Mathematics and Numeracy

Head of Faculty: Dr J. Devlin

Contact Email: jjd@penglais.org.uk

 

Overview

Mathematics is the means of looking at the patterns that make up our world and the intricate and beautiful ways in which they are constructed and realised. Numeracy is the means of making that knowledge useful.

Mathematics contributes to the school curriculum by developing students’ abilities to calculate; to reason logically, algebraically, and geometrically; to solve problems and to handle data. Mathematics is important for students in many other areas of study, particularly Science and Technology. It is also important in everyday living, in many forms of employment, and in public decision-making. As a subject in its own right, Mathematics presents frequent opportunities for creativity, and can stimulate moments of pleasure and wonder when a problem is solved for the first time, or a more elegant solution to a problem is discovered, or when hidden connections suddenly manifest.

It enables students to build a secure framework of mathematical reasoning, which they can use and apply with confidence. The power of mathematical reasoning lies in its use of precise and concise forms of language, symbolism and representation to reveal and explore general relationships.

The subject transcends cultural boundaries and its importance is universally recognised. Mathematics helps us to understand and change the World.

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Year 7

In Year 7, you will practise and extend the skills that you learnt in Year 6. You will also learn new ideas in the six strands of Number, Measure, Geometry, Algebra, Data and Probability. A mixture of procedural and reasoning tasks will be used to help you prepare for the national numeracy tests in April/May.

Setting

Students are set in maths, on the basis of their primary school results and our own assessments. There are 3 sets on each side of the year. There are opportunities to move set at the end of each half term.

Topics covered

Top, middle and bottom sets have separate topic list. Higher sets go into topics in more depth. Bottom sets on aspects of maths which reinforce number skills and/or are likely to be required outside the classroom.

Helping your child in maths

The best way to help students is by practising topics that they studied 2-3 weeks ago as this is when many students start to forget the work. You can use the online resources below. This will help secure the ideas in their long-term memory and is more useful than pre-teaching work that they will later be taught in class.

Online resources

  1. https://corbettmaths.com

Revision videos on all aspects of the mathematics curriculum, with practice questions and solutions.

  1. https://www.mymaths.co.uk/

Ysgol Penglais School subscribes to the mymaths website where you can search for lessons, games and exercises on all maths topics.

                Password: penglais          login: median

Calculators

Although we often expect students to work without a calculator, there will be times when a calculator is required. The recommended calculator is CASIO fx-83GT PLUS. Calculators can be bought from B10 for £9.00.

Times tables: TT Rockstars

One of the most significant factors affecting students’ progress in mathematics is their capability with times tables. The best way to give your child a good start is by regularly practising times tables with them.

In Ysgol Penglais School, every Year 7 maths lesson starts with 60 times tables questions – students answer as many questions as they can in 3 minutes.

We also set a 10-minute times tables homework every week using the TT Rockstars website (https://ttrockstars.com). Each student has their own login.  At regular periods during the year, certificates are given to students with the most correct answers on TTRockstars.  

Lesson starters

In order to improve students’ recall of knowledge, every lesson will start with a quick low-stake quiz focussing on the most important skills and techniques.  

Year 8

In Year 8, you will practise and extend the skills that you learnt in Year 7. You will also learn new ideas in the six strands of Number, Measure, Geometry, Algebra, Data and Probability. A mixture of procedural and reasoning tasks will be used to help you prepare for the national numeracy tests in April/May.

Setting

Students are set in maths, on the basis of their results in Year 7 and teacher assessments. There are 4 sets on the A side and 3 sets on the B side. There are opportunities to move set at the end of each half term.

Topics covered

Top, middle and bottom sets have separate topic list. Higher sets go into topics in more depth. Bottom sets focus on aspects of maths which reinforce number skills and/or are likely to be required outside the classroom.

Helping your child in maths

The best way to help students is by practising topics that they studied 5-10 days ago as this is when many students start to forget the work. You can use the online resources below. This will help secure the ideas in their long-term memory and is more useful than pre-teaching work that they will later be taught in class.

Online resources

  1.   https://corbettmaths.com

Revision videos on all aspects of the mathematics curriculum, with practice questions and solutions.

  1. https://www.mymaths.co.uk/

Ysgol Penglais School subscribes to the mymaths website where you can search for lessons, games and exercises on all maths topics.

Password: penglais          login: median

 

Calculators

Although we often expect students to work without a calculator, there will be times when a calculator is required. The recommended calculator is CASIO fx-83GT PLUS. Calculators can be bought from B10 for £9.00.

Times tables: TT Rockstars

One of the most significant factors affecting students’ progress in mathematics is their capability with times tables. The best way to give your child a good start is by regularly practising times tables with them.

We recommend using the TT Rockstars website (https://ttrockstars.com) regularly to practise tiems tables and build fluency. Each student has their own login.

Lesson starters

In order to improve students’ recall of knowledge, every lesson will start with a quick low-stake quiz focussing on the most important skills and techniques that are required to secure the best grade possible for each student.

Year 9

In Year 9, you will practise and extend the skills that you learnt in Year 8. You will also learn new ideas in the six strands of Number, Measure, Geometry, Algebra, Data and Probability that will help prepare you for GCSE mathematics. A mixture of procedural and reasoning tasks will be used to help you prepare for the national numeracy tests in April/May.

Setting

Students are set in maths, on the basis of their results in Year 8 and teacher assessments. There are 4 sets on each side of the year. There are opportunities to move set at the end of each half term.

