Mathematics

Head of Department
Mr Assad Khan

Qualifications

BA Hons in Environmental Chemical Engineering
PGCE Secondary Education

“With me, everything turns into mathematics.”
― Rene Descartes

Overview and Vision

Mathematics at Pleckgate High School is enjoyable, exciting and challenging. Our aim is to provide opportunities for all pupils to be curious and experience the awe and wonder of mathematics. Lessons are vibrant, where pupils have to think hard, solve problems and experience the joy of mathematics.

Teaching and learning strategies centre around responsive feedback; both in the classroom and through more formal assessments. This, with regular practice builds confidence and fluency. All pupils are valued and challenged; they leave Pleckgate High School enjoying mathematics and are equipped with the knowledge they need to pursue their goals academically or vocationally.

Curriculum

The mathematics curriculum at Pleckgate High School is a 5-year programme of study, a blend of algebra, ratio, proportion, statistics, probability, geometry and numerical calculations. Critical thinking allows pupils to retain content successfully as they are able to discuss, collaborate and use logic to solve problems; regular revisiting of topics through a well sequenced curriculum supports pupils in acquiring complex knowledge over time.

The mathematics curriculum has been carefully sequenced to make sure knowledge and skills, which are thoroughly investigated in KS3 are further developed at KS4. This provides pupils with the opportunity to reason and make connections between topics. Emphasis is placed on problem solving, mastery, discovery and investigative mathematics to promote a thorough understanding of all concepts and to develop pupils’ resilience in answering complex mathematical problems.

Pedagogy

A mastery approach ensures that pupils are engaged and able to access the most challenging content with appropriate support. Teachers enhance their practice by developing their specialist knowledge through sharing good practice, well led CPD and collaboration with other departments through effective networking. Insightful assessment for learning strategies are used to assess, identify and quickly address any gaps in knowledge. Activities, which allow pupils to investigate the beauty and practical nature of the subject, are a feature of mathematics lessons at Pleckgate High School.

Assessment

Continuous assessment within the classroom allows teachers to regularly monitor pupil understanding and adapt the curriculum to ensure all pupils have secure understanding of each topic before moving onto more complex knowledge. At KS3, pupils complete unit-based assessments to ensure they have understood and retained key component knowledge of each topic. To make sure pupils are fully prepared for KS4 assessments are written to mirror GCSE examinations and taken every half term. In year 11 students undertake 2 sets of mock examinations which are as rigorous as their final GCSE examinations.

Enrichment

There are numerous opportunities at Pleckgate High School for pupils to engage with mathematics outside of the classroom. Pupils in Year 10 can volunteer to be Mathematics Leaders and work with younger pupils to support them with their basic mathematical understanding and help them to gain confidence. Numeracy catch up facilitates pupils who have gaps in their knowledge from KS2; regular weekly sessions with pupils allows them to catch up and keep up in mathematics. Intervention for pupils at KS4 is offered by all maths teachers to provide bespoke intervention for pupils who need further guidance and practice on particular topics. Each year many pupils take part in the UKMT Maths Challenge, in 2022 pupils achieved 18 bronze, 12 silver and and 3 gold awards.

Mathematics Overview Y7 – Y11

Please note, every subject exercise book your child has contains a subject ‘Pleckgate Learning Journey’ that outlines the content covered, timelines and assessment points for the current year.