“Mathematics expresses values that reflect the cosmos, including orderliness, balance, harmony, logic, and abstract beauty.”
– Deepak Chopra
At KS3 pupils continue to build on the mathematical knowledge gained at primary school.
Pupils are taught in stages depending on their ability. Pupils are assessed every half term and this is used by the teacher to determine the areas that need to be taught the following half term. These assessments help the teacher to address any misconceptions early. Homework is set every two weeks and these homework’s consolidate and develop the learning at each stage.
Key Skills
At KS3 students are encouraged to think mathematically i.e. precisely, logically and creatively developing an understanding of mathematical ideas and how to communicate them. We cultivate an appreciation of the link between the different areas of maths and develop the ability to solve unfamiliar and multi-stage problems. The course gives students a firm foundation for further study across the curriculum.
KS3 Topics
The department follows the EDEXCEL Mathematics 1MA1 specification. There are two tiers of entry – Foundation and Higher. The Foundation tier targets grades 5 to 1. The Higher tier targets grades 9 to 4. There are 3 papers at each level. Paper 1 is a non-calculator paper. Papers 2 and 3 are calculator papers. All papers are worth 80 marks.
Grade boundaries for Edexcel Maths June papers can be found here.
We follow the EdExcel programme specification for Maths – you can find out more below: