Mathematics Faculty

Curriculum Structure & Pedagogy (Key Stage 3 & 4)

• Logical Sequencing: The Long Term Plan groups concepts logically to ensure students develop foundational knowledge for subsequent years.
• Key Stage 2 Induction: A 4-week induction phase at the start of Year 7 refreshes and secures prior knowledge.
• Years 7 & 8: The curriculum is covered over 9 units using mastery lessons to consolidate recall, retention, and enable a deeper exploration of problem solving.
• Year 9 Consolidation: Students recap and consolidate learning, with stretch and challenge to prepare for GCSE content, helping to ‘knit together’ mathematical strands.
• Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11): The curriculum is divided into 3 modules of mutually reinforcing concepts. Year 11 begins with a focus on developing problem solving and application of knowledge to GCSE exam questions.
• Real-World Relevance: Lesson resources emphasize the relevance of Mathematics topics to a broad range of further study and careers.
• Support for Struggling Students: Students struggling with the GCSE content can sit the Edexcel Entry Level Certificate, which covers basic numeracy, geometry, and probability topics across 3 levels.
• Curriculum Plan: The MNSP Maths full curriculum implementation plan can be found by clicking here.

Monitoring and Attainment

• Progress Monitoring: Uses a weekly cycle of homework, feedback, and follow-up work across Key Stage 3 and 4.
• Attainment Measurement: Measured through a tri-termly cycle of revision, assessment, and holistic feedback via MET reports.
• Transition Support: A mid-unit assessment at the start of Year 10 aids the transition to Key Stage 4 style assessments.
• Assessment Cycle: Key Stage 4 modules conclude with a fortnight of revision followed by a comprehensive assessment split over 3 papers (1 non-calculator, 2 calculator).

Parental Support & Attitude

Resources: Use key resources like Mathswatch VLE and revision lists/worksheets. Access to resources is available for parents to improve their own mathematical knowledge.

Positive Attitude: Parents are asked to be a positive influence, not to shy away from or be negative about the subject, as this can impede a child’s progress.

Engagement: Parents should pay a keen interest in lessons, ask to see completed homework, and encourage the student to explain the most recent topic they have covered.

Confidence: Giving a lot of praise is crucial, as low confidence is a big problem for some students in maths.

• Algebra & Number: Basic Number: Product rule for counting. Solving Equations: Solving linear and quadratic equations, Solving equations with indices, Completing the square, Solving disguised quadratics. Simultaneous Equations: Solving simultaneous equations in 2 or 3 unknowns.
• Sequences: Linear and quadratic sequences, Limiting value of a sequence.
• Calculus (Introduction): Understand and use notation, Differentiate a given polynomial, Find rate of change at a given point.
• Binomial Expansion: Expand double brackets, Use the binomial expansion.
• Matrix Algebra & Matrix Calculations: Multiplying matrices by scalar, Multiply a matrix by a matrix.
• Matrix Transformations: Use matrices to describe a transformation, Transformations of a unit square, Combining transformations.
• Coordinate Geometry: Introduction to Co-ordinate Geometry: Gradients of parallel and perpendicular lines, Dividing a line in a given ratio.
• Trigonometry: Find the angle between a line and a plane, Solve problems in 3D. Further Trigonometry: Solving trig equations, Using trig identities to prove results and solve equations.
• Factor Theorem: Show a linear expression is a factor of a given function, Use algebraic long division to find all the factors of a cubic, Use Factor Theorem to solve a given cubic.
• Geometry: Basic Geometry: Sine and Cosine rule in 2D and 3D. Equations of Straight Lines and Circles: Find the equation of a straight line, Know the equation of a circle and its properties, Use circle theorems to solve problems.
• Functions: Domain and range, Inverse functions.
• Calculus Applications: Use calculus to find equations of tangents and normals, Identify increasing and decreasing functions, Find second derivatives, Identify and distinguish maxima and minima.
• Graphing & Inequalities: Sketching Functions: Draw graphs with three parts to their domain. Inequalities: Solve a quadratic inequality.

Further Maths Assessment Overview

• Termly Assessments: 1 x 60 minute written assessment homework task in Terms 1-4 of Year 10, and Term 1 of Year 11.
• Major Assessments: 1 x 105 minute written assessment in Terms 3 & 4 of Year 11.
• Year 10 Exam: 2 x 45 minute written assessments (Term 5).
• GCSE Mock Exam: 1 x 105 minute exam paper (Term 2).

• Collection of Data: Types of data, Population and sampling, Sampling methods.
• Designing Investigations: Hypothesis formation, Methods for collecting data (Questionnaires, experiments), Designing investigations, Problems with collected data.
• Qualitative & Discrete Data: Pictograms and bar charts, Stem and leaf diagrams, Pie charts, Comparative pie charts.
• Continuous Data: Population pyramids and choropleth maps, Cumulative frequency diagrams, Equal and unequal width histograms, Describe the shape of a distribution.
• Box Plots: Draw and read values from a boxplot, Identifying outliers by inspection and calculation, Determine skewness by inspection and calculation.
• Measures of Central Tendency: Calculate and average from a list, Calculate averages from frequency tables, Use linear interpolation to find a median, geometric and weighted means.
• Measures of Dispersion: Range, quartiles and interquartile range, Standard deviation.
• Scatter Diagrams & Correlation: Plot scatter diagram and describe correlation, Draw line of best fit and find equation of, Calculate and interpret Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, Interpret PMCC (Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient).
• Time Series: Moving averages and seasonal trends, Trend lines, Using mean seasonal variation to make predictions.
• Basic Probability: Use the language of probability and calculate a probability, Solve problems involving mutually exclusive and independent events, Conditional probability.
• Probability Distributions: Binomial distribution, Normal distribution and standardised scores, Quality Assurance.
• Index Numbers: Simple index number, RPI, CPI and GDP, Chain base index numbers, Rates of change, including crude birth rate.

Statistics Assessment Overview

The course is assessed regularly through termly written assessments, with a major transition to exam-style papers in Year 10 and 11.