Mathematics is the science and study of numbers, structures, spaces, changes, and statistics. It is a creative and highly interconnected discipline developed over centuries. In maths, students learn to solve problems through abstraction and logical reasoning. Mathematics is an essential tool used in various fields, including science, engineering, medicine, and social sciences.
why do we teach maths at alns?
At ALNS, our maths curriculum aims to develop students' mathematical confidence, resilience, and problem-solving abilities. We believe in providing a creative and ambitious mathematics curriculum rich in skills, designed to ignite curiosity and prepare students for the challenges ahead. Through a universal language that underpins many areas of learning, we emphasise the importance of mathematics in practical contexts.
how do we teach maths at alns?
Our curriculum at ALNS emphasises the interconnected nature of mathematics, with topics woven together to deepen understanding and foster critical thinking. Each lesson is meticulously planned by our dedicated teachers, who tailor their approach to suit the needs of every class. We promote fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving skills through clear modelling, class discussions, assessments, and independent practice. Students regularly use calculators to enhance their proficiency.
Intent
The mathematics curriculum aims to help students become confident problem solvers who enjoy maths. The main goals are to:
Build strong maths skills through regular practice.
Encourage logical thinking and the ability to explain their reasoning.
Develop problem-solving abilities for a variety of real-life situations.
Improve communication using proper maths terms.
Create a positive and supportive learning environment to reduce maths anxiety.
Implementation
Our approach to teaching maths includes:
Focusing on understanding maths concepts deeply to prevent anxiety.
Encouraging students to take an active role in their learning.
Teachers demonstrating and explaining key ideas to clear up any confusion.
Regular reviews and practice to help students remember what they learn.
Using assessments and feedback to track progress and address learning gaps.
Offering different tasks to support all students, whether they need more help or a greater challenge.
Promoting the use of correct maths language to strengthen understanding.
Impact
The impact of this curriculum aims to ensure that:
Students have a strong and connected understanding of maths and its uses.
They are well-prepared for future education or work opportunities.
They become confident and independent problem solvers.
Students develop a positive attitude towards maths with reduced anxiety.
They can make connections between maths and other subjects, as well as everyday life.
They gain valuable knowledge, like understanding the stock market and historical maths discoveries.
Develop fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts.
Acquire, select and apply mathematical techniques to solve problems.
Reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences and draw conclusions.
Comprehend, interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms appropriate to the information and context.
Students are expected to bring a full set of mathematical equipment, including a scientific calculator, to each lesson. Independent Learning assignments are set weekly to reinforce learning, utilising resources such as online textbooks and tailored worksheets.
At ALNS, we ensure that students not only grasp the fundamental concepts of mathematics but also find a sense of enjoyment and desire to continue to be life long learners of mathematics.
key stage 3
Our KS3 curriculum builds upon the foundational mathematics learned in Key Stage 2 and ensures students cover the breadth of the National Curriculum. We integrate algebra and reinforce number skills to prepare students comprehensively for Key Stage 4. Emphasis is placed on developing multiplicative reasoning and ensuring continuity in learning to facilitate a smooth progression through the curriculum. A full overview is available below.
Year 7 Curriculum Plan
Autumn Term
Unit 1: Place Value
Understanding place value of digits
Writing numbers in figures and words
Ordering and comparing integers and decimals
Rounding numbers
Unit 2: The Four Operations
Performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
Applying operations in real-world contexts
Unit 3: Fractions
Understanding and manipulating fractions
Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages
Unit 4: Angles and 2D Shapes
Identifying and measuring angles
Properties of 2D shapes
Spring Term
Unit 5: Coordinates and Graphs
Plotting and interpreting coordinates
Drawing and analysing graphs
Unit 6: Ratio and Proportion
Understanding and using ratios
Solving proportion problems
Summer Term
Unit 7: Perimeter, Area, and Units
Calculating perimeter and area
Understanding and converting units
Unit 8: Data Handling
Collecting, representing, and interpreting data
Understanding mean, median, mode, and range
Year 8 Curriculum Plan
Autumn Term
Number Properties
Multiples, factors, primes, Highest Common Factor (HCF), Lowest Common Multiple (LCM), and basic number properties
Directed Number
Understanding and performing operations with positive and negative numbers
Real-world applications of directed numbers
Rounding
Rounding to significant figures and decimal places
Estimation techniques
Real-world applications of rounding
Length and Area
Calculating the perimeter and area of various 2D shapes including circles
Understanding and converting between units of length and area
Spring Term
3D Shape
Properties and nets of 3D shapes
Surface area and volume calculations of prisms and cylinders
Understanding real-world applications of 3D measurements
