Mathematics

GCSE Mathematics 

Exam Board AQA (8300)

Aims and Objectives

Maths is for everyone. It is diverse, engaging and essential in equipping students with the right skills to reach their future destination, whatever that may be. The AQA qualification is designed to enable students to engage with, explore, enjoy and succeed in Maths. By putting students at the heart of everything we do, our aim is to shape what success in Maths looks like for every student.

Course Content

The programme of study will cover topics in Number, Algebra, Ratio and Proportion, Geometry and Measures, Probability and Statistics. Essentially the work is a continuation and extension of the topics covered in Key Stage 3. Students will develop a positive attitude to mathematics; the ability to read mathematics and write and talk about the subject in a variety of ways; the ability to use mathematics as a means of communication; the ability to solve problems; the ability to produce and appreciate imaginative and creative work; a willingness and ability to work independently and cooperatively; the ability to apply mathematics to other subjects; the ability to apply mathematics in everyday situations; the ability to carry out calculations and the abilities to reason logically, to classify, to generalise and to test and prove hypothesis.

Assessment of the Course

There are three one and a half hour exams, all sat in the summer of Year 11. There will be one non-calculator paper and two calculator papers each covering all areas of the syllabus.  Students will follow either the Higher Tier route or the Foundation Tier route, although there is a 20% area of overlap between the tiers allowing students to swap from Foundation to Higher at a later stage of the course. Grades available at the Foundation Tier are 1 to 5, whilst the Higher Tier allows access to grades 4 to 9.

You are required to equip and familiarise yourself with the use of appropriate equipment, ie protractor, pair of compasses, pen, pencil, ruler and a scientific calculator. You will have the option of purchasing revision guides and workbooks, and all students will have access to MathsWatch & Hegarty Maths.

Progression – A Levels and possible careers in Maths

Maths is one of the best subjects to develop your analytical, research and problem solving skills. Not only will studying Maths help give you the knowledge to tackle scientific, mechanical, coding and abstract problems, it will also help you develop logic to tackle everyday issues like planning projects, managing budgets and even debating effectively. 

People with maths degrees can go into; accounting, medicine, engineering, forensic pathology, finance, business, consultancy, teaching, IT, games development, scientific research, programming, civil service, design, construction and astro-physics to name but a few. It is not surprising that Maths was the most popular A level choice in 2018 & 9!