Mathematics
Overview
The Mathematics department at Edgbarrow is a strong and successful team. There are currently nine Mathematics teachers in the department, three full-time. We have a history of nurturing consistently high results from our students both in terms of raw attainment and also a progression from Key Stage 2.
The department is well resourced with eight classrooms (six in the main block and two in the Sixth Form Centre) all of which have a desktop machine and an interactive whiteboard. The department has compiled an extensive bank of stored resources for use on the interactive whiteboard with all year groups, to which all staff contribute. There is also a central staff area that is used for storing equipment and teaching materials. We have access to the school computer labs for investigative/research work and also the use of a full class set of laptops with full WiFi capability. Staff continuously share good practice and often plan together to maintain consistent delivery between classes.
We regularly host School Direct/PGCE teacher training students from Reading University in a proven, mutually beneficial arrangement. They bring fresh ideas and new research into the classroom in return for our guidance and feedback on their teaching.
We have well-established relationships with primary schools in our catchment and offer guidance to Year 6 pupils who are about to make the transition to Secondary school.
Key Staff
Mrs Holloway - Head of Department
Mr Laurie-Pile - (2nd in Department)
Mrs Arden-White
Mrs Fulton
Mrs Gascoigne
Mr Gilland
Miss Knowles
Mr Marshall
Mrs Meyer
Mr Simpson
Mr Singleton
Mrs Tolcher
Results
Results achieved by pupils in Mathematics are outstanding as recognised by Ofsted.
Key Stage 3
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GCSE Maths
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A Level Maths
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Further Maths
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100% band 2+ |
9 - 1 100% |
Pass 98% |
Pass 100% |
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97% band 3+ |
9 - 4 87.5% |
A*- C 64% |
A*- C 86% |
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91% band 4+ |
9 - 5 74% |
A*- B 39% |
A*- B 43% |
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88% band 5+ |
9 - 7 29% |
A*/A 9% |
A*/A 29% |
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73% band 6+ | |||
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46% band 7+ | |||
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26% band 8+ | |||
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8% band 9 |
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Maths Equipment Price List - Nov 2019 |
Curriculum IntentOur aim is to develop the mathematical knowledge of students and increase their confidence to use their numerical skills across the curriculum and out in the real world. We aim to create resilient students who persevere and experience the excitement of solving problems. |
Key Stage 3
Pupils are set by ability on arrival at Edgbarrow. Years 7 and 8 are taught in two parallel half year groups. From Year 9 onwards, the whole year group is taught at the same time and there is a vertical setting arrangement. A digital textbook accessed via the Kerboodle platform (OUP) is used by all classes in Years 7, 8 and 9. Pupils have end of year assessments which are used to guide our setting for the following year.
KS3 Banding
Students will follow national guidelines throughout Key Stage 3 to support and prepare them for their Key Stage 4 courses. The school operates a banding system of 1-9 (9 being the highest band). Students will be given a target based upon their Key Stage 2 scores and baseline assessments on arrival at Edgbarrow. The band they are awarded at the end of the Key Stage is intended to be indicative of the grade they may achieve at GCSE.
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Key Stage 4
GCSE
The vertical setting arrangement continues throughout Key Stage 4. The current GCSE course leads to entry for AQA linear syllabus 8300. A digital textbook accessed via the Kerboodle platform (OUP) is used by all classes in Years 10 and 11.
AQA GCSE specification
Key Stage 5
Core Maths - Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths B (MEI)
Quantitative Problem Solving
This is a one year course designed for students who enjoy maths but who don't wish to study it for the full two years at A-Level. It has also been written to help learners with the maths and statistics elements of other subjects they are studying, such as Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Business Studies, Economics, PE and more.
This course teaches students the spreadsheet and analysis skills to enable them to understand this world. Core Maths also explains that the statistical skills learned at GCSE are not simply a random set of isolated techniques. Learners will study the statistical problem-solving cycle and use this to solve a wide variety of problems.
The content is split between two components: Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning and Statistical Problem Solving. In the content Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning, learners are taught to use a modelling cycle, a statistical problem-solving cycle and a financial problem-solving cycle. They are also taught to use spreadsheets to work on a variety of problems. In the content Statistical Problem Solving, learners use spreadsheets and the statistical problem-solving cycle to analyse authentic statistical problems arising from a variety of work, life and study-related contexts. They are introduced to more sophisticated statistical techniques and so are able to address a wider range of problems. Learners are expected to work with large, real data sets during the course and familiarity with the contexts involved in one such data set will be expected in the examination.
This is a one-year course with external exams at the end of that year.
A Level
Mathematics is one of the most popular choices for A Level at Edgbarrow and there are usually four or five Mathematics A-Level classes of 15 to 22 students in each year group. There is a Further Mathematics group in each year.
This is a 2-year linear specification with all exams being sat in the Summer of Year 13. The course will cover topics in pure maths, statistics and mechanics. Students will have access to online resources including integral and a digital textbook via Kerboodle platform. Students are asked to contribute financially to these online resources.
Edexcel A Level Specification
Further Mathematics
Year 12
Students will be doing AS exams in this subject with Edexcel in Summer of Year 12.
AS Level Further Maths Specification
Year 13
Students will be doing A-Level exams in this subject with Edexcel in Summer of Year 13.
A Level Further Maths Specification
Extra-Curricular
Top sets for all year groups (7 to 13) are entered into the UKMT maths challenge which happens once a year. The highest achievers in this then go onto the second round of the competition. We also take Years 8 to 13 on Team Maths Challenges.
For further information regarding our Mathematics Curriculum please contact:
Mrs Holloway denise.holloway@edgbarrowschool.co.uk
