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
AQA GCSE Mathematics (8300)
GCSE Mathematics has a Foundation tier (grades 1 – 5) and a Higher tier (grades 4 – 9). Students must take three question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.
What’s assessed:
Content from any part of the specification may be assessed on any paper. As such, some questions will draw together elements of Maths from different topic areas. The weighting of the topic areas has been prescribed by Ofqual and is common to all exam boards. The table below shows the approximate weightings of the topic areas for the overall tier of assessment, not for each individual question paper.
| Topic | Foundation Tier (%) | Higher Tier (%) |
| Number | 25 | 15 |
| Algebra | 20 | 30 |
| Ratio | 25 | 20 |
| Geometry | 15 | 20 |
| Probability & Statistics | 15 | 15 |
How it’s assessed:
- 3 papers at the end of year 11
- Each written exam lasts for 1 hour 30 minutes
- Each paper contains 80 marks
- Paper 1 is non-calculator, papers 2 and 3 have calculator allowed
- Each exam represents ⅓ of the GCSE Mathematics assessment
Questions:
A mix of question styles, from short, single-mark questions to multi-step problems. The mathematical demand increases as a student progresses through the paper.
AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics (8365)
Students in Year 10 and 11 are given the opportunity to study Further Mathematics to help the transition of students to Mathematics beyond Year 11. AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Maths is a unique qualification designed to stretch and challenge high achieving mathematicians who either already have, or are expected to achieve the top grades in GCSE Mathematics or are likely to progress to study A-level Mathematics and possibly Further Mathematics. High-achieving students are introduced to AS topics that will help them develop skills in algebra, geometry, calculus, matrices, trigonometry, functions and graphs
AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics is linear and has a single tier (grades 5 – 9). Students take two question papers. Both question papers must be taken in the same series.
What’s assessed:
Content from any part of the specification may be assessed on either paper. As such, some questions will draw together elements of Maths from different topic areas. This includes content from the GCSE Mathematics specification.
How it’s assessed:
- 2 papers
- Each written exam lasts for 1 hour 45 minutes
- Each paper contains 80 marks
- Paper 1 is non-calculator, paper 2 has calculator allowed
- Each exam represents 50% of the Further Mathematics assessment
Questions:
A mix of question styles, from short, single-mark questions to multi-step problems. The mathematical demand increases as a student progresses through the paper.
Resources
AQA GCSE Maths Specification
AQA Level 2 Further Maths Specification
Careers Links
Mathematics provides a wide array of transferable skills that can be applied to a vast range of different career paths.
- Maths, why bother?
- Where can I go with Maths?
- Women in Science (University of Warwick)
- This Is Engineering
- Engineers at Work
- How is Maths used in Merchant Navy careers?
- ‘How maths scored me a job in fantasy football’
- How to become a maths teacher: Dina’s story
- How to become a senior research manager: Jennifer’s story
- How to become a gaming company director: Mike’s story
- How to become a degree apprentice process engineer: Alex’s story
- How to become an aircraft engineer: Balwant’s story
- How to become a management accountant: Omar’s story
