Each of our 6 mathematics rooms is well equipped with an interactive whiteboard and PC, together with a class set of basic and scientific calculators. In addition we have class sets of wireless laptops for students to use within lessons.
Pupil progress is recorded against the following assessment objectives:
In Mathematics we believe that students’ progress best at KS3 when taught in groups according to their ability. Students are placed into a teaching set based on the available KS2 data and our own baseline test. Students in Year 7 and 9 receive 3 x 1-hour lessons each week. In Year 8, students have 4 x 1 hour lessons.
At first the groups are provisional and students will be continually monitored and assessed. Progress will be reviewed regularly and students may need to be moved in the future. We endeavour to confirm any such movements by email. In all years there are two top, two middle and two lower Sets in each half-year. Set 6 is smaller in number and is for students of lower ability who require extra support.
Progress continues to be monitored on a regular basis and any Set changes made as necessary.
In terms of equipment students are expected to bring the following to every lesson:
■Pen
■Pencil
■Ruler
■Compasses
■Protractor, and
■Calculator
We would encourage all students to continue to practise times tables and numeracy skills. Within the classroom we have a Numeracy Booklet to support students who find the basic skills a challenge to their progress. All students regularly participate in the Numeracy Ninjas and Mathsbox activities to refine and perfect their basic skills as part of the mastery curriculum.
A virtual learning environment has many advantages as the platform for sharing resources and communicating well. The College uses “Moodle” and each Maths Tier has its own room. All students in a Set can access resources, for example revision materials for the end of year exams.
All homework tasks will be set from the MyMaths website. To access these students need to first enter the site using the Ivanhoe Login (ivanhoe) and the Ivanhoe password (reflect) To access their assigned task, students then need to enter their personal details in the ‘My Portal’ box. These will be issued by their Maths Teacher and remain the same for the Key Stage.
Parental involvement in a child’s education has been shown to be an important aspect to their success and we request that you encourage your child in this subject to look after their exercise and textbooks properly and in attempting all of their Mathematics homework.
Amongst the opportunities for students to learn more about Maths outside of the classroom is the trip to the Caterpillar Engineering and Robotics Day (for interested Year 9 students), at Nottingham University.
Within the scheme of work, some opportunities are taken to leave the classroom for collecting data and to conduct practical measurements involving area, speed and distance.
Every year selected students are given the opportunity to participate in the Junior and Intermediate Maths Challenge. These ‘Challenges’, organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust enable students to achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold Certificates.
For more information, including example ‘problems’, please see www.ukmt-resources.org.uk.
Additional Maths Clubs held at lunchtime on a weekly basis are the Chess Club where a regular number of players of a wide range of ability meet to learn or to improve their game. Students may also access laptops for the completion of homework tasks.
Students are encouraged to identify and use the key words and technical language of Mathematics.
Personal Learning and Thinking Skills form an integral part of the mathematics lessons. Students are frequently called upon to be reflective and to work together, managing the use of their own time particularly during practical activities and rich tasks.
SMSC topics are highlighted whenever they occur, for example when dealing with very large or very small numbers (during work on standard index form) reference is made to their use in astronomy, computing, microbiology, etc. The Exploring Maths scheme of work incorporates regular ‘Did you know that?’ sections, which promote interest through the use of historical or extraordinary facts about the development and use of mathematics. Each year in March, ‘Pi Day’ is celebrated in the department.
This is considered an out of date browser. This website has been developed with modern browsers in mind to allow it to display at its best in a wide variety of viewing situations - including mobile viewing. But we haven't supported older browsers like IE8. Please upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer - or try Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. Both are excellent browsers.
Thank you.