- Login
- 0151 235 1200
MATHEMATICS
Teaching and subject staff
| Director of Maths | Mr M Bonnesen |
| Subject Staff |
Mr C Blackburn Ms K Brizell Mr L Corby Ms A Jones Mr P Kennedy Ms N McMahon Mr S Morris Ms A-M Pagan Ms F Smith Mr G Whitby Ms C Whitehead Mr A Williams |
Faculty Aims and Objectives
We, as teachers, have a unique opportunity to pass our enthusiasm for our subject area onto the students we teach, building their confidence and encouraging them to become independent problem solvers through a mix of fluency and reasoning.
As a faculty we have the following aims:
- To set challenging targets with high expectations for all students.
- To offer a variety of approaches to teaching and learning to engage and motivate all students, thus enabling them to make progress in each lesson.
- To create a classroom environment where students are not afraid to try or make mistakes.
- To foster a ‘Can do’ attitude from our students.
- To ensure a smooth transition between Key Stages and ensure progression in teaching and learning throughout their time at Alsop.
- To explore enrichment opportunities outside the curriculum to enhance students’ enjoyment of mathematics.
- To provide constructive feedback to students, either written or verbal, to help move students on during and/or after each lesson.
In addition, we hope that students will acquire the logical abilities characteristic of a mathematician.
Facilities
The Mathematics department is housed in the 1926 building. The classrooms are large and each room has a common layout. Every classroom has an interactive whiteboard and is equipped with a full range of mathematical resources and scientific calculators. We also have full class sets of the latest Casio graphical calculators which are used in A level lessons and at the higher levels at GCSE.
Key Stages 3 and 4 Overview
All students follow a mastery program designed to ensure students understand a concept before moving on and build on prior knowledge. Students who have acquired knowledge through fluency will be encouraged to use reasoning skills and problems solving skills in greater depth.
Students will follow one of four pathways designed to keep them on track to achieve their potential with the flexibility to change pathways when appropriate. In class intervention on areas of weakness or gaps in knowledge, happen throughout the year to ensure progress is made. Skills are tracked and communicated with parents and extra resources for home support are available.
All students are entered for GCSE Mathematics (AQA) at the end of year 11.
Most able students
Our most able students follow the Pythagoras Pathway, which will challenge them so use their skills at the highest level available at GCSE and extend them into A-Level content where appropriate. Most able students are entered for the UKMT maths challenges in all key stages.
Students requiring additional support
Students requiring additional support follow a relevant pathway for them with a focus of ensuring key concepts such as place value and calculations are grasped as prerequisites for other skills.
Extra intervention classes are given to allow students to bridge the gap to their age related expectations when appropriate.
Key Stage 5 Overview
Students can choose to study Advanced Level Mathematics if successful at a high grade at GCSE. A Grade 6 at GCSE is the minimum requirement we would expect although all entries to the course are discussed on an individual basis. Students follow the Edexcel A-Level course, sitting 3 papers at the end of Year 13.
| Year 12 | Year 13 |
| Pure Mathematics | Pure Mathematics |
| Statistics/Mechanics | Statistics/Mechanics |
Advanced Level Further Mathematics (Edexcel) is also available.
Extra-Curricular Activities
We run intervention and support lessons every Wednesday after school. These are mainly for examination preparation for year 11 students. We also regularly bring in outside organisations to enrich the mathematics curriculum. For example, Dr. James Grime brought a real Enigma Machine into school and gave a presentation about cryptology. We have recently had hands-on sessions in school delivered by the Happy Puzzle Company and the Fun Maths Roadshow which are very popular with students.
Future Careers
Accountancy and Finance, Banking, Actuary (evaluating financial risk), Statistician, Engineering, Meteorology, and Teaching.
Mathematics is also very important in areas such as: Medicine, Research, Computing, and Science
Useful Web Links
https://vle.mathswatch.co.uk/vle/
https://timestable.pixl.org.uk/Timestables.html
https://online.justmaths.co.uk/
https://pearsonactivelearn.com/app/Home
Downloads
A2 Specifications
Pearson A2 Maths Specification
GCSE Specifications
Programmes Of Study
Receive our newsletter