Mathematics
At Merchants' Academy Primary, we work collboratively with the Boolean Maths Hub to deliver the White Rose Maths curriculum and Mastering number to our children in Early Years to Year 6.
Primary
Maths Intent – Why do we teach this? Why do we teach it in a particular manner?
Mathematics is an essential and innovative discipline that helps us interpret and change the world we live in today. Our ambition is for all children at E-Act Merchants' Academy Primary to experience the beauty, influence and enjoyment of mathematics and develop a sense of imagination and interest through the subject with clarity.
At Merchants' Academy, we enhance positive attitudes towards the subject through growth mindsets, ensuring that all children understand that they can do Maths, and that any difficulty is purely temporary. Our outlook as a school community is that all children are able to achieve in Mathematics, and this is accentuated through ensuring that all children are taught to have a secure and deep understanding of mathematical concepts through concise differentiation.
We aim for all children to:
- become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
- reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
- solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.
Implementation – What do we teach? What does this look like?
Our whole curriculum is shaped by one of our school values which encourages children to 'think big'. This is achieved by putting all pupils at the forefront of everything we do, regardless of their background or ability. This allows all children to flourish and become the very best version of themselves.
To encourage whole-school consistency and progression, the school has adopted the DfE approved ‘White Rose Maths’ scheme of learning. New concepts are often introduced to the children through an 'I do' where the teacher will explicitly model the concept; this then prompts discussion and verbal reasoning, in addition to possibly promoting an awareness of maths in relatable real-life contexts that are connected to other areas of learning. This articulation with peers is supported through the manipulation of concrete resources, with all children being given the independence to explore. Teachers direct intelligently planned questions to draw out children’s thought processes, enhancing the high-quality vocabulary we expect at Merchants' Academy Primary. This elicited learning is reinforced by teacher-supported strategies for solving the problem, including those already discussed. The democratic approach to learning within the subject allows all pupils to reflect on their learning and contribute to whole-class discussions, supporting the children as they enter their independent learning.
Impact – By the time children leave our school, they will…
The school has a compassionate ethos and our approaches support children in developing their collaborative and independent skills. Children can often find difficulty in Mathematics as they believe that they simply ‘can’t do it’ or that you have to be naturally good at it. In our community, we address these preconceptions regularly by ensuring that all children experience challenge and success in the subject through developing a growth mindset. Assessment is used in order to inform teaching, as well as intervention, to meet the needs of all children, allowing the subject to be accessed positively by all involved. Through this, we consistently highlight our high standards and expectations, which is evident through every child’s ability to follow a line of enquiry and develop and present a justification, argument or proof using mathematical language.
Secondary
Mathematics at Merchants’ Academy curriculum intent
At Merchants’ Academy, mathematics is for everyone. We aim to engage and enthuse students with essential mathematical knowledge and skills to reach their ultimate destination.
In years 7 and 8, students follow the modified mathematics mastery curriculum plan. This is intended to ensure that students have a strong foundation of key basic number and numeracy skills. We concentrate on depth over breadth, and different models and methods are used to explore mathematical concepts. We aim to ensure that our students acquire a deep, long term and a firm understanding of the subject.
Our mathematics curriculum is built upon how working memory works, and we have sequenced the content in a way that ensures that knowledge builds upon previous learning. During lessons, prior knowledge is ascertained to ensure students are consistently building upon their current understanding. In years 7 and 8, students are encouraged to physically represent mathematical concepts where possible. We use manipulatives such as Cuisenaire rods, bead ropes and Diene blocks to support students in their conceptual understanding.
At Key stage 4, we continue to build students’ understanding of mathematical concepts and develop further some abstract ideas. We aim to support students to be functional in real life and apply their mathematical knowledge to mathematical situations around us, e.g. taxes, loans, bus/train timetables and measuring area to mention a few real-life examples. We also develop and support students who intend to study mathematics at A level and university by giving our most able students the opportunity to study GCSE further maths. Students are supported to ensure that they are able to:
- Accurately recall facts, interpret notations and carry out routine procedures.
- Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically based on deductions, proofs and critical evaluation of presented information.
- Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts by making connections between different parts of mathematics, evaluate methods, obtained results and solutions, and how they can be affected by assumptions.
At Key stage 5, we delve deeper into familiar mathematical concepts as well as introducing new topics. For example, at GCSE students are taught to find the gradient of curves using the gradient of tangents, at A level students are taught how to calculate the gradient of curves using calculus. Additionally, students are supported in working with an extensive data set in order for them to develop their understanding of how data is interpolated and extrapolated from large data sets, this is an important life skill as it explains both how data can be manipulated using real-life examples and also the shortcomings of doing so.
Sixth Form
Mathematics at Merchants’ Academy curriculum intent
At Key stage 5, we delve deeper into familiar mathematical concepts as well as introducing new topics. For example, at GCSE students are taught to find the gradient of curves using the gradient of tangents, at A level students are taught how to calculate the gradient of curves using calculus. Additionally, students are supported in working with an extensive data set in order for them to develop their understanding of how data is interpolated and extrapolated from large data sets, this is an important life skill as it explains both how data can be manipulated using real-life examples and also the shortcomings of doing so.
Revision Resources
Use the following past exam papers and mark schemes to aid your mathematics revision.
Foundation tier = F / Higher tier = H
Other mathematics exam questions with their worked out answers can be found below to aid your revision: