Syllabus:

At Sheringham High School we follow the Pearson progress scheme. This scheme forms a continuous link from the introduction of topics in year 7 to the rigours of exam questions at GCSE. The syllabus supports student learning with real life scenarios and STEM links.

The Progress scheme covers the same areas of Maths tested at GCSE: Number; Algebra; Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change; Geometry and Measures; Statistics and Probability. Each topic has an individual progression map meaning that topics are revisited every year with a new aspect of challenge added, allowing the students to revise and extend their knowledge. This approach has allowed us to create a highly differentiated curriculum to ensure student progress in every lesson.

Our lessons prioritise Functional Skills problems which introduce Mathematical principles within the context of real life. While year 11 may seem a long way off in year 7, the structure of the syllabus means that every lesson contributes to the skills needed at GCSE.

Assessment

Our students are set from the first lesson in Year 7 based on the Key Stage 2 SATs data. We quickly retest students in September to ensure that we have placed them in the appropriate teaching set.

At the end of each half term students are set an assessment based on the topics covered in the preceding weeks. The scheme of work in students’ orange books detail the topics that will be assessed in addition to our SHS connected question which test a previously seen topic or skill.  

These tests are assessed by staff using the RAS policy to identify areas for development.

Mathswatch

We subscribe to Mathswatch, a site which gives students access to instructional clips and additional questions. Homework can be set from the worksheets on this site. (http://www.vle.mathswatch.com/)

Our staff—the Maths team are friendly, experienced professionals who can be contacted by email if extra information or support is needed.

Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty -- a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show. - Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), The Study of Mathematics

Students have a version of the Scheme of work in their Orange books. They should use this to ensure that they are aware of what will and has been covered in the course and to support them with their effective revision

As with other subjects, grades will be awarded from 9 (high) to 1 over two tiers.

Students in year 10 and 11 will be assessed every half term using a past paper and the associated grade boundaries.  Year 9 students will have half termly Pearson tests until Easter.

Foundation tier is assessed at grades 1 - 5 and higher tier is assessed at grades 4-9. The course is examined in three terminal exams, each lasting 90 minutes with one non-calculator and two calculator papers. The most significant change to the maths syllabus is the removal of most of the formulae from the formula sheet. These need to be remembered! To help our students with this, key formulae have been printed in their planners to aid their memories.

The questions have also slightly changed focus with particular emphasis on the real life and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) applications of the topics covered.  Students greatly benefit from having their own calculator to use in the exams and we particularly recommend calculators with a two-line function. (If in any doubt, please contact a member of the Maths team).

We regularly assess our students with past paper assessments taking place in January and June (Year 10) and November, January and April (Year 11) and half termly tests until Easter in year 9

For information of courses in Years 12 and 13 click on this link >