The aim of the mathematics department is to provide the best opportunities for students to discover, develop and progress their understanding of maths. There is a focus on helping students to be ready for their own next steps in numeracy, regardless of ability and background, to prepare them for a happy and successful life in modern Britain. The Maths curriculum at TCA provides students with the opportunity to link Maths to real life situations.  It is designed to improve the fluency of Mathematical concepts taught in Key Stage 2 and develop further to include abstract problems linked with problems in context. Specifically in Year 9 our students spend time looking at Wages, Taxes, Loans and Savings – linking this to salaries, mortgages and paying for utilities.  We link closely with other subjects, so our students can see the benefit of studying Maths. 

Throughout the maths curriculum the focus on developing knowledge and skills is constant, with all students given the tools and support to attain their potential. The Programme of Study is designed and tailored to ensure all students have access to the full rich curriculum regardless of their starting position. The main aims of the curriculum are to:

• Develop fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods.
• Acquire, select and apply mathematical techniques to solve problems.
• Reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences and draw conclusions.
• Comprehend, interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms appropriate to information and context.
• Provide a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment.

Key Stage 3
The curriculum at KS3 is designed to support and develop Maths key knowledge delivered at KS2 and broaden these skills further by adding greater depth and breadth to student understanding. In a bid to drive change, further developments around collaboratively working between KS2 and KS3 is paramount. High expectations are set for every child, number sense and place value comes first and problem solving is at the heart.  The programme of study is clear and allows for innovative teaching that can be adapted to maintain the very best progress and development. Students are assessed regularly to maintain an awareness of progress, allowing teachers to adapt their teaching to match students’ needs. In Years 7, 8 & 9 students study skills from the four main areas of Maths, which are  Number, Algebra, Geometry and Data Handling. The curriculum builds over the three years, to ensure the basics for each skill are covered and then built upon with increasing difficulty. Recall and Retention is built into lessons in the form of a ‘Do Now’ which helps students remember the skills from previous lessons and topics.  During a half term students will cover 2-3 units of work and these are assessed at the end of the half term.

GCSE Mathematics
GCSE Mathematics is a qualification that is required by most employers and is often needed for entry to further or higher education, and so it is an important subject to study.
Mathematics requires logical thinking and develops practical and analytical skills that can be used in everyday life.

Description of the course

You will study:

• Number
• Algebra
• Geometry and Measures
• Probability and Statistics
• Ratio and proportion

You will learn to following skills:

• Numeracy
• Logical Thinking
• Problem Solving Techniques
• How to Work Independently

How the course is assessed
The new GCSE is still based on two tiers of examinations, a higher and a foundation. Grades are no longer being used to assess students and they will gain a number from 9-1. The number 5 now represents a good pass and the number 7 approximately equal to an A.

Examination
Assessment for the GCSE is 100% exam and is assessed through three linear papers at the end of year 11. 1 non calculator and 2 calculator papers each an hour and a half long. Each paper holds 80 marks and are equally weighted.

Other information
All students will be expected to bring a pen, pencil, ruler and rubber to all Mathematics lessons. There are numerous resources that the department has invested in to support students at home and it is expected that students complete at least 1 hour per week of independent work.

Our Maths Learning Journey document can be found here.

Curriculum Plans
Curriculum plans for Mathematics can be viewed from the links below.