Mathematics
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Introduction
We work hard as a faculty to not only teach mathematical content and methods, we also create a positive learning environment that encourages enjoyment of our subject. It is important to develop constructive attitudes and build confidence in order to enable students to become independent thinkers.
Mathematics is important in everyday life and we all use Maths every day. Your child will find that many jobs require an understanding of mathematical concepts and college places depend on good results. Most subjects use ideas encountered in Maths. It is a core subject and it is therefore compulsory and is studied up to school leaving age at 16.
Studying Maths will allow your child to develop the following skills:
• Problem solving.
• Logical reasoning.
• The ability to think in abstract ways
Maths allows students to develop their minds, soft skills and employability qualities.
Members of Staff
Mr N. Hirji – Director of Learning (Maths)
Mrs H Herrmann– Deputy Headteacher/Maths Teacher
Mr J. Sheikh – Aspiring Leader - Data and Raising Achievement
Miss H. Thai – Assistant Director of Learning (Key Stage 3)
Miss A Walford - Maths Teacher
Mrs J. Lewis-Brown - Teacher of Maths
Mr A. Muhammed - Instructor of Maths
Mr N. Munir - Teacher of Maths
Mr P. Iqbal - Teacher of Maths
Mr R. Ebrahim - Teacher of Maths
Mr S. Sadique - Instructor of Maths
Ms B. Shaheen - Teacher of Maths (Starting September 2017)
Mr S Uddin - Teacher of Maths (Starting September 2017)
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Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 all students study Mathematics through a variety of extended investigational work, three times a week. Through these tasks, students are asked to pose questions to explore mathematics with a focus on topics from these main areas:
- Number and Algebra
- Geometry: Shape, Space and Measure
- Algebra: Expressions, equations and formulae
- Algebra: Sequences and Graphs
- Data Handling and Probability
We provide students with a solid foundation in their understanding in order to best equip them for their GCSEs.
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
| We extend students understanding at Key Stage 2 further, familiarising them with more technical methods and mathematical vocabulary. | We link students' classroom learning with the world around them, helping their understanding and realising relevance of Mathematics. |
Students are prepared for Key Stage 4; they consolidate their knowledge and independent learning skills. |
Additional Information
All students are provided with their very own MathsWatch login, this is an online resource which provides students with interactive examples and additional questions, with answers, to reinforce learning. Students can access the MathsWatch website here.
Alternatively, students can use the following websites to reinforce their learnings:
Don’t forget…make sure your child is properly equipped for Maths - they should have a ruler, protractor, pair of compasses, calculator, pen and a pencil for every lesson!
Extra-Curricular Activities
We enter students into the UKMT nationwide Mathematics Challenge at all levels every year. This is an opportunity for the entrants to prove their problem solving ability against thousands of peers across the country, competing for a place to represent the UK in the European competitions.
Further information and past papers can be found here.
Tab 3
KS4
Mathematics is important in everyday life and we all use Maths every day. Your child will find that many jobs require an understanding of mathematical concepts and college places depend on good results. Most subjects use ideas encountered in Maths. It is a core subject and it is therefore compulsory and is studied up to school leaving age at 16. Studying Maths will allow your child to develop the following skills:
• Problem solving.
• Logical reasoning.
• The ability to think in abstract ways.
At Key Stage 4 students will develop their learnings from Key Stage 3. All students will study various aspects of Number, Algebra, Shape, Space and Measure, Data Handling and Ratio and Proportion.
For all students the work is set in relevant contexts which not only encourages examination success but also provides students with the essential mathematical skills needed in everyday life. Students will need to use their knowledge to make connections between mathematical concepts, as well as, to solve real-life problems. We aim to provide all students with a background of Functional Skills that will support their mathematical needs in daily life.
Students will be examined at the end of Year 11, sitting a non-calculator and two calculator papers. They will be assessed internally throughout the Key Stage to ensure that their progress is monitored and tracked carefully.
What is the qualification?
GCSE Mathematics (Edexcel Linear IMA1) 100% exam based.
Higher tier grade: 4-9 (2017) 5-9(2018)
Foundation tier grades 1-5
The structure:
| Assessment | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 |
| Calculator? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Duration | 1 hour 30 minutes | ||
| When | June | ||
Further information can be found here.
Assessment
Students are regularly tested throughout Years 10 and 11.
As students approach their GCSE exams they undertake a 'Walking Talking Mock' allowing students to develop their methodical thinking in the exam.
Homeworks
Students are given homework once a week by their teachers. Homeworks recap and develop the students’ learning. It is important that homeworks are completed and returned on time and to a high standard.
Additional Information
All students are provided with their very own MathsWatch login, this is an online resource which provides students with interactive examples and additional questions, with answers, to reinforce learning. Students can access the MathsWatch website here.
