Mathematics 
At Holte School we see mathematics not just as a collection of skills but a way of thinking. We aim to inspire our pupils to appreciate the beauty of mathematics and use its logic skilfully across all areas of the school curriculum and life. Pupils and staff work together safely and collaboratively to achieve success in an environment founded on mutual respect.
Year 7 and Year 8
The Mathematics Mastery Programme is now running across both Year 7 and Year 8.
The Mathematics Mastery programme pulls together many established links and methods into one teaching approach. Children are encouraged to physically represent mathematical concepts. Objects and pictures are used to demonstrate and visualise abstract ideas, alongside numbers and symbols. Mastery concepts are explored in a variety of representations and problem-solving contexts to give pupils a richer and deeper learning experience.
Students are developing fluency, reasoning skills and their ability to solve problems through the mathematical constructs listed below.
The Key Constructs underpin the Mathematics Mastery cumulative curriculum, and will therefore be continually developed and built upon across academic years. The table below shows when they are explicitly focused upon for the first time.
Year 7 Key Constructs
|
Autumn 1 |
1. Understand place value to compare and order numbers including decimals 2. Use approximation and rounding in problem solving 3. Understand and solve problems involving addition and subtraction including perimeter |
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Autumn 2 |
4. Multiply and divide multi-digit numbers including decimals 5. Find and understand factors and multiples, including LCMs and HCFs 6. Understand and apply the formulae for area of a rectangle, triangle and parallelogram |
|
Spring 1 |
7. Accurately draw, measure, and identify types of angles 8. Use facts to solve problems involving unknown angles on a line and at a point 9. Understand and use properties of triangles and quadrilaterals |
|
Spring 2 |
10. Understand and use fraction notation in a variety of contexts 11. Compare and order fractions, decimals and mixed numbers 12. Multiply and divide with fractions |
|
Summer 1 |
13. Carry out combined calculations using all four operations with brackets 14. Represent unknowns with letters forming and manipulating algebraic expressions 15. Evaluate algebraic expressions through substitution |
|
Summer 2 |
16. Understand and use percentage including percentage increase and decrease 17. Draw, read and interpret statistical diagrams, including pie charts |
Year 8 Constructs
Key Stage 4
Year 9, 10 & 11 – Edexcel GCSE Mathematics (9-1) from 2015 – 100% Exam
Click here for the specifications.
Pupils start their Key Stage 4 Scheme of Work in Year 9 so as to allow for a more in depth study of the content. Pupils in Year 10 & 11 will continue to follow the Edexcel linear specification (1MA1). They are set in one stream, based primarily upon their attainment at the end of their previous year.
The purposes of this qualification are to:
● provide evidence of students’ achievements against demanding and fulfilling content, to give students the confidence that the mathematical skills, knowledge and understanding that they will have acquired during the course of their study are as good as that of the highest performing jurisdictions in the world
● provide a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment, to give students the appropriate mathematical skills, knowledge and understanding to help them progress to a full range of courses in further and higher education. This includes Level 3 mathematics courses as well as Level 3 and undergraduate courses in other disciplines such as biology, geography and psychology, where the understanding and application of mathematics is crucial
● provide (if required) a basis for schools and colleges to be held accountable for the performance of all of their students.
Key Stage 5 – OCR Scheme of work
Click here for the specifications.
We offer the OCR (H240) A level Mathematics two year course to pupils in the Sixth form. Pupils need to achieve a minimum grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics in order to access the study of Mathematics in the Sixth form.
In Year 12 pupils build on their existing skills, particularly in algebra and trigonometry, and are introduced to core and applied topics such as calculus, statistical sampling and distributions, and Newtonian forces.
Year 13 pupils further develop their understanding of these topics, with a real emphasis on modelling and problem solving, providing an excellent platform for further study in the fields of mathematics and engineering, for example.
The course is examined through three, two our written papers, sat at the end of Year 13.
Homework
Homework is set once a week for years 7-11. It can be finishing off classwork tasks, completing levelled worksheets, graded problems or project work. At KS5 homework usually is consolidation of classwork and questions which develop application of maths modelling. Homework may be set using the online resources that pupils have access to.
Resources
The mathematics department uses a range of resources: KS3 Maths progress books, Edexcel GCSE Higher & Foundation, OCR AS/A level textbooks and other resources tailor made to enhance the mathematics ability of Holte pupils such as doddlelearn.co.uk, vle.mathswatch.co.uk and GCSEpod.com
Mathematics reading list: Please click here to see list of textbooks used in all Key Stages and recommendation for further reading.
Extra-curricular Activities
Staff are always willing to support pupils beyond the school day and Saturday, after school and holiday sessions may be offered to pupils who would benefit. Parents and carers will be contacted by letter to request permission for pupils to attend. We also offer a Chess club that currently runs on a Thursday during lunch time. Our strongest Mathematicians at KS3 and KS4 take part in the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust Challenges.
We are also committed to promoting our school values of ‘Collaboration, Aspiration, Respect, Equality and Responsibility’ to pupils at every opportunity. We take every opportunity to ensure that our school’s Safeguarding Policy is adhered to in full at all times.
