Mathematics

Mathematical processes and applications, number and algebra, geometry and measures and handling data are integral and interrelated components of Mathematics.

Opportunities are provided for students to practise and develop competence in all of these aspects of the subject component, the aims of which are set out below.

• To develop competence and confidence to deal with numerical situations. This is achieved by practice, which enables students to become proficient in computation, and gives them the ability to exercise judgements about selecting the appropriate operation and computational techniques.
• To describe mathematical situations in general terms and ultimately in symbolic form.
• To understand and describe functional relationships between quantities.
• To understand the nature of measuring techniques and tools, and when to use them.
• To measure and calculate in everyday situations – length, area, volume, capacity, time and mass.
• To use standard techniques (and formulae) of measurement, and known ratios, rates and scales.
• To understand chance events and how they are described.
• To handle information, and decide on the appropriate use of it in a particular situation. Students are encouraged to understand how people make predictions based upon data, and judge whether or not the predictions are reasonable.

Teaching Methods

Philosophically, the team is committed to various approaches to the teaching of mathematics, including:

• development of mental techniques within the content of mental and oral starters
• exposition by the teacher
• discussion between teacher and students and between students themselves
• consolidation and practice of fundamental skills and routines
• investigative work
• the use of appropriate interactive technologies.

This is linked with a comprehensive coverage of the National Curriculum with an awareness of the needs of students for whom English is a second language.

Our programme of study aspires to being rigorous, rounded and relevant, enabling BSK students to appreciate some of the ways in which mathematics is used to communicate quantitative data, underpin other academic pursuits and support business and industry.

Our ultimate philosophy is to promote a lifelong enjoyment and understanding of mathematics and to enable students to develop the kinds of mathematical skills that will be useful to them in employment and adult life.

CONTENT OVERVIEWS

YEAR 6

Term 1: Place value, ordering and rounding; mental calculation strategies for multiplication and division; pencil and paper procedures; word problems; fractions, decimals and percentages; ratio and proportion.

Term 2: 2D shape and space; area, perimeter, length and time measures; mental and paper methods for addition and subtraction; properties of numbers and sequences.

Term 3: Place value, ordering and rounding; mental and paper methods for multiplication and division; word problems relating to multiplication and division; fractions, decimals and percentages; ratio and proportion; 2D and 3D shape and space.

Term 4: Area and perimeter measures; mass; decision-making; mental methods for addition and subtraction; properties of numbers and sequences; mental and paper methods for multiplication and division; fractions, decimals and percentages; ratio and proportion.

Term 5: Handling data; area, perimeter, length and time measures; measures problems; 2D shape and space; mental and paper methods for addition and subtraction; time and capacity problems.

YEAR 7

Term 1: Integer sequences, functions and mappings; decimal and negative numbers; word problems; measures, perimeter, area and surface area; equivalent fractions, addition and subtraction of fractions and percentages.

Term 2: Mode, median, range and mean; probability; operations, expressions, formulae, equations; parallel and perpendicular lines, co-ordinates and angles.

Term 3: Data collection, frequency diagrams; rounding, order of operations, checks and estimates; multiples, factors and prime numbers; sequences and mappings; geometrical problems and constructions.

Term 4: Fractions, decimals and percentages; ratio and proportion; simplifying expressions, construction of equations and algebra problems; reflection, rotation and translation; grouped data and pie charts.

Term 5: Multiplication and division; fractions, decimals and percentages; equations, formulae and linear graphs; symmetry properties, tessellations and constructions.

YEAR 8

Term 1: Integers, multiples, factors, prime numbers and sequences; angle proofs and problems, constructions; mutual exclusivity, experimental probability; fractions, decimals and percentages, formulae, measures.

Term 2: Simplifying linear expressions and substitution; metric and imperial units; area, volume and surface area; mappings, straight line graphs and linear functions.

Term 3: Powers of 10, rounding, decimals and estimating; congruence, transformations; ratio and proportion; linear equations, substitution into formulae; surveys, stem and leaf diagrams, pie charts and scatter graphs.

Term 4: Fractions and multiplying and dividing of decimals; simplifying, linear equations and functions; analysis of problems, logical arguments; ratio.

Term 5: Scale drawings, constructions and loci; bearings; bar charts, frequency diagrams and assumed mean.

YEAR 9

Term 1: Sequences, functions, graphs, fraction calculations, percentages, ratio, reciprocals, rounding and estimation; linear equations, simultaneous equations, linear inequalities.

Term 2: Pythagoras, congruent triangles; circle theorem, polygons; scatter graphs, correlation, lines of best fit, cumulative frequency graphs, estimating mean for grouped data; similar triangles; units of area and volume; Length of arc, area of sector, volume and surface area; standard form, rounding; recurring decimals, upper and lower bounds; calculator use.

Term 3: Index notation and laws; quadratic and cubic graphs; probability space; tree diagrams, experimental probabilities; enlargements.

Term 4: Trigonometry; angles of elevation and depression; expansion, factorisation, substitution, change of subject; solving problems.

Term 5: Statistics; symmetry; solving quadratic equations.

IGCSE: YEAR 10

Term 1:Number and set notation; estimation and rounding; indices.

Term 2: Standard form; graphs in practical situations; algebraic manipulation; Pythagoras and trigonometry; shape and angle properties.

Term 3: Vectors, probability; percentages; area and length.

Term 4: Averages; equations; inequalities and formulae; displaying data; symmetry.

Term 5: Functions; straight line graphs.

IGCSE: YEAR 11

Term 1: Graphs of functions; ratio, proportion and rate; surface area and volume.

Term 2: Construction and loci; similarity;, further trigonometry.

Term 3: Linear programming; matrices; transformations.

Term 4: Investigations, practical and puzzles; revision.

Term 5: Revision; past paper practice.

AS LEVEL

Note: All students must take Core 1 and Core 2, but may choose between Mechanics 1, Statistics 1 or Decision Maths 1.

Core 1: Algebra and functions, equations and inequalities; sketching curves; co-ordinate geometry; sequences and series; differentiation; integration.

Core 2: Algebra and functions; exponentials and logarithms; co-ordinate geometry; binomial expansion; radian measures; sequences and series; trigonometry; differentiation; integration.

Mechanics 1: Mathematical models in mechanics; vectors, kinematics; statics; dynamics; moments.

Decision 1: Route inspection algorithms; Prim's and Kruskal's Algorithms; Matching problems; Sorting algorithms.

Statistics 1: Mathematical models in probability and statistics; representation and summary of data; probability; correlation; regression; discrete random variables; the normal distribution.

A LEVEL

Note: At A2, all students take Core 3 and Core 4. Students choose one of the applications modules (M1, D1 or S1) not previously taken at AS Level.

Core 3: Algebra and functions; exponentials and logarithms; numerical methods; transforming graphs; trigonometry; differentiation.

Core 4: Algebra partial fractions; co-ordinate geometry; binomial expansion; differentiation; vectors; integration.