Department Leader: Charlotte Knight

The KBA Mathematics Department are dedicated to supporting students’ learning at all levels, offering a wide range of specialisms from basic numeracy to Further Maths.

Mathematics is a very conceptual subject, so is taught in sets. Your child will be placed in a set which is appropriate for their ability. This is based on data from:

SAT tests undertaken during their final year at junior school
Maths baseline assessment

Students are then taught in sets for the remainder of their time here in accordance with their ability. Setting is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that each student has every opportunity to make excellent progress.

Key Stage 3

All students are set targets at Key Stage 3. The Scheme of Learning consists of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). Lessons are fully differentiated with an emphasis on mastering a skill and being able to apply it fully. Students have every opportunity to aim high and complete tasks at their targeted level. Each KPI is assessed using a Knowledge Assessment – these consist of fluency questions and problem solving. 

Progress is monitored in three ways:

Students are assessed using Knowledge Assessments for each KPI
Cumulative Termly Assessments
End of year examinations.

Homework

Students are set two types of homework: Hegarty Maths and Knowledge Organisers

Hegarty Homework

All students must use Hegarty Maths which is an online platform. Students are expected to complete at least 30 minutes per week. This would normally equate to making notes from 1 video and completing 1 task. All notes from the videos and working out for the tasks must be completed in their Hegarty book. Each student will have a personal login and watch the video for each task and complete the questions. They can message their teacher for assistance via Hegarty Maths. However, an immediate response is generally not possible.

Knowledge Organisers Homework

Each term, students will complete a minimum of 2 Mathematics Knowledge Organiser homework task. This task will consist of learning a number of key words, definitions and/or formulas. They must follow the instructions provided in their self-quizzing book. On the day the homework is due in, each student will be asked to write out in full the key words, their definitions or the formulae they were given for homework. A completed homework is where a student is able to provide evidence in their self-quizzing book that they have followed the instructions and have written the key words, definitions and/or formulae at least twice.

Key Stage 4

During KS4, all students follow the Edexcel GCSE syllabus at Key Stage 4. The GCSE course incorporates all aspects of Mathematics: number, algebra, ratio, proportion and rates of change, geometry and measures, probability and statistics.  It focuses on applying Mathematics in context, problem solving, reasoning and the functional elements of Mathematics, concentrating on the knowledge and applications that are most accessible and relevant. The course is a linear scheme with three exams at the end of Year 11, consisting of 1 non-calculator paper and 2 calculator papers.

During KS4, and alongside GCSE Mathematics, there is an opportunity for selected students to follow additional Mathematical courses.

These are:

Edexcel GCSE Statistics develops skills that students will use in other subjects such as science and geography, and reinforces techniques needed for GCSE maths as well as supporting progression to A level maths. Real-life scenarios will capture their interest and give them an insight into the importance of statistics in the real world.

AQA Entry Level Mathematics provides basic and relevant mathematical skills and can support students who can find it difficult at times to access the GCSE course. The specification is co-teachable with GCSE, to suit students who are studying both qualifications.

The grading for these courses, is as follows:

GCSE Mathematics

This course is a tiered examination with two levels of entry:

•         the Higher tier awards grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, (Grade 3 allowed)

•         the Foundation tier awards grades 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

AQA Entry Level Mathematics

To complete the course, students’ complete tasks to show their understanding of key mathematical skills.  Students are then awarded Entry Level 1, 2 or 3.

Homework

Year 10

All students must use Hegarty Maths which is an online platform. Students are expected to complete at least 45 minutes per week. This would normally equates to making notes from 2 videos and completing 2 tasks. All notes and working out for the task must be completed in their Hegarty book. Each student will have a personal login and watch the video for each task and complete the questions. They can message their teacher for assistance via Hegarty Maths. However, an immediate response is generally not possible.

Knowledge Organisers Homework

Each term, students will complete a minimum of 2 Mathematics Knowledge Organiser homework task. This task will consist of learning a number of key words, definitions and/or formulas. They must follow the instructions provided in their self-quizzing book. On the day the homework is due in, each student will be asked to write out in full the key words, their definitions or the formulae they were given for homework. A completed homework is where a student is able to provide evidence in their self-quizzing book that they have followed the instructions and have written the key words, definitions and/or formulae at least twice.

Year 11

All students must use Hegarty Maths which is an online platform. Students are expected to complete at least 60 minutes per week. This homework is a mixture of making notes and completing tasks as set by the teacher. All homework must be completed in their Hegarty book. They can message their teacher for assistance via Hegarty Maths. However, an immediate response is generally not possible.

Every student is also issued with an exam booklet to complete per term. These are set, and every student has 1 to 2 weeks to complete each paper fully.

GCSE Statistics

Exam board: Edexcel

This course is a tiered examination with two levels of entry:

•  the Higher tier awards grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, (Grade 3 allowed)

•        the Foundation tier awards grades 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Paper 1

The assessment is 1 hour and 30 minutes Calculators may be used in the examination

Paper 2

The assessment is 1 hour and 30 minutes Calculators may be used in the examination

Content:

The Statistical Enquiry Cycle

Data Collection: Types of data (definitions), variables, data collection techniques and sampling.

Petersens formula

Data Presentation:

Venn Diagrams, Histograms, Pie Charts, Cumulative Frequency, Box Plots, Chloropleth Graphs, Stem and Leaf Diagrams, Two Way Tables

Central Tendency and Dispersion

Arithmetic, Geometric and Weighted means

Range, Inter Quartile Range, Standard Deviation

Median, Quartiles, Mode, Modal Class

Skew, Outliers

Scattergraphs and Correlation

Scattergraphs, Lines of best fit, interpolation and extrapolation

Product Moment Correlation Coefficient

Spearmans Rank Correlation Coefficient

Time Series,

Seasonal Variations, Moving Averages, Trends, Index Numbers

Probability:

Tree Diagrams, Sample Space Diagrams, Conditional and Unconditional Probability, Mutuallly Exclusive events and associated formulae. Experimental, theoretical data and relative frequency. Bias.

Distributions:

Normal Distribution and standardized scores

Binomial Distribution. Mean and standard deviation. Means of samples.