Mathematics

Curriculum

At West Bromwich Collegiate Academy we teach a three-year Key Stage 3 curriculum that builds upon the Mathematics knowledge and skills that students have gained during their earlier years. 

This ensures that the KS3 National Curriculum programme of study for Mathematics is covered broadly and in depth. This provides the necessary time to enrich the learning of students as they have the time and capacity to gain new knowledge and develop skills of mathematical enquiry. Every student will have the opportunity to become a confident mathematician, capable of problem solving and using Maths in the real world.

We have a duty to deliver an outstanding Mathematics education to the young people in our care. Through the delivery of the Mathematics curriculum, all out students will experience a supportive and encouraging environment to allow them to achieve to the best of their ability, with support and guidance. Which will enable students to gain Mathematics as a valuable life skill.   

Students will begin the Key Stage 4 course in Year 10 and will follow the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Mathematics. The curriculum in Year 10 and 11 will continue to build upon the strong foundations developed during Key Stage 3 and students will be well equipped to excel in the required material of the course.

Our Aims

The Key Stage 3 Mathematics Curriculum aims for students to:

  • 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
  • Be able to solve problems by applying their Mathematics to a variety of routine and nonroutine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions
 
 

How is Mathematics delivered at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy?


Key Stage 3

Our Key Stage 3 Curriculum is organised into distinctive domains in Mathematics across Years 7, 8 and 9.

Year 7: Numeracy in Year 7 is delivered through the Literacy for Life curriculum. Students receive 3 hours per week dedicated to their development in numeracy, in ability groups, with additional topics touched upon through the Literacy for Life themes where appropriate. 

Year 8: Students receive 2 hours of discreet Mathematics teaching per week in ability groups. Additional topics and skills are integrated within the Literacy for Life themes where appropriate. 

Year 9: Students receive 4 hours of discreet Mathematics teaching per week in ability groups.

Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which students need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas. Students still need to build on prior knowledge and connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems.

 

Year 7 (3 hours per week)Year 8 (2 hours per week)Year 9 (4 hours per week)

Statistics

Number – developing number skills

Algebra

Number – decimals and measures

Fractions, decimals and percentages

Probability

Ratio & proportion

Geometry – lines and angles

Geometry – transformations

Transition into Year 8

Number

Geometry – area and volume

Statistics – data

Algebra

Graph work

Decimals and ratio

Geometry – lines and angles

Calculating with fractions

Converting fractions, decimals and percentages

Number

Algebra

Ratio & Proportion

Geometry & measures

Statistics

Probability

Key STage 3 Learning Pathways


Key Stage 4

Year 10 and 11 Learning Pathways

In Year 10, there are two tiers of Mathematics: Foundation and Higher. Students will follow one of the learning pathways below. 

Y10 GCSE Maths Foundation

Y10 GCSE Maths Higher

Y11 GCSE Maths Foundation

Y11 GCSE Maths Higher

Assessment in Mathematics

Assessment in Year 7 and Year 8

  • 2 large exam per year – non-calculator (Autumn and Summer)
  • 2 GL assessments
  • Exit tickets
  • 3 Mathswatch end of full term content tests (to occur at the end of each term, covering all topics covered within that term) – these will be automatically marked
 

Assessment in Year 9

  • 2 large exams per year – non-calculator (Autumn and Summer). These will be based upon GCSE Foundation past papers
  • 2 GL Assessments
  • Exit tickets
  • End of half-term content tests automatically marked with feedback provided
 

Assessment in Year 10

  • 3 large exams per year (Autumn and Summer). (3 papers: 2 calculator, 1 non calculator). These will be based upon GCSE past papers
  • Exit tickets
  • End of unit content tests – teacher-assessed with feedback provided
 
Assessment in Year 11
  • 3 large exams in Autumn and Spring, before GCSE exams begin in May.
  • Exit tickets
  • End of unit content tests – teacher-assessed with feedback provided