Mathematics

Within Key Stage 3 students study the National Curriculum at a level relevant to them. This builds on the achievements and experiences of the primary curriculum and allows pupils to enjoy a smooth transition from primary to secondary school Mathematics. Class sizes vary according to ability with setting taking place at the end of term 1. Setting is reviewed each term and changes made where they are felt necessary.

The curriculum is sequenced to ensure that topics are revisited and built upon throughout KS3, enabling students to master maths with confidence. Retrieval practice is also encouraged to support memory and recall within Mathematics from Year 7 and throughout a students' time at LPGS.

Example topics to be covered:

Number

• Fractions, percentages, conversions and measurements.

Algebra

• Solving equations, simplifying expressions and deriving formulae.

Geometry and Measures

• Area, perimeter and volume, angle facts, 2D and 3D shapes.

Statistics

• Representing and analysing data, probability.

Opportunities to develop mathematical skills beyond the standard curriculum are embraced through participation in national mathematics competitions and challenges, we are also excited to be celebrating the highest achievers by encouraging participation within Maths' Circles from January 2022.  Students are assessed throughout Key Stage 3 using both unit and formal assessments, their progress is monitored to ensure that they fulfil their potential.  

Textbooks for Year 7 and Year 8

In KS3 we use Pearson's Purposeful Practise books.  The book is provided for students to work through in class.  At home, students have access to Mathswatch, giving them opportunities to watch videos and practise.  

Enrichment

• Maths challenge, UKMT
• Maths enrichment opportunities within the enrichment curriculum
• External speakers
• Supervised extra help and support sessions

All students at LPGS sit Maths GCSE with an approximate split Higher: Foundation of 2:1. In addition to this the highest ability Year 11 students sit the AQA level 2 certificate in Further Maths and the Entry Level Certificate is offered to selected students for whom it is suitable.

• The aims of Maths GCSE are to enable students to:
• Develop fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts
• 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 the information and context.

The grading is 9 – 1 with 9 being the highest attainable grade. The Higher tier covers grades 9 – 4 and the Foundation tier grades 5 – 1. There is an overlap of content in the Higher and Foundation tier enabling final decisions about tier of entry to be made after the trial examinations in Year 11.

The Maths GCSE is a linear course with no controlled assessment or coursework. At the end of Year 11 the students will sit three equally weighted papers each 1½ hours long and worth 80 marks. One of these papers only will be non-calculator.

The course structure

In each term throughout the GCSE course students will cover progressively more challenging elements of each of:

1. Number
2. Algebra
3. Ratio, proportion and rates of change
4. Geometry and measures
5. Probability
6. Statistics
7. Student resources

To support their study each student: 

• has online access to Pearson Active Learn 
• has online access to Maths Watch
• has online access to the LPGS VLE, Firefly, where they can access a wealth of revision material and course information

There is no coursework or Controlled Assessment requirement in GCSE Maths.

Grade descriptors for GCSEs graded 9 to 1: mathematics

1. Grade 8

To achieve grade 8, candidates will be able to:

• perform procedures accurately
• interpret and communicate complex information accurately
• make deductions and inferences and draw conclusions
• construct substantial chains of reasoning, including convincing arguments and formal proofs
• generate efficient strategies to solve complex mathematical and non-mathematical problems by translating them into a series of mathematical processes
• make and use connections, which may not be immediately obvious, between different parts of mathematics 
• interpret results in the context of the given problem
• critically evaluate methods, arguments, results and the assumptions made

2. Grade 5

To achieve grade 5, candidates will be able to:

• perform routine single- and multi-step procedures effectively by recalling, applying and interpreting notation, terminology, facts, definitions and formulae
• interpret and communicate information effectively
• make deductions, inferences and draw conclusions
• construct chains of reasoning, including arguments
• generate strategies to solve mathematical and non-mathematical problems by translating them into mathematical processes, realising connections between different parts of mathematics
• interpret results in the context of the given problem
• evaluate methods and results

3. Grade 2

To achieve grade 2, candidates will be able to:

• recall and use notation, terminology, facts and definitions; perform routine procedures, including some multi-step procedures
• interpret and communicate basic information; make deductions and use reasoning to obtain results
• solve problems by translating simple mathematical and non-mathematical problems into mathematical processes
• provide basic evaluation of methods or results
• interpret results in the context of the given problem

AQA LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE IN FURTHER MATHEMATICS (8360)

The highest achieving Maths students may also sit the AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics. This complements and extends the Higher tier GCSE syllabus and can be taught alongside maths GCSE. It is sat at the end of Year 11 with decisions about entry being made after the trial exams.

The Further Maths course is designed for students who will comfortably achieve grades 8 or 9 at GCSE and it provides an excellent preparation for A-level study after Year 11.

You may find out more about this qualification and look at specimen assessment materials at

aqa fUTHER MATHEMATICS

Assessment

Two papers are sat at the end of Year 11

• Paper 1 Non-Calculator 1 hour 30 minutes
• Paper 2 Calculator 2 hours

Grades will be awarded as follows:

• Award achievement at A* to C, with an additional distinction grade (A* with distinction), for students who achieve at a level beyond A*

A-level Mathematics is one of the most popular A-levels taken in England. Young people recognise that it’s a highly desirable qualification. For many STEM and Economics degree courses, A level Mathematics is a pre-requisite. For others, such as Geography and Finance, studying A-level Mathematics is very useful, as it helps to keep students’ mathematical skills fresh and prepares them for the maths they will encounter during the course.

We follow the Edexcel specification. Over this two year course students will extend the mathematics they covered at GCSE and be introduced to new topics covering:

• Pure Maths: Methods and techniques which underpin the study of all other areas of mathematics, such as, proof, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and vectors
• Statistics: Reaching conclusions from data and calculating the likelihood of an event occurring.
• Mechanics: The modelling of the world around us, the motion of objects and the forces acting on them. Particularly useful for careers in physics and engineering

Entry Requirements

Minimum grade 7 in GCSE Maths

Assessment

The course culminates in three 2 hour papers:

• Paper 1: Pure Maths  (100 marks)
• Paper 2: Pure Maths (100 marks)
• Paper 3: Statistics & Mechanics (100 marks)

Further Mathematics broadens and deepens the maths covered in A-level Mathematics. Students will study:

• Core Pure Maths including matrices and complex numbers
• Further Statistics
• Decision Maths - applying advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions

The course is designed to stretch and challenge students and prepare them for university courses in mathematics and related quantitative and scientific subjects. Students taking Further Maths at LPGS sit the Maths A-level exam at the end of Y12 and the Further Maths exam at the end of Year 13.

Entry Requirements

Minimum grade 8 in GCSE Maths

Assessment

The course culminates in four 90 minute papers:

• Paper 1: Core Pure Maths (75 marks)
• Paper 2: Core Pure Maths (75 marks)
• Paper 3: Further Statistics (75 marks)
• Paper 4: Decision Maths (75 marks)