Alternatively, students can use the following websites to reinforce their learnings:
Don’t forget…make sure your child is properly equipped for Maths - they should have a ruler, protractor, pair of compasses, calculator, pen and a pencil for every lesson!
Additional Mathematics Free Standing Qualification (FSMQ 6993) to a select group of the most able students who are keen to take A Level Mathematics and potentially Further Mathematics in college. This decision will always be made in consultation with both the students and the parents.
Extra-Curricular Activities
We enter students into the UKMT nationwide Mathematics Challenge at all levels every year. This is an opportunity for the entrants to prove their problem solving ability against thousands of peers across the country, competing for a place to represent the UK in the European competitions.
Further information and past papers can be found here.
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GCSE Statistics
The GCSE Statistics course if offered to appropriate candidates and complements the compulsory GCSE Mathematics course that all students study at KS4. The course provides students with a critical appreciation of statistics and it's uses in everyday life.
Topics Studied:
- Planning and Data Collection
- Processing, Representing and Analysing Data
- Reasoning, Interpreting and Discussing Results
- Probability
Coursework:
The coursework component comprises the following sections:
- Planning
- Data Collection and Processing
- Representing Data
- Interpreting and Evaluating Data
The coursework element carries 25% of the final grade marks.
Assessment:
1 Two hour Calculator Paper (75%)
1 Written piece of coursework (25%)
Tab 5
SMSC in Mathematics
Through various projects, mini investigations and activities built into lessons, SMSC, (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) is being delivered in high quality lessons.
All maths lessons have grouped seating, developing the social aspect of SMSC.
Projects outside of a classroom consist of:
- A year 10 maths challenge at Birmingham University where pupils were involved in a quiz competing against pupils from other school and backgrounds.
- Homework projects exploring Maths in real life within Y7, 8 and 9.
- Engaging team experiments demonstrating Maths in context
Spiritual Development in Mathematics
Developing deep thinking and questioning the way in which the world works promotes the spiritual growth of students. In Maths lessons pupils are always encouraged to delve deeper into their understanding of Mathematics and how it relates to the world around them. The skills of analysing data are taught from Year 7 to Year 11 to enable students to make sense of vast amounts of data available in the modern world around them. Sequences, patterns, measures and ultimately the entire study of Mathematics was created to make more sense of the world around us and we enable each of our students to use Maths as a tool to explore it more fully.
Examples of Spiritual lessons in maths:
1. Pupils considering the development of patterns in different cultures including work on tessellations such as using Rangoli designs, Islamic geometry or the use of religious symbols for symmetry
2. Fibonacci pattern
Moral Development in Mathematics
The moral development of pupils is an important thread running through the entire mathematics syllabus. In Year 7 to 9 students’ complete homework where pupils use Maths in real life contexts, applying and exploring the skills required to solve various problems. Projects include designing hotel resorts and applying their data analysis skills in a real-life context.
Examples of Moral lessons in maths:
1. Pupils conducting an opinion survey on a moral issue
2. Pupils to have an awareness of sexist, stereotypical bias in materials – for worksheets to include female builders, male secretaries etc.
3. Why learn Algebra?
4. Running a fun fair, morally.
Social Development in Mathematics
Problem solving skills and teamwork are fundamental to Mathematics, through creative thinking, discussion, explaining and presenting ideas. Students are always encouraged to develop their Mathematical reasoning skills, communicating with others and explaining concepts to each other. Self and peer reviewing are very important to enable pupils to have an accurate grasp of where they are and how they need to improve. Working together in pairs or groups and supporting others is a key part of Maths lessons.
Examples of Social lessons in maths:
1. Allowing discussion and debate on the use and abuse of statistics in the media
2. Pupils learning how mathematics is used to communicate
3. Grouped seating plan
4. Math’s challenge at Birmingham University
5. Investigation when teaching questionnaires
6. Collaborative real life learning through Maths projects in Year 7 to 9
Cultural Development in Mathematics
Mathematics is a universal language with a myriad of cultural inputs throughout the ages. We encourage the teaching of various approaches to Mathematics including different methods of application (e.g. Chinese and Vedic multiplication) we also explore the Mathematics applied in different cultures such as Rangoli patterns, symmetry, tessellations and Islamic geometric patterns. The ability to use exchange rates for foreign travel is also important life skills students will learn.
Examples of Cultural lessons in maths:
1. Pupils investigating different number sequences and where they occur in the real world
2. Allowing discussion on the cultural and historical roots of mathematics, such Pythagoras’ theorem
3. Pupils discussing the use of mathematics in cultural symbols and patterns
4. Mathematics is a universal language
5. Use of various Mathematical applications
6. Pupils to have the ability to use exchange rates for foreign travel
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