Mathematics
KS3
Students are taught in ability groupings, which are regularly reviewed throughout the course of each year. There are regular module tests throughout the year where students are given national curriculum levels to indicate their progress. Students are given plenty of notice of these tests and revision lists are given out well in advance.
We follow a modified version of the National Numeracy Strategy Scheme of work.
Year 7
Using data from primary schools, and KS2 scores, students are setted as soon as they come to Impington Village College. After a period of 4 weeks, those sets are adjusted after a numeracy test to ensure that all students are in the correct group and getting the support that they need.
The basic outline for the remainder of the year is below:
Year 8
The curriculum builds on the subject and skills knowledge gained in the previous year; revisiting the four main subject areas of Number, Algebra, Geometry & Measure, and Statistics.
A brief outline is included below:
GCSE
The content of our GCSE Mathematics specifications has been grouped into the topic areas of Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measures, Statistics and Probability. Don't worry if you don't know what all of these mean yet – you will know at the end of your three years of study.
Topics in bold are Higher tier only
|
Number ■ Four operations ■ Decimals ■ Percentages ■ Fractions ■ Equivalent fractions ■ Accuracy ■ Use of calculators ■ Factors and multiples ■ Cubes, roots and squares ■ Index laws ■ Standard form ■ Surds ■ Inverse operations ■ Recurring decimals ■ Ratio ■ Using percentage and repeated percentage change ■ Compound interest ■ Reciprocals ■ Upper and lower bounds |
Algebra ■ Notation ■ Graphs ■ Graphs of functions ■ Expressions ■ Factorising ■ Formulae ■ Rational expressions ■ Sequences ■ Coordinates in 2D, 3D ■ Straight line graphs ■ Gradients of lines ■ Graphs of loci ■ Real life graphs ■ Equations ■ Quadratic equations ■ Changing the subject of the formula ■ Inequalities ■ Trial and improvement ■ Simultaneous equations ■ Graphs of functions ■ Graphs of loci ■ Quadratic graphs ■ Direct and indirect proportion ■ Transformation of functions |
Geometry and Measures ■ Angles at a point ■ Scales and units ■ Angles and triangles ■ Quadrilaterals ■ Symmetry ■ Polygons ■ Parts of a circle ■ Perimeter and area ■ Circle theorems ■ 3-D shapes ■ Volume ■ Scales and measures ■ Compound measures ■ Congruence ■ Pythagoras’ Theorem ■ Trigonometry ■ Circle theorems ■ Transformations ■ Constructions ■ Loci ■ Mensuration ■ Vectors ■ Bearings ■ Scale drawings |
Statistics ■ Handling data cycle ■ Data collection ■ Data representation ■ Analysing data ■ Interpreting data ■ Sampling ■ Box plots, histograms and cumulative frequency ■ Addition and multiplication of probabilities Probability ■ Probability measures ■ Relative probability ■ Mutually exclusive outcomes ■ Mutually exclusive and independent events ■ Tree diagrams |
Overview of assessment
• Two written papers: each contributes 50% of the final grade
• Tiered papers
o Foundation Tier grades C-G available
o Higher Tier grades A*-D available (E allowed)
• 1 hour 45 minutes (Foundation papers)
• 1 hour 45 minutes (Higher papers)
• 100 marks on each paper
• Paper 1F and 1H: Non-calculator
• Paper 2F and 2H: Calculator
• The functional elements of mathematics are assessed on each paper:
o 30-40% of the Foundation Tier papers
o 20-30% of the Higher Tier papers.
Learning
A varied teaching style will be used, incorporating:
• Teacher explanation
• Practice from texts
• Student exploration
• Discussion
• ICT work
• Practical work
• Occasional group work
Regular homework is an important feature of the mathematics course.
Skills the course develops
• Numeracy
• Independent thinking
• Investigation skills
• Use of a calculator
Our most able students study Statistics in Year 10 and 11 alongside the GCSE course. We follow the Edexcel Statistics course, and the link to the appropriate website is here.
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse09/statistics/Pages/default.aspx
The specification for this course can be downloaded from the Edexcel website using the following link
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse10/maths/maths-a/Pages/default.aspx
Year 11 Student leaders
Kaitlin Thornton (11L2)
Sam Hunt (11R4)
KS5
All students study Mathematics courses which are examined by the IBO, and further information can be accessed via their website through the following link.
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/curriculum/group5/mathematics.cfm
Some students do this as part of the IB diploma, and others take the courses on their own as certificates.
There are 3 main courses which students study. Each of these courses has a mixture of internal assessment (coursework) and examinations at the end of Year 13.
A. Higher Level Maths (Exam 80% Coursework 20%)
The course covers the following areas of mathematics over the two years:
1. Algebra
2. Functions and Equations
3. Circular Functions and Trigonometry
4. Vectors
5. Statistics and Probability
6. Calculus
7. Complex Numbers
8. Discrete Mathematics
B. Standard Level Maths (Exam 80% Coursework 20%)
This covers much of the same topic areas as for Higher, but does not go into as much depth:
1. Algebra
2. Functions and Equations
3. Circular Functions and Trigonometry
4. Vectors
5. Statistics and Probability
6. Calculus
C. Maths Studies Standard Level (Exam 80% Coursework 20%)
This course focuses on applications of Mathematics, and covers the following topics:
1. Introduction to the graphical display calculator
2. Number and algebra
3. Sets, logic and probability
4. Functions
5. Geometry and Trigonometry
6. Statistics
7. Introductory differential calculus
8. Financial Mathematics
For exceptionally able students, there is the opportunity to study Further Maths Higher Level, which is internationally recognised as one of the most difficult courses for 6th formers to study. Further information is available on the link at the top of this section.