Curriculum

Maths

Purpose of study

Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history's most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

Aims

The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:

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
can 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.

Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas. The programme of study for key stage 4 is organised into apparently distinct domains, but pupils should develop and consolidate connections across mathematical ideas. They should build on learning from key stage 3 to further develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge wherever relevant in other subjects and in financial contexts.

High Attainers will study the following topics during their 5 year course:

Key Stage 3
Year 7	Year 8
Unit 1 Analysing and displaying data	Unit 1 Factors and powers
Unit 2 Number skills	Unit 2 Working with powers
Unit 3 Equations, functions and formulae	Unit 3 2D shapes and 3D solids
Unit 4 Fractions	Unit 4 Real-life graphs
Unit 5 Angles and shapes	Unit 5 Transformations
Unit 6 Decimals	Unit 6 Fractions, decimals and percentages
Unit 7 Equations	Unit 7 Constructions and loci
Unit 8 Multiplicative reasoning	Unit 8 Probability
Unit 9 Perimeter, area and volume	Unit 9 Scale drawings and measurements
Unit 10 Sequences and graphs	Unit 10 Graphs

Key Stage 4 (Higher GCSE)
Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
Unit 1 Number	Unit 9 Equations and inequalities	Unit 18 Vectors and geometric proof
Unit 2 Algebra	Unit 10 Probability	Unit 19 Proportion and graphs
Unit 3 Interpreting and representing data	Unit 11 Multiplicative reasoning	Revision for GCSE Exams
Unit 4 Fractions, ratio and proportion	Unit 12 Similarly and congruence
Unit 5 Angles and trigonometry	Unit 13 More trigonometry
Unit 6 Graphs	Unit 14 Further statistics
Unit 7 Area and volume	Unit 15 Equations and graphs
Unit 8 Transformation and constructions	Unit 16 Circle theorems
	Unit 17 More algebra

Middle Attainers will study the following topics during their 5 year course:

Key Stage 3
Year 7	Year 8
Unit 1 Analysing and displaying data	Unit 1 Number and lesson
Unit 2 Number skills	Unit 2 Area and volume
Unit 3 Expressions, functions and formulae	Unit 3 Statistics, graphs and charts
Unit 4 Decimals and measures	Unit 4 Expressions and equations
Unit 5 Fractions	Unit 5 Real-life graphs
Unit 6 Probability	Unit 6 Decimals and ratio
Unit 7 Ratio and proportion	Unit 7 Lines and angles
Unit 8 Lines and angles	Unit 8 Calculating with fractions
Unit 9 Sequences and graphs	Unit 9 Straight-line graphs
Unit 10 Transformations	Unit 10 Percentages, decimals and fractions

Key Stage 4
At the end of Year 8/start of Year 9, it will be decided whether you will follow the Foundation or Higher route in Years 9-11. Then following the overviews identified above for Higher Tier GCSE and below for Foundation Tier GCSE.

Low Attainers will study the following topics during their 5 year course:

Key Stage 3
Year 7	Year 8
Unit 1 Analysing and displaying data	Unit 1 Number properties and calculations
Unit 2 Calculating	Unit 2 Shapes and measures in 3D
Unit 3 Expressions, functions and formulae	Unit 3 Statistics
Unit 4 Graphs	Unit 4 Expressions and equations
Unit 5 Factors and multiples	Unit 5 Decimals calculations
Unit 6 Decimals and measures	Unit 6 Angles
Unit 7 Angles and lines	Unit 7 Number properties
Unit 8 Measuring and shapes	Unit 8 Sequences
Unit 9 Fractions, decimals and percentages	Unit 9 Fractions and percentages
Unit 10 Transformations	Unit 10 Probability

Key Stage 4 (Foundation GCSE)
Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
Unit 1 Number	Unit 9 Graphs	Unit 18 Fractions, indices and standard form
Unit 2 Algebra	Unit 10 Transformations	Unit 19 Congruence, similarity and vectors
Unit 3 Graphs, tables and charts	Unit 11 Ratio and proportion	Unit 20 More algebra
Unit 4 Fractions and percentages	Unit 12 Right-angled triangles	Revision for GCSE Exams
Unit 5 Equations, inequalities and sequences	Unit 13 Probability
Unit 6 Angles	Unit 14 Multiplicative reasoning
Unit 7 Averages and range	Unit 15 Constructions, loci and bearings
Unit 8 Perimeter, area and volume 1	Unit 16 Quadratic equations and graphs
	Unit 17 Perimeter, area and volume 2

Please follow the link below for further details about the GCSE Maths specification:
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/mathematics-2015.html