Topics covered

Top, middle and bottom sets have separate topic lists. Higher sets go into topics in more depth. Bottom sets focus on aspects of maths which reinforce number skills and/or are likely to be required outside the classroom.

Helping your child in maths

The best way to help students is by practising topics that they studied 5-10 days ago as this is when many students start to forget the work. You can use the online resources below. This will help secure the ideas in their long-term memory and is more useful than pre-teaching work that they will later be taught in class.

Online resources

  1.   https://corbettmaths.com

Revision videos on all aspects of the mathematics curriculum, with practice questions and solutions.

  1. https://www.mymaths.co.uk/

Penglais School subscribes to the mymaths website where you can search for lessons, games and exercises on all maths topics.

Password: penglais          login: median

Calculators

Although we often expect students to work without a calculator, there will be times when a calculator is required. The recommended calculator is CASIO fx-83GT PLUS. Calculators can be bought using ParentPay.

Times tables: TT Rockstars

One of the most significant factors affecting students’ progress in mathematics is their capability with times tables. The best way to give your child a good start is by regularly practising times tables with them.

We set a 10-minute times tables homework every week using the TT Rockstars website (https://ttrockstars.com). Each student has their own login.

Lesson starters

In order to improve students’ recall of knowledge, every lesson will start with a quick low-stake quiz focussing on the most important skills and techniques that are required to secure the best grade possible for each student.

Year 10

Students take 2 GCSEs:  GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Mathematics – Numeracy.

The Mathematics paper test students’ understanding of mathematical processes.

The Numeracy paper tests students’ ability to choose appropriate methods to successfully solve problems in real-life situations.

The GCSE courses

Each GCSE comprises 2 papers (calculator and non-calculator). Students sit all exams in Year 11. There is no coursework.

There are three tiers of entry: Foundation (D-G grades available), Intermediate (E – B), Higher (C – A*).

Most students in Set 1 sit Higher Tier, Set 2/3 Intermediate, Set 4 Foundation. There will be opportunities to change set during the course of the two years.

You can find past papers, mark schemes, examiners’ comments, subject specifications etc on the WJEC website:

http://wjec.co.uk

Click on ‘Select Qualification’. From the drop-down menu, choose Mathematics. The click on Mathematics and Mathematics Numeracy GCSE (from 2015) on the left.

Helping your child in maths

The best way to help students is by practising topics that they studied 2-3 weeks ago as this is when many students start to forget the work. You can use the online resources below. This will help secure the ideas in their long-term memory and is more useful than pre-teaching work that they will later be taught in class.

Online resources

  1. https://corbettmaths.com

Revision videos on all aspects of the mathematics curriculum, with practice questions and solutions.

  1. https://www.mymaths.co.uk/

Penglais School subscribes to the mymaths website where you can search for lessons, games and exercises on all maths topics.

Password: penglais         login: median

Lesson starters

In order to improve students’ recall of knowledge, every lesson will start with a quick low-stake quiz focussing on the most important skills and techniques that are required to secure the best grade possible for each student.

Calculators

Although we often expect students to work without a calculator, there will be times when a calculator is required. The recommended calculator is CASIO fx-83GT PLUS. Calculators should be brought to all lessons. Calculators can be purchased using ParentPay and collected from school.  

Year 11

Students take 2 GCSEs: GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Mathematics – Numeracy.

The mathematics paper test students’ understanding of mathematical processes.

The Numeracy paper tests students’ ability to choose appropriate methods to successful solve problems in    real-life situations.

GCSE exams

  • Each GCSE comprises 2 papers (calculator and non-calculator). There is no coursework.
  • There are three tiers of entry: Foundation (G – D grades available), Intermediate

(E – B), Higher (C – A*).

  • Most students in Set 1 sit Higher Tier, Set 2/3 Intermediate, Set 4 Foundation. There will be opportunities to change set during the course of the year.
  • End of October – All students sit mock Mathematics exam. This will help determine the final tier of entry for each student. On the basis of the results, some students will be offered extra support to achieve their target grade.
  • December Year 11: All students sit mock Numeracy GCSE exams. These will help determine the final tier of entry for each student. On the basis of the results, some students will be offered extra support to achieve their target grade.
  • Summer Year 11: All students sit Mathematics GCSE and Numeracy GCSE.

Students can find past papers, mark schemes, examiners’ comments, subject specifications etc on the WJEC website:  http://wjec.co.uk.

Click on Select Qualification. From the drop-down menu, choose Mathematics. Then click on Mathematics and Mathematics Numeracy GCSE (from 2015) on the left.

Calculators

Although we often expect students to work without a calculator, there will be times when a calculator is required. The recommended calculator is CASIO fx-83GT PLUS. Calculators should be brought to all lessons. If a student knows they are going to do A level maths then they might want to have the calculator that is required for A level: CASIO fx991Ex Classwiz.  Calculators may be purchased on ParentPay and collected from school.  

Helping your child in Maths

The best way to help students is by practising topics that they studied 2-3 weeks ago, as this is when many students start to forget the work. You can use the online resources below. This will help secure the ideas in their long-term memory and is more useful than pre-teaching work that they will later be taught in class.

  1. corbettmaths.com

Revision videos on all aspects of the mathematics curriculum, with practice questions and solutions.

  1. mymaths.co.uk
    Password: penglais         login: median

Ysgol Penglais School subscribes to the mymaths website where you can search for lessons, games and exercises on all maths topics.

Maths Faculty Staff List

Dr J Devlin (Head of Faculty)

Mr D Hopkins Williams (KS3 coordinator)

Dr S Evans (KS4 coordinator)

Ms S Evans

Mrs R Bohra