Maths

During Key Stage Three students deepen their knowledge of number, geometry and statistics skills and start their transition towards increasingly abstract concepts such as formulas, proof and probability. They develop their explanation and generalising skills and start to be exposed to proof. 

The Key Stage Three curriculum is designed to continue the transition of students from concrete through pictorial to abstract from their starting points. We use a Mastery based approach where coherence between topics is a priority and where depth comes before breadth in students’ learning. 

Students learn all topics in the Curriculum strands

• In Number topics, they deepen their knowledge of decimals, powers and estimation and use this to solve increasingly complex problems. 

• In Algebra, students develop their knowledge of unknowns and variables and connect these to produce abstract formulations of patterns and formulas. 

• In Geometry, students deepen their understanding of concepts of measure and use these to solve problems. They encounter irrational numbers in the context of geometry, which exposes them to a more abstract and theoretical appreciation of Mathematics. 

• In Ratio and Proportion students are introduced to more complex proportional variation and to make use of pictorial solutions using tools such as bar models, double number lines and ratio tables. 

• In Statistics and Probability students deepen their knowledge of the concept of randomness and apply this to problems. Knowledge of measures of central tendency and spread are also deepened through problem solving and more complex scenarios such as grouped data. 

• Students benefit from a weekly Maths club, access to a wide variety of additional websites. 

• Students also take part in a yearly Maths trail, either in Central London or on school sites. 

• About sixty of our students take part in the UKMT Maths challenge. 

• We run a Pi day challenge every year

At Key Stage Four, students build on their knowledge of the National Curriculum Strands as in Key Stage three and develop their problem solving skills in all topics encountered at Key Stage Three from their starting points and are introduced to new topics. 

Mathematical knowledge and skills are crucial for many sixth form courses, ranging from Mathematics and Engineering, to Science and Business and Psychology. 

Knowledge of Mathematical facts and mathematical skills such as interpretation of graphs and use of proportional reasoning are key to preparing students for many courses and facilitate transition to a wide array of qualifications. 

All students work through all strands of the National Curriculum and all GCSE assessment components:

AO1: Use and apply standard techniques

AO2: Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically

AO3: Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts

This is irrespective of their tier of entry. 

As in Key Stage Three, problem solving is at the heart of learning and students are constantly supported in their writing and critical skills across all topics and all strands. 

• Some of our Foundation students work towards the Edexcel Number and Measure Level 1 qualification as a step towards GCSE. 

• Some of our students work towards the AQA Level Two Further Mathematics qualification as an addition to their GCSE course.  Topics in Further Maths are delivered alongside the corresponding GCSE topics with calculus and matrices being taught at the end of the course.  

• Schemes of work are synchronised to make sure that those students who need to change their tier can do so at a time that is appropriate for their development and with support offered as part of the Year 11 Maths club provision. 

• Students have access to an e-textbook which is referenced in the scheme of work. 

• In Year 11 all classes have a routine programme of on-line revision tasks and linked starters, which are completed every week, so that teachers can offer timely feedback on revision topics. 

All students have access to a weekly Maths club. Students are free to bring their own questions or to work on questions according to a club sequence of topics that is timed to support the delivery of the curriculum. 

In Year 10, there is one Maths club. 

In year 11, there are four parallel Maths club, one of each tier of entry

• Maths with Further Maths

• Higher Mathematics

• Common content 

• Foundation Mathematics

Some of our students attend the Maths in Action lectures

All our students working towards Further Maths and anyone else who is recommended by their teacher is entered for the UKMT Maths Challenge. 