Compound Measure
Understanding and calculating with compound measures such as speed, density, and pressure
Real-world applications of compound measures
Fraction Calculations
Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions
Simplifying fractions
Real-world applications involving fractions
Probability
Basic probability concepts
Calculating probabilities of single and combined events
Representing probabilities using fractions, decimals, and percentages
Summer Term
Algebraic Manipulation
Simplifying expressions
Expanding and factorising expressions
Using algebraic notation effectively
Solving Equations
Solving linear equations
Understanding and solving equations with variables on both sides
Real-world applications of algebra
Angles
Calculating angles in various geometric shapes
Understanding properties of parallel lines and angles
Applying angle rules in problem-solving
Transformations
Understanding and performing transformations (translation, rotation, reflection, and enlargement)
Combining transformations
Real-world applications
Statistics
Collecting, representing, and interpreting data
Understanding mean, median, mode, and range
Drawing and analysing statistical charts
Year 9 Curriculum Plan
Autumn Term
Arithmetic
Mastery of arithmetic operations with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions
Estimation techniques
Real-world applications
Indices
Understanding and applying the laws of indices
Simplifying expressions involving indices
Fractions, Decimals, Percentages
Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages
Performing calculations with each
Real-world applications
Money
Financial literacy
Calculating with money including discounts, profit and loss
Simple and compound interest
Spring Term
Algebraic Manipulation
Expanding and factorising expressions
Simplifying algebraic expressions
Applying algebraic techniques in problem-solving
Coordinates and Graphs
Plotting and interpreting coordinates
Drawing and analysing linear and quadratic graphs
Real-world applications
2D Shape and Pythagoras
Understanding properties of 2D shapes
Applying Pythagoras' theorem to find lengths in right-angled triangles
Real-world applications
3D Shape and Volume
Calculating the surface area and volume of 3D shapes
Understanding nets of 3D shapes
Real-world applications
Summer Term
2D Shape and Trigonometry
Understanding sine, cosine, and tangent ratios
Applying trigonometric ratios to find missing lengths and angles
Real-world applications
Solving Equations
Solving linear and quadratic equations
Understanding and solving equations with variables on both sides
Real-world applications
Simultaneous Equations
Solving simultaneous linear equations graphically and algebraically
Real-world applications
Sequences
Understanding and finding patterns in sequences
Arithmetic and geometric sequences
Real-world applications
Percentages
Advanced percentage calculations
Including percentage change, reverse percentages
Real-world applications
Proportion
Understanding and solving problems involving direct and inverse proportion
At Key Stage 4, students follow a SoL that prepares them for the OCR exam syllabus for GCSE Mathematics. Students are prepared for GCSE exams with a focus on understanding exam-style questions, mastering calculator usage, and refining exam techniques. The curriculum ensures students are well-equipped to handle both routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication.
Students in Set 1 and 2 also follow the AQA exam syllabus for GCSE Statistics. The GCSE Statistics course is completed in Year 10, focusing on statistical literacy and data analysis skills essential for understanding the world around us. A full overview of both foundation and higher tier content is available below.
Foundation Curriculum Plan
Rounding and Error Intervals:
Round to the nearest 10, 100, and 1000.
Round to a given number of decimal places and significant figures.
Use rounding to significant figures to estimate in simple problems and calculations including worded problems.
Understand and calculate error intervals.
Percentages:
Find simple and integer percentages of a quantity.
Perform percentage increase or decrease.
Solve percentage change problems given in context.
Calculate simple and compound interest.
Ratio and Proportion:
Write a ratio from a real-life situation and reduce it to its simplest form.
Solve best value problems and use proportion to adapt recipes.
Solve direct and inverse proportion problems.
Volume and Surface Area:
Calculate the volume of cuboids and prisms, including cylinders.
Calculate the surface area of cubes, cuboids, and prisms including cylinders.
Apply formulae to calculate the volume and surface area of spheres, hemispheres, pyramids, and cones.
Transformations:
Perform and describe transformations (translations, rotations, reflections, and enlargements).
Identify and describe transformations using coordinates and vector notation.
Angles and Bearings:
Understand and calculate angles in various geometric shapes.
Solve problems involving angles on parallel lines.
Use bearings to describe direction and solve related problems.
Graphs:
Plot and interpret coordinates in all four quadrants.
Draw and analyse linear graphs.
Understand and interpret distance-time and velocity-time graphs.
Compound Measures:
Understand and calculate speed, density, and pressure.
Apply compound measure calculations to real-world problems.
Probability:
Understand and calculate basic probability.
Use probability scales from 0 to 1.
Represent probabilities as fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Understand and use relative frequency.
Averages:
Calculate mean, median, mode, and range.
Interpret and compare different averages.
Solve problems using averages and range.
Multiples and Factors:
Find multiples and factors of numbers.
