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Mathematics

Gable Hall School Mathematics Department:

The study of mathematics at Gable Hall School serves as a fundamental pillar, providing students with a robust foundation for comprehension, communication, and problem-solving through logical reasoning.

Intent: The Mathematics curriculum is designed to ensure that every student:

  • Develops fluency in fundamental mathematical concepts through consistent and diverse practice, fostering conceptual understanding and the ability to apply knowledge accurately and rapidly.
  • Engages in mathematical reasoning, pursuing enquiries, conjecturing relationships, and forming generalisations with the ability to construct convincing arguments and justifications using mathematical language.
  • Nurtures problem-solving skills by applying mathematical principles to a spectrum of routine and non-routine challenges, progressively tackling complex problems by breaking them down and persevering in seeking solutions.
  • Recognises the pervasive influence of mathematics in the world around them.

Implementation: Our dedicated teachers employ effective strategies:

  • Cultivating an appreciation for the beauty of mathematics, fostering a sense of enjoyment and curiosity amongst students.
  • Utilising the concrete-pictorial-abstract approach, enabling students to explore mathematics through structured imagery and apparatus, facilitating understanding and explanation of mathematical concepts.
  • Emphasising rigorous teaching of basic arithmetic skills to ensure mathematical fluency and automaticity.
  • Modelling and providing opportunities for students to communicate confidently and fluently, fostering exploration of relationships and generalisation.
  • Planning high-quality provision that stimulates and challenges students, requiring deep thinking through contextual variation of tasks.
  • Modelling a positive attitude towards mathematics, equipping students with the confidence and resilience to take risks and persist.
  • Facilitating opportunities for students to make rich connections across different areas of mathematics and apply their knowledge to other subjects in the curriculum.
  • Ensuring students can calculate accurately and efficiently, recognising when to employ mental strategies, jottings, or formal written methods.
  • Modelling how to communicate mathematically using the correct vocabulary, diagrams, and statistical graphs to explain their thinking, applying logical and critical thinking.
  • Employing questioning techniques to probe thinking, challenge, extend given answers, clarify, assess, and support generalisation.

Impact: Students at Gable Hall School will:

  • Make significant progress from their starting points, achieving well in mathematics.
  • Demonstrate problem-solving proficiency, applying mathematical skills to routine and non-routine challenges.
  • Confidently use mathematics in everyday life for decision-making, ensuring preparedness for the world of work and further study.
  • Attain a solid understanding of mathematics, leveraging it to secure employment using digital technology where appropriate.

Empowering Minds Through Mathematics: Your Path to Success

In alignment with our school's overarching mission, the Mathematics department is dedicated to nurturing self-sufficient learners who can seamlessly apply their mathematical prowess to both their daily lives and future endeavours. At the core of our academic fabric, Mathematics is a foundational subject obligatory for all pupils at both KS3 and KS4.

Our purpose revolves around providing diverse learning avenues, employing an array of pedagogical approaches, and fostering a culture of high expectations. We are resolute in cultivating the resilience of our students, preparing them to surmount any challenges that may arise. This resilience equips them not only with the confidence to tackle mathematical complexities but also with strategies they can employ across various domains of knowledge.

Numeracy, an indispensable skill throughout life's journey, transcends classroom boundaries. The Mathematics department takes a pivotal role in nurturing numeracy skills, a pursuit further detailed in our dedicated numeracy policy, available for your reference.

Cultivating thinking skills and personal capabilities is a hallmark of our approach. These traits are seamlessly woven into our lessons through purposeful mental maths tasks, thoughtfully curated by our educators.

Bound by our commitment, the Mathematics Department comprises a dynamic and impassioned team. Our collective aspiration is to ignite, motivate, and ignite the spark of inspiration within our students, guiding them towards a path paved with triumph. As we journey together, our goal is to empower you with the tools and knowledge needed to embrace success confidently.

Key Stage 3

Mathematical Exploration Across the Years: Nurturing Excellence

Year 7: Immerse yourself in our year-long journey of exploration, guided by the Pearson Edexcel curriculum, supplemented by the pedagogical treasures of White Rose maths and the interactive allure of SPARX maths homework. Each captivating unit, spanning 2-3 weeks, culminates in a succinct assessment. In our mixed-ability classes, we prioritize depth and comprehension, nurturing a comprehensive grasp of essential mathematical skills. Our students are encouraged to transcend rote learning, delving into problem-solving through innovative approaches even when faced with unfamiliar challenges.

Year 8: Embark on a dynamic adventure where mathematical prowess thrives. In our multifaceted landscape, two accelerated classes, 8G1 and 8H1, propel forward. Remaining classes maintain a mixed-ability tapestry, fostering an inclusive environment. Common units unite us throughout the year, building upon year 7's foundation. As we journey onwards, the fabric of understanding woven in year 7 is fortified, allowing for the emergence of abstract skills and profound comprehension.

