inverse proportion
4. Geometry and Measures – angles, shapes and vectors
5. Probability – random variables, sampling, set theory, tree diagrams
6. Statistics – representing and interpreting data, analysing and comparing data

In addition to covering this content students will be expected to demonstrate critical thinking skills and show they are able to apply their mathematics skills to solve problems.

Key Stage 5

The A Level mathematics course comprises of three compulsory units, two of  which cover ‘pure mathematics’ content and the third covering ‘applied mathematics’ content. Each unit will be assessed, in the students’ final year of study, and this will be done in each case by a 100% written external examinations which are 2 hours in length. Each of these will combine an equal share to make 33.33% of the students’ final grade.

Units:

• Unit 1: Pure Mathematics 1
• Unit 2: Pure Mathematics 2
• Unit 3: Statistics and Mechanics

The ‘pure mathematics’ units include a range of content which builds on the knowledge the students learnt at GCSE level. This includes proof, algebra and functions, coordinate geometry, sequences and series, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, differentiation, integration and numerical methods.

The ‘applied mathematics’ unit challenges students in applying their mathematical knowledge in the areas of statistics and mechanics. This unit is where students will discover the power of mathematics and how it can be used in practise. The content compliments subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, sociology, geography and business studies.

Further Mathematics

The ‘new’ A-level further mathematics course comprises of four units. These units are made up by studying two compulsory ‘further pure’ units and then by two optional units that can be chosen from the four branches of further mathematics: Further Pure; Further Statistics; Further Mechanics and Decision Mathematics.

Each unit will be assessed, in the students’ final year of study, and this will be done in each case by a 100% written external examinations which are all 1 hour and 30 minutes in length. Each of these will combine an equal share to make 25% of the students’ final grade.

Compulsory Units:

• Unit 1: Further Pure Mathematics 1
• Unit 1: Further Pure Mathematics 2

Options Units:

• Further Pure Mathematics 3
• Further Statistics 1
• Further Statistics 2 *
• Further Mechanics 1
• Further Mechanics 2 *
• Decision Mathematics 1
• Decision Mathematics 2 *

*These units can only be chosen if the second option is the same branch of mathematics.