Mathematics

Length of Course : The first year of a three year GCSE course.

Course description and aims

Mathematics is important in everyday life and the study of mathematics enables students to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding to relevant real world situations.

In Year 9 pupils in mathematics follow the new Edexcel GCSE (9-1) course. Pupils are encouraged to develop and practise their mental arithmetic skills and formalise their recording of mathematics by developing standard methods. The work covered in Year 9 builds on the work covered in Year 8 and pertains to the Edexcel GCSE course.

Year 9 students are taught in Higher and Foundation ability sets and they have six mathematics lessons per fortnight.

Main concepts and topics covered

Number and Algebra

Geometry and Measure

Statistics

Mathematical reasoning and applications

Contents

Higher

· HCF, LCM, Surds, Indices, Standard form

· Equations, Formulae, Sequences, Simplifying Expressions

· Interpreting and Representing Data

· Fractions, Ratio and Percentages

· Angles and Trigonometry

· Graphs

· Area and Volume

Foundation

· HCF, LCM, Surds, Indices, Standard form

· Equations, Formulae, Sequences, Simplifying Expressions

· Interpreting and Representing Data

· Fractions, Ratio and Percentages

· Equations, Inequalities and Sequences

· Angle Properties

· Averages and Range

Course outcomes

The study of mathematics encourages your child to develop the following skills:

· mathematical reasoning

· increasing fluency of computation

· developing a competence with formal algebra

· developing an understanding of 2D and 3D shapes

· handling data

· estimation

· problem solving

· logical reasoning

· the ability to think in abstract ways

Types of assessment

Assessment by the teacher is carried out during the learning process through a variety of tasks including the use of ActiveLearn interactive digital resources, mini white boards, half-term assessments, unit tests, observation and the marking of written work.

Students are encouraged to make self-assessments by reflecting on their work and completing the student appraisal before the Student Led Conferences (SLC). There are four formal written assessments during the year including a final year exam in the summer term.

Methodology

A variety of teaching styles are used to cater to the different learning styles of students. A range of activities which involve individual work, group work, project work, challenges, flipped learning and investigations are used to deliver the curriculum.

Text and materials

Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Higher / Foundation Student Book. Students have access to the Pearson Digital Platform called ActiveLearn. The link to the website is available through the BISR VLE.

Students also have access to MyMaths (www.mymaths.co.uk), MathsWatch (www.vle.mathswatch.co.uk).

These materials are supplemented by a wide variety of teacher’s personal favourite work sheets, games and activities.

Useful websites:

www.pearsonactivelearn.com

http://nrich.maths.org/students

www.emaths.co.uk

Grading policy

Both formative (teacher) and summative (formal test) assessments are referenced to the criteria of the Edexcel GCSE (9-1) exam board. Teachers report a grade to parents 3 times a year. Students are encouraged to be aware of their progress through self-assessment and gap analysis to set their personal target.

Additional expectations

Year 9 are expected to complete two sets of homework a week, each homework should last approximately 40 minutes. One of the tasks will be an on-line homework.

Activities to do at home:

Review the work covered in Year 7 and Year 8. Complete additional activities from the available resources.

Students are expected to bring: a ruler, calculator, pen, pencil, geometry set, laptop (BYOD) and their exercise books to every lesson.