Year 9: As the threshold to GCSE draws near, our year 9 curriculum adopts the Edexcel GCSE scheme, signaling the onset of a rigorous yet rewarding phase. The pursuit of mastery becomes our beacon, with students striving to grasp, elucidate, and apply each set of skills. Threads interwoven with prior knowledge cultivate a tapestry that connects not only within the realm of mathematics but extends into the broader expanse of our world. To facilitate this, our students are thoughtfully grouped according to their aptitude, ensuring that each class navigates more challenging topics at a pace conducive to their learning journey.

Our mission resonates with guiding our students towards mathematical mastery, transcending mere understanding to illuminate their path with insight and skill.

KS3 Year 7 Curriculum MapKS3 Year 8 Curriculum MapKS3 Year 9 Curriculum Map

Key Stage 4

GCSE Mathematics: Illuminating Pathways to Excellence

Inclusive and Dynamic GCSE Pathway: Guided by a commitment to providing every student with the best-suited learning journey, our mathematics curriculum is anchored by the linear GCSE course. The decision on paper entries, a pivotal choice, is thoughtfully postponed to year 11, granting students the flexibility to select papers that align with their comfort and competence.

Year 10 and 11: A Journey of Mastery: In our year 10 and 11 classes, precision and progression are paramount. Beginning at the appropriate starting point, we build upon the strong foundation of KS3 knowledge. Our students strive for nothing less than mastery, seeking to grasp, articulate, and apply each skill with depth. Fostering connections with prior knowledge, we empower them to appreciate the trajectory of skills, both within the realm of mathematics and the broader world. SPARX maths, an independent tool, nurtures skill development, while real exam questions found in past papers equip our students for success.

Navigating GCSE Mathematics: Embarking on the Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) in Mathematics (1MA1), students face three exam papers, each bearing the potential for 80 marks. With distinct boundaries shifting annually, the spectrum of achievable grades fluctuates accordingly.

GCSE Statistics: A Bespoke Journey: Year 10 students are offered an enriched route to expertise with the option of exploring GCSE statistics, adding depth to their academic voyage.

Support for All Stages: Our commitment to student success extends beyond the classroom. Daily after-school "drop-in" sessions foster individualized support across all levels. Moreover, year 11 students find structured revision sessions every Monday, from 2 pm to 3 pm, enhancing their preparedness for the upcoming examinations.

At our core, we illuminate the path to mathematical excellence, ensuring each student's growth, confidence, and proficiency in the world of mathematics.

KS4 Year 10 Curriculum MapKS4 Year 11 Curriculum Map

Key Stage 5

SMSC in Mathematics

SMSC, BV and Protected Characteristic development in Mathematics at Gable Hall School - Development in Mathematics at Gable Hall School -

Spiritual Development in Mathematics:

  • The study of mathematics empowers students to comprehend the world around them, encouraging them to explore the intricate connections between numeracy skills and everyday life. Fostering deep thinking and the ability to question the fundamental workings of the world nurtures students' spiritual growth. They are inspired to perceive sequences, patterns, symmetry, and scale in both the human-made and natural realms, using mathematics as a tool to delve deeper into their understanding.

Moral Development in Mathematics:

  • Moral development is interwoven into the mathematics syllabus, instilling a strong sense of ethics in students. Real-life applications of maths skills are emphasised, allowing students to explore and apply problem-solving skills in various contexts. For example, students critically analyse data and consider the consequences of misleading or biased statistical calculations. They recognise that the choices they make lead to different outcomes, thereby making connections between mathematical problem-solving and moral decision-making. The logical aspects of maths often align with concepts of right and wrong, reinforcing ethical thinking.

Social Development in Mathematics:

  • Mathematics cultivates problem-solving abilities and teamwork, promoting creative thinking, open discussion, and the effective presentation of ideas. Students are encouraged to explain mathematical concepts to their peers and support one another in their learning journey. Through collaboration, students discover their individual strengths, experience a sense of accomplishment, and develop heightened confidence. Over time, they become more independent and resilient learners, prepared to face challenges.

Cultural Development in Mathematics:

  • Mathematics serves as a universal language enriched by diverse cultural influences throughout history. Various mathematical approaches from around the world are explored, providing opportunities to discuss their origins. This includes different multiplication methods from Egypt, Russia, and China, Pythagoras' Theorem from Greece, algebra from the Middle East, and debates about the origins of Trigonometry. Students gain an awareness of both the historical evolution of mathematics and the realisation that many mathematical topics still studied today have traversed the globe, finding applications internationally.

In summary, mathematics at Gable Hall School plays a pivotal role in nurturing students' SMSC development. It inspires spiritual connections to the world, fosters moral reasoning, encourages social collaboration, and celebrates the rich cultural heritage of mathematics across civilisations.

