Mathematics

Introduction:

As a department our vision is to ensure all students have access to an exciting curriculum delivered to them in a way that maximises each individual’s ability to learn and progress. Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline where we want to show students how Maths has a massive part to play across the academy in other subjects from the sciences through to food technology, as well as the influence it will have in their future career paths. Our enthusiasm and passion for the subject filters into the lessons we deliver, this along with our state of the art classrooms and the wide variety of resources we use allows us to create a high-quality mathematics education that therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically and problem solve, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

Our subject area seeks to develop the following in all our students:

1. A positive attitude towards mathematics by:

• seeing it as an interesting and attractive subject
• helping them to appreciate the creative and aesthetic aspects of the subject
• ensuring that persistence through sustained work is rewarded
• giving credit and praise to improve confidence
• encouraging students to set themselves challenging targets

2. Sound numerical skills by:

• ensuring that calculators are used sensibly and efficiently
• the use of starters and plenaries to promote the use of mental skills
• insisting that they learn relevant concepts and facts

3. A willingness to use algebraic skills by:

• exploring mathematical patterns and sequences
• identifying functional relationships
• using correct and appropriate mathematical notation and language
• using mathematics to model real-life situations

Our expectations:

If you encourage your child to do the following then it will help them achieve a better grade in Mathematics:

1) Attendance and Punctuality. Attendance and punctuality to Mathematics lessons is essential as Mathematics is like a ladder. If a rung is missing, or if you don’t get a good grip on it, you’ll struggle to reach the next rung. If enough rungs are missing, it will be difficult to climb higher. If you do miss a lesson for a good reason, please see your teacher and catch up with the work missed.

2) Maximum effort in lesson. Come to lesson with the correct equipment and be mentally prepared to learn. Follow your teacher’s instructions, listen attentively to explanations, and put in maximum effort in the classwork. Ask your teacher for help if you do not understand. At the end of the lesson you should have learnt something, ask yourself what you have learnt.

3) Do your homework. Homework may seem like torture, but it is really designed to help you learn. The key to learning Mathematics is practice: do enough problems on solving linear equations, and you will eventually be able to do it in your sleep. Plus, as you do your homework, you will be able to identify concepts you do not understand and then you can ask your teacher for help.