Some of our Year 10 students take part of the Yearly UKMT Maths Feast

A Level Mathematics

At Key Stage Five, the A Level in Mathematics requires students to acquire use and apply knowledge in the following topics: 

• Proof, Algebra and functions 

• Coordinate geometry in the (x,y) plane

• Sequences and series

• Trigonometry

• Exponentials and logarithms

• Calculus and Numerical methods 

• Statistical sampling

• Data presentation and interpretation

• Probability and Statistics including distributions and hypothesis testing

• One and two dimensional Kinematics

• One and two-dimensional Dynamics

• Moments 

• The A Level Mathematics qualification empowers students to develop their algebraic skills and acquire knowledge of new and theoretical parts of the subject, such as Calculus, Statistics and Mechanics

• The course develops students' ability to recognise, implement and critically evaluate mathematical models, thereby developing their critical skills.  

• As with the rest of Mathematics provision, students extensively discuss open problems and difficult questions in class and are taught how to do this in an environment where making errors is safe.

• Students benefit from access to an e-textbook, which is mapped to the curriculum and to a variety of websites to support their learning. 

• Students are actively encouraged throughout the course to deepen their learning through the list of suggested readings and all students attend a yearly lecture of the nature of truth at the beginning of the course.

All students are entered for the UKMT senior individual challenge and some are selected to take part in the team challenges. 

Girls are entered for the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls competition. 

There are three different Maths clubs 

• A Skills Maths Club, which is designed to support students who are struggling with their transition to the A Level course. Attendance is compulsory for some students but anyone can attend. 

• The Main Maths Club, where students can discuss questions they have found difficult or mathematical problems which they wish to discuss with their teachers. Attendance is compulsory for some students but anyone can attend. 

• A STEP-MAT Club where students prepare for STEP MAT/PAT and other additional papers in study circles with teachers’ supervision  needed to access Oxbridge and other top institutions. 

• Sixth formers can choose Maths coaching as part of their enrichment programme. Students attend a short course of teaching standards and teaching skills and support Key Stage Four clubs weekly, thereby developing professional and communication skills which prepare them for the world of work. 

• Students are also encouraged and supported to enter extra curricular courses led by the King’s College Maths School. AMSP,  and UCL and they are offered support in school with anything they find challenging.

• Students are provided with an extensive reading list and specific support to prepare their university statements, including research on extra curricular topics, such as Group Theory and Chaos Theory, to name two. They do this at Maths club and through individual supervision from their teachers. 

• Students are supported with Mock interviews to prepare for the Oxbridge selection process. 

A Level Further Mathematics

Further Mathematics consists of three components, Further Pure, Further Mechanics and Decision Mathematics. 

Its topics are designed to deepen knowledge of the topics students learn in Mathematics and to further develop modelling and critical analysis skills. 

In addition to this, the topics in Discrete Mathematics offer students access to knowledge that is entirely new to them, and expands their horizons to applications in networking and to aspects of pure reasoning such as Proof by induction and Mathematical structures (Matrices, Group Theory) which provide students with excellent foundations for courses and pathways with significant and challenging Mathematical content. 

At Key Stage Five, the A Level in Further Mathematics requires students to acquire use and apply knowledge in the following topics: 

Pure

• Proof

• B: Complex numbers

• C: Matrices

• D: Further Algebra and Functions

• E: Further Calculus

• F: Further Vectors

• G: Polar coordinates

• H: Hyperbolic functions

• I: Differential equations

• J: Trigonometry

• K: Numerical Methods

Mechanics

• Dimensional Analysis

• Momentum and Collisions

• Work, Power and Energy

• Circular Motion

• Centres of Mass and moments

Discrete Mathematics

• Graph theory and its applications to networks

• Network Flows

• Two and Three dimensional Linear Programming

• Critical Path Analysis

• Game Theory for zero-sum games

• Binary Operations and Group Theory

• The Further Maths Scheme of work is designed to be consistent with the Mathematics scheme of work. 

• Extension and support provision works in the same way as in Mathematics, with students accessing Maths club in school for support or STEP/MAT preparation and support to attend lectures and courses offered by King’s College Maths School and UCL. 

• Students are also exposed to additional topics such as Chaos Theory, to quote one, and are supported if they need help with any tasks set by their additional courses.