Learning

Bluecoat Aspley Mathematics Intent Statement

Our rich and diverse mathematics curriculum builds increasingly resilient learners who believe in themselves as confident mathematicians. The values of mathematical activity are wide ranging yet inter-connected. At its most rudimentary, every human needs to understand and apply arithmetic skills. As it increases in complexity, our pupils become resilient problem-solvers, who can meaningfully engage with the world around them. Alongside fluency and problem solving we aim to develop pupils’ mathematical reasoning skills through regular discussion of ideas alongside written explanations and a focus on literacy.

Students will achieve their potential in mathematics through engaging lessons that stretch and challenge students at all levels. Lessons are planned to follow the key concepts of mastery; ideas are broken down into small, connected steps that gradually unfold the concept. Teachers will ensure students master each phase before moving through to the next, following a curriculum specifically sequenced to draw links between topics and target misconceptions head on. Within lessons, representations are used to expose and support understanding of the mathematical structure being taught; efficient recall of facts and procedures and the flexibility to move between different contexts and representations of mathematics is emphasised throughout. Underpinning this, the curriculum design provides opportunities for embedded retrieval practice and a consciously structured order of topics to build from foundational knowledge through to complex material.

Opportunity for support and challenge is found within lessons, but also in extra-curricular activities and opportunities, including numeracy days and competitions such as the National Young Mathematicians’ Awards and the UK Mathematics Trust’s Maths Challenges. At Keys Stage 4, students can opt to study the AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics, an additional qualification which helps bridge the gap to further study at post-16.

The mathematics curriculum goes beyond simply the opportunity to learn functional mathematics. Students are encouraged to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards mathematics and to recognise the importance of mathematics in their own lives and to society.

Expand each Key Stage to access the Curriculum Map and see an overview of what is covered in this subject:

At KS3 in Mathematics pupils have 4 hours a week, please see the curriculum map to see what pupils will learn over the course of their study.

Number remains at the heart of our Year 7 curriculum as this enables students to be successful in all other strands of Mathematics at KS4 and KS5.

In Year 7 the curriculum is strongly linked to the KS2 curriculum to enable students to build on their prior learning and connect their prior knowledge to new concepts.

Algebraic thinking is introduced early in Year 7 to help students generalise throughout the curriculum and see how algebraic thinking can be used as a tool to solve problems in many other concepts.

Calculator use is developed in Year 7 following limited practice with calculators within KS2 experience.

In Year 8 students build on their knowledge and skills gained from Year 7 and KS2 through learning about how to use bar models to understand proportional relationships.

Many more algebraic concepts are introduced to enable links to be established between geometry and algebraic manipulation.

Curriculum Map Maths 2022 23v2 KS3

At KS4 in Mathematics pupils have 4 hours a week. We follow the AQA specification: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-8300/specification-at-a-glance

Students are introduced to additional algebraic manipulation to enable students to solve coordinate geometry and further 2D/3D geometric problems. Students build on their knowledge of expanding and factorising a single bracket to two or more brackets. In addition to this, students begin to solve quadratic equations having learnt about solving linear equations in Year 8.

Angle knowledge is repeated from Year 7 and built upon to include polygons. The foundation/higher pathways are introduced this academic year to enable more time for lower attaining students to close the gaps in their knowledge.

Students also build on prior learning from subsequent years to learn about Trigonometry and its applications. Additional algebraic techniques are introduced to provide students with more tools for solving complex problems. Statistical representations are explored with opportunities for students to analyse data in a variety of ways.

Curriculum Map Maths 2022 23v2 KS4

A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics

At KS5 in Mathematics and Further Mathematics pupils have 5 hours a week. We follow the AQA specification for both qualifications:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/as-and-a-level/mathematics-7357/specification-at-a-glance

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/as-and-a-level/further-mathematics-7367/specification-at-a-glance

Within KS5 Mathematics students extend their range of mathematical skills and techniques which were developed throughout KS4 and start to make greater connections between the different areas of mathematics.

Students are introduced to mathematical proof, which uses their algebraic manipulation techniques to construct rigorous arguments. Students also build on prior knowledge of coordinate geometry to refine skills in calculus, which allow for a strong mathematical foundation for many other topics.

Trigonometry and its applications are also reviewed and further developed, these skills are used to solve problems in the mechanics strand, as well as investigate how the nature of these functions can be used in complex algebraic and calculus problems.

Within the statistics strand of the course students work with real data sets which enables them to explore further data presentation and interpretation and as well as develop skills to be able to draw reliable conclusions.

With a deeper emphasis throughout the course on problem solving, reasoning and modelling, students are equipped with the skills required to study Mathematics at Higher Education.

Level 3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies

The Level 3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies is a 1 year course, which is usually taken alongside 3 Level 3 qualifications. It has equivalent UCAS points to an AS Level and can lead to reduced offer from some universities, for courses which have a mathematical element, but do not require A Level Mathematics. Students who study this qualification have 3 hours of lessons per week.

Mathematical Studies will help students to retain, deepen and extend their mathematical knowledge from KS4 to be better prepared for higher education and employment. It will enable students to understand and apply, clear mathematical reasoning to real life problems, analyse and interpret data in various contexts and confidently deal with financial maths. Additionally, it will also help support the mathematical element of other A Level subjects including Science, Business Studies, Geography and Psychology.

Curriculum Map Maths 2022 23v2 KS5

Contact Us

Bluecoat Aspley Academy
Aspley Lane
Aspley
Nottingham
NG8 5GY

E-mail: office@bluecoataspley.co.uk
Tel: 0115 929 7445

© 2024 Archway Learning Trust Privacy Policies Made by CODA Education

Bluecoat Aspley Academy