Curriculum Leader of Mathematics: Mrs S Lai Lan - slailan@priorysouthsea.org
Head of Faculty: Mr A Parker - aparker@priorysouthsea.org
“Mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” – Albert Einstein
Course outline
This course is being offered to students who would like to broaden their knowledge of Maths and its applications.
This option would involve the opportunity to take GCSE Statistics and a Level 2 certificate in Further Maths.
What is Statistics?
GCSE Statistics provides students with a critical appreciation of Statistics and its place in everyday life. It encourages students to develop enquiring minds and become effective and independent learners. With a focus on handling data and probability, students acquire an understanding of statistical concepts and methods, which are highly desirable skills in today’s job market.
Throughout the GCSE Statistics programme, students are encouraged to think about 'the bigger picture' of modern statistics logically and analytically. These fundamental statistical and lateral thinking skills are useful across all kinds of disciplines and careers.
Why Study Statistics?
Some of the benefits of studying statistics are:
getting involved and learning through engaging work
using your knowledge to understand how statistics works in everyday life and to understand their benefits and limitations
coming up with a hypothesis and investigating it, then analysing and presenting the results
acquiring skills that are relevant in a wide variety of other subjects such as the sciences, geography and social sciences
the application to vocational qualifications
many topics from probability, measures of spread, measures of location and the data-handling cycle are included in GCSE Mathematics.
GCSE Statistics could lead on to further study in Statistics at A-level or other related subjects such as Maths, Further Maths and the Social Sciences.
It could lead to higher study in subjects such as: Computer Science, Biochemical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Anthropology, Geography, Engineering, Medical Science, Psychology, Sociology, Linguistics, Politics, Economics, Law, Accountancy and Management.
What Will I Study?
Variance and standard deviation, Spearman’s Rank, binomial expansion, Chloropleth maps, permutations and combinations, moving averages, types of sampling and other probability and data handling topics.
How Will The Course Be Assessed?
The course will be 100% external assessment, with no controlled assessment or coursework.
All exams will be linear, sat at the end of Year 10.
What is Further Maths?
AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Maths is designed to stretch and challenge high achieving mathematicians. It is ideal for adding additional and more demanding content into the KS4 teaching programme, with a view to taking GCSE and the Level 2 Certificate at the end of
Year 11. It complements GCSE Maths by encouraging students' higher Mathematical skills, particularly algebraic reasoning, but does not infringe upon AS Level Maths.
Why Study Further Maths?
Benefits include:
studying Maths in more depth and gaining a better understanding of how to go about problem solving in Maths
tackling advanced concepts and topics like Calculus and Matrices without having to wait until AS Level
knowing that their mathematical abilities are being recognised and reinforced
the purpose it gives them in doing extra study which earns them an extra qualification
the platform it gives for higher study of Maths and the Sciences.
Throughout Further Maths, students are stretched and challenged to explore Mathematics more deeply and rigorously. The understanding of the fundamentals of Maths and problem-solving skills are useful across all kinds of disciplines and careers. Further Maths could lead on to further study in Maths, Further Maths, Pure Maths or Statistics at A-level, and/or other related subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Electronics, Psychology, Environmental Studies and Applied Science.
What Will I Study?
Further Maths places an emphasis on higher order technical proficiency, rigorous argument and problem-solving skills. It gives high achieving students an introduction to AS level topics that will develop skills in Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Matrices, Trigonometry and Functions.
This specification will help students to develop their:
higher order knowledge and understanding of mathematical principles
experience of advanced Mathematics, such as Calculus
skills in Trigonometry, functions and graphs
ability to select, apply and link mathematical techniques and methods to solve challenging and non-routine problems
independent mathematical reasoning and argument.
How Will The Course Be Assessed?
Statistics :
The course will be 100% external assessment, with no controlled assessment or coursework.
All exams will be linear, sat at the end of Year 10.
Further maths:
The course will be 100% external assessment by 2 exam papers at the end of year 11.
Possible careers linked to your subject
Scientists
Engineers
Banking/Actuary
Computer scientist
Auditing and economics
Teaching/Lecturing
Additional information/Signpost useful website etc.
AQA Certificate Level 2 Further maths