Co-curricular

Empowering Learning Beyond the Classroom: Unveiling Opportunities

Open Doors to Excellence: Drop-In Sessions: A commitment to fostering academic growth knows no bounds, encompassing all stages from KS3 to KS5. We fervently encourage all students to partake in our "drop-in" sessions, thoughtfully crafted to provide tailored assistance and guidance from dedicated class teachers. These invaluable sessions take place after school each day.

Year 11: Navigating the Road to Success: Revision Sessions: In the pursuit of acing their exams, our year 11 students are invited to partake in targeted revision sessions. These sessions convene on Mondays, commencing at 2 pm and concluding at 3 pm, within the welcoming confines of the mathematics department.

Guided SPARX Homework Club: We recognize that some students may find homework challenging. To illuminate their learning path, our SPARX homework club offers unwavering support. Every Tuesday, between 2 pm and 4 pm, room 211 becomes a haven for students seeking assistance in conquering their homework hurdles.

KS3 Math Club: A Journey of Discovery: Years 7 to 9 are invited to embark on an engaging voyage within our KS3 math club. Each Monday, in room 214, Mrs. Cooper facilitates an enriching experience, replete with captivating puzzles and interactive games designed to illuminate mathematical concepts.

GCSE Statistics: Guiding Year 10 Trailblazers: Dedicated to the year 10 cohort, our GCSE statistics sessions, helmed by Miss Barrett, unfold each Tuesday in room 217. This exclusive opportunity equips students with a deeper understanding of statistics, promising valuable insights and enhanced mastery.

Elevate with AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics: For the aspiring mathematicians of years 10 and 11, a special journey awaits in room 218. Each Friday, from 2 pm to 3 pm, Miss Smith guides students through the AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics curriculum. This advanced exploration delves into areas beyond the GCSE realm, preparing those considering A level Mathematics.

In the spirit of growth, exploration, and achievement, our extended learning opportunities beckon. Join us as we embrace the boundless potential of academic excellence and personal advancement.

Staff

Miss L Smith – Department Leader of Mathematics

Mr C Herbing - Teacher of Excellence 

Miss M Barrett - SEND champion for Mathematics

Mrs M Cooper

Mr M Taylor - Lead practitioner for behaviour

Mr S Dixon - Deputy Director Sixth Form

Mr S. Fletwood - Joyce

Miss R. Jolloh

Mr G. Lewis

Mr J. Polk

Ms L. Yip

 

Further Reading

Books:

  1. "Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors" by Matt Parker:

    • Delve into entertaining stories of mathematical mistakes and their real-world consequences.
  2. "The Code Book" by Simon Singh:

    • Explore the fascinating history of cryptography and its role in shaping the modern world.
  3. "The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets" by Simon Singh:

    • Discover the mathematical references hidden in the beloved TV show "The Simpsons."
  4. "Fermat’s Last Theorem" by Simon Singh:

    • Dive into the intriguing journey to prove Fermat's Last Theorem, a centuries-old mathematical puzzle.
  5. "Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine" by Hannah Fry:

    • Explore the intersection of mathematics, technology, and human behavior in the digital age.
  6. "The Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything" by Rutherford and Fry:

    • Engage with a wide range of fascinating topics, including mathematics, presented in an accessible manner.
  7. "Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension" by Matt Parker:

    • Take a whimsical journey into the world of mathematical concepts and their practical applications.
  8. "How Not to Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life" by Jordan Ellenberg:

    • Uncover the mathematical principles underlying everyday decisions, from politics to shopping.

YouTube Channels:

  1. Numberphile:

    • Explore a vast collection of videos explaining various mathematical concepts, presented by experts.
  2. 3Blue1Brown:

    • Visualize complex mathematical ideas through engaging animations and explanations.
  3. Math Antics:

    • Access a library of educational math tutorials covering a wide range of topics.

Magazines:

  1. Plus Magazine (https://plus.maths.org/):

    • An online magazine featuring articles, podcasts, and news related to mathematics.
  2. Math Horizons (https://www.maa.org/press/periodicals/math-horizons):

    • A publication by the Mathematical Association of America, offering articles on math and its applications.

Quizzes and Interactive Learning:

  1. Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/):

    • A comprehensive platform offering math tutorials, quizzes, and exercises for various levels.
  2. Brilliant.org (https://brilliant.org/):

    • Access interactive courses, quizzes, and problem-solving challenges to deepen your mathematical understanding.
  3. BBC Bitesize - Maths (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z38pycw):

    • Explore educational resources, quizzes, and lessons tailored to the UK curriculum.

By combining these resources with your coursework, you can enhance your understanding of mathematics and make your learning experience more engaging and enjoyable.

Specification

GCSE Mathematics - Link Here 

GCSE statistics - Link Here

Level 2 Further mathematics - Link Here

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