S3 Mathematics

S3 pupils at Mackie Academy will receive four periods of learning a week in the Maths department.

Currently these four periods are delivered as one "double period" and two single periods, meaning S3 pupils have maths on three days a week.

In S3 pupils continue to consolidate their learning from S1 and S2 Maths.  In addition to this, pupils start learning some of the skills and methods involved for different maths course in the Senior Phase (S4-S6).

A list of some of the new topics that pupils may be introduced to over the course of S3 is listed below:

Topic List

• further statistics

• further algebraic manipulation (including completing the square)

• the straight line

• similarity

• angles in a polygon

• simultaneous equations

• further trigonometry (including sine and cosine rules)

• further volume

• bearings and scale drawing

• arcs and sectors

• surface area

• surds and indices

Please note that these are not necessarily the order that these topics will be taught in, and that different classes may be working on different topics at the same time.

❗Click on the Topic List heading above to access videos and revision sheets❗ 

The Maths+ course is an option available to pupils in S3 to help build confidence in and consolidate skills that will better enable pupils, where appropriate,  achieve their National 5 Mathematics qualification.

In this course pupils are given the opportunity to consolidate some of the key areas of BGE Maths that are crucial for success in the Senior Phase.  This includes:

• fractions, decimals, and percentages

• order of operations (BODMAS)

• working with negative numbers

• algebraic operations (expanding brackets, factorising, solving equations)

• area and volume

• and more!

If your child's teacher believes they would benefit from choosing this as one of their options in S3, then they will let your child know.

Results and feedback will be shared with pupils during lessons, and parents/carers will be made aware of these results (and any potential concerns) through tracking reports and parents' evenings.

The results of these assessments will sit alongside teachers' professional judgement and all of the other evidence gathered throughout S1 and S2 in helping determine what the best pathway is for each pupil when it comes to the Senior Phase (e.g whether a pupil is on track to begin working on National 4 or National 5 Maths in S4).

At the beginning of S2 pupils will have been mixed together and "set" according to a number of factors.  These include, but are not limited to:

• attainment in S1 assessments

• pupil's work ethic and behaviour during lessons

• a pupil's homework record

• their teacher's professional judgement

This is done to provide all pupils with the best chance of success with their Maths throughout their Broad General Education and when they eventually move into the Senior Phase in S4.

Please note that these settings are not permanent.  The Maths department regularly gets together to discuss both whole class and individual pupil progress, meaning it is entirely possible for pupils to move classes during the year so that they can find the most appropriate level of pace and challenge to meet their needs.