CURRICULUM
curriculum intent
The mathematics curriculum is designed to ensure that all students, regardless of starting point, develop secure mathematical understanding, confidence and fluency over time.
We follow a five‑year spiral curriculum, underpinned by a mastery approach, which ensures learning is carefully sequenced and builds cumulatively across key stages. Mathematics is taught as a connected and coherent discipline, enabling students to reason mathematically, solve problems and apply their learning confidently to further study, employment and everyday life.
All mathematics lessons are delivered by specialist mathematics teachers, ensuring high‑quality subject expertise and consistent delivery across the curriculum.
curriculum strcuture and implementation
Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9)
At Key Stage 3, students follow an ambitious curriculum. Teaching focuses on securing foundational knowledge through small, connected steps, ensuring students develop fluency, reasoning and problem‑solving skills over time.
time allocation and grouping
Year 7-8
- Mixed‑ability groups.
- Three hours of mathematics per week.
- Mathematical skills are reinforced, where appropriate, through Literacy for Life themes: Grand Designs, Da Vinci and Journey to the Centre of the Earth modules have cross curricular links with number, algebra, geometry and statistics.
Year 9
- Four hours of mathematics per week.
- All students follow the same ambitious curriculum, with a support class introduced where appropriate.
Across Years 7–9, students study the full range of mathematical domains, including:
- Number
- Algebra
- Ratio and Proportion
- Geometry and Measures
- Statistics
- Probability
key stage 4 (years 10-11)
At Key Stage 4, students continue to follow a mastery‑informed curriculum, ensuring coherent sequencing, high expectations and regular revisiting of prior learning:
- The curriculum is delivered over a two‑year programme.
- Students follow either the Foundation or Higher pathway, depending on prior attainment and progress.
- Teaching prepares students for GCSE examinations assessed by the Edexcel exam board.
- The curriculum also develops the mathematical skills students need for further education, the workplace and everyday life.
teaching and learning approach
Teaching is based on a mastery model, with an emphasis on depth of understanding for all learners.
Key features include:
- Learning broken into small, manageable steps.
- The Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract (CPA) approach to support conceptual understanding.
- Explicit teaching and reinforcement of mathematical vocabulary.
- Regular opportunities for reasoning and problem solving.
- Carefully designed question variation to promote deeper thinking and application in unfamiliar contexts.
High‑prior‑attaining students are challenged through depth rather than acceleration, ensuring their understanding is secure and transferable.
assessment
Key Stage 3
- Two nationally standardised GL Assessments per year.
- Two cumulative assessments per year.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
- Three cumulative assessments per year.
- Assessments sample knowledge from across the curriculum to evaluate long‑term retention and understanding.
Assessment information is used to identify gaps, inform curriculum planning and support student progress over time.
