Maths

The shared Maths curriculum is based upon the principles of Teaching for Mastery. It is a bespoke curriculum that has been designed with students' prior knowledge in mind as well as building for conceptual understanding. This is done through spending more time focussing on one topic at a time rather than revisiting (and inevitably reteaching) the same things year after year.

The curriculum at Key Stage 3 is based upon the Non-Statutory Guidance from the DfE and NCETM. It was collaboratively developed through discussion around the sequencing of the topics so that each topic builds upon previous topics. Although the topics aren’t taught directly again, they are built into the topics that follow. Therefore it is expected that schools who choose to follow the curriculum will do so in the order set out.

Each topic is broken down into a small step scheme of learning that allows students to master a particular aspect before moving on to the next step. There is time built into the curriculum so that if a class hasn’t fully grasped one lesson then a teacher can be responsive to the needs of the students and not just click on to the next lesson. Schools can access all of the resources through the WMAT VLE and a shared Google Drive.

The lessons have been shared collaboratively and, just as the curriculum itself, focus on aspects of Teaching for Mastery and the 5 big ideas around this. There are certain representations that schools have been working on and training can be shared around these. For example representations used are bar modelling, algebra tiles, ratio tables and double number lines. Mini White Board activities, paired discussion and deliberate practice are built into the lessons as well as aspects of problem solving. The lessons are designed to be a basis of a lesson and to be adapted by teachers for their class. In year 9 onwards there is a foundation scheme of learning that follows the core content but removes the Higher tier content at GCSE and is designed for those students who need extra support and further interleaving of topics from previous years.

If a school has not been involved previously in Mastery with MathsHub then funding and training can be sought for help with the transition as well as coaching and training from the Maths Subject Lead. If they have been involved previously then schools are encouraged to continue their development of it through the sustaining sessions that are run through the year.

At Key Stage 4 the curriculum is designed to follow the Pearson Edexcel GCSE. In year 10 and 11 it is split between Higher and Foundation tiers and schools will need to work out where their borderline students fit best.