Recognise prime numbers and find LCM and HCF.
Perform prime factor decompositions.
Algebraic Manipulation:
Simplify expressions.
Expand and factorise simple algebraic expressions.
Substitute values into algebraic expressions.
Solving Equations:
Solve linear equations with one variable.
Solve equations involving brackets and fractions.
Solve simple simultaneous equations.
Indices and Standard Form:
Understand and use the laws of indices.
Perform calculations using standard form.
Convert numbers to and from standard form.
Triangles, Pythagoras, and Trigonometry:
Understand and use Pythagoras' theorem.
Calculate missing sides in right-angled triangles using Pythagoras' theorem.
Use trigonometric ratios to find missing angles and sides in right-angled triangles.
Higher Curriculum Plan
Surds and Indices:
Simplify expressions using index laws.
Calculate with fractional and negative indices.
Simplify and calculate exactly with surds.
Expand double brackets with surds.
Rationalise the denominator of an expression with a surd.
Graphing Inequalities:
Represent solutions of linear inequalities in two variables on a graph.
Identify equations of linear graphs.
Plot graphs of quadratic, cubic, exponential, and reciprocal functions.
Arcs and Sectors:
Calculate the length of arcs and the area of sectors.
Apply knowledge to solve problems involving parts of circles.
Solving Quadratics:
Expand products of binomials.
Factorise quadratic expressions of the form x2+bx+cx^2 + bx + cx2+bx+c.
Solve quadratic equations by factorisation, completing the square, and using the quadratic formula.
Circle Theorems:
Understand and apply various circle theorems to find missing angles and lengths.
Prove and use theorems related to angles, radii, tangents, and chords.
Similarity and Congruence:
Understand and apply conditions for similarity and congruence in geometric shapes.
Solve problems involving similar and congruent shapes.
Conditional Probability:
Understand and calculate conditional probability.
Use probability trees and Venn diagrams to solve problems involving conditional probability.
Transformations:
Perform and describe transformations (translations, rotations, reflections, and enlargements).
Identify and describe transformations using coordinates and vector notation.
Volume and Surface Area:
Calculate the volume of cuboids and prisms, including cylinders.
Calculate the surface area of cubes, cuboids, and prisms including cylinders.
Apply formulae to calculate the volume and surface area of spheres, hemispheres, pyramids, and cones.
Statistics GCSE:
Types of Data: Understand different types of data (qualitative, quantitative, discrete, and continuous).
Sampling: Learn various sampling methods (random, stratified, systematic).
Collecting Data: Techniques for data collection, including surveys and experiments.
Interpreting Tables and Charts: Analyse and interpret data from tables and various types of charts (bar charts, pie charts, etc.).
Averages: Calculate and interpret mean, median, mode, and range.
Standard Deviation: Understand and calculate standard deviation.
Scattergraphs: Plot and interpret scattergraphs to identify correlation.
Spearman's Rank: Calculate and interpret Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.
Probability:
Understand and calculate basic probability.
Use probability scales from 0 to 1.
Represent probabilities as fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Understand and use relative frequency.
Bounds:
Understand upper and lower bounds.
Apply bounds to solve problems involving measurements and calculations.
Simultaneous Equations:
Solve linear simultaneous equations algebraically and graphically.
Solve simultaneous equations with one linear and one quadratic equation.
Histograms:
Construct and interpret histograms for grouped data.
Understand frequency density and use it to draw histograms.
Iteration:
Understand and use iterative methods to solve equations.
Apply iteration to approximate solutions.
Transforming Graphs:
Recognise and apply transformations to graphs of functions.
Translate, reflect, stretch, and compress graphs.
Non-Right Angle Trigonometry:
Use the sine and cosine rules to find missing sides and angles in non-right-angled triangles.
Solve problems involving areas of triangles using trigonometry.
Vectors:
Understand and use vector notation.
Perform vector addition and subtraction.
Multiply vectors by scalars and understand vector geometry.
Rates of Change:
Understand and calculate rates of change from graphs and equations.
Apply knowledge to real-life contexts.
Real-Life Graphs:
Interpret and analyse real-life graphs, including distance-time and velocity-time graphs.
Solve problems involving gradients and areas under graphs.
Assessment Structure: Three examinations in Year 11 Calculators permitted for two of the three designated papers Exams are 1 hour and 30 minutes each, held on separate days.
Tiers of Entry:
Statistics Higher Tier: Grades 4 to 9
Statistics Foundation Tier: Grades 1 to 5
Assessment Structure: Completed in Year 10 by students in set 1 and 2. Calculator permitted for both tiers. Separate curriculum following the AQA exam syllabus. Designed to develop statistical literacy and data analysis skills. Exams structured similarly to GCSE Mathematics, with appropriate tiered options.
