Mathematics

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What is maths?
Is it numbers? Is it algebra? Is it trigonometry? Is it statistics? The list could go on.
A better question would be “what makes a good mathematician?”
A good mathematician has the ability to reason their way through complex problems, finding the most efficient methods and working out what maths tools are needed.

During their maths lessons we help students build up the tools needed as well as giving them opportunities to develop and improve their problem solving skills. Appreciating that you will not always get things right first time is important; often when improving your maths skills as much can be learnt from a wrong method or solution as it can from solving the problem first time. Resilience and perseverance are essential traits to develop so that you are not tempted to give up at the first hurdle.

I am often asked what careers a maths qualification will lead on to. Not an easy question to answer but it is fair to say that people with good maths skills and qualifications are sought after because of their good problem solving skills. Colyton students who have studied maths at A level have gone on to careers in engineering, finance, architecture, computing and teaching, to name but a few. There are less obvious career routes e.g. business management, medical research, that employ maths graduates for their problem solving skills and logical minds.

As a department we are all fascinated by our subject. We derive pleasure from encouraging our students to persevere with their maths in the hope that it will open up avenues that they may wish to follow in the future.

- Mr Davis, Head of Mathematics

Lower Years Maths

The lower years curriculum will involve the following:

 

Year 7

Year 8

Autumn
Term

Coordinates

Transformation of shapes

Development of the number system (integer, fractions and decimals) and the four operations

Negative numbers

Graph shapes (plotting and sketching)

Number sequences

Fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio (and their applications)

Spring
Term

Development of algebraic techniques

Geometrical techniques (including constructions using compass and ruler)





 

Data Handling (both discrete and continuous data)

Further probability

Area and volume

Introduction to Pythagoras

Further work on equations and introduction to linear inequalities

Summer
Term

Multiples, factors and their applications

Representation of 3D objects

Probability

Data Handling

Loci

Basic rules of indices

Factorising and expanding algebraic expressions

Angles in polygons

 

Middle Years (Y9-11) Maths

The middle years curriculum will involve the following:

 

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Autumn
Term

Venn Diagrams and Probability

Linear graphs and regions

Linear Sim Equations

Review of combined transformations

Vector Geometry

Circle theorems (cont.)

Proportionality

Lower and upper bounds

Graph shapes

Gradient of and area under graphs

Custom work to suit individual groups/individuals

Fully consolidate GCSE skills Problem solving using a mix of topics and contexts.

FSMQ additional maths (to stretch those who are fully confident with all aspects of the GCSE content

Spring
Term

Surds and Indices

Ratio and similarity

Pythagoras and Trigonometry

 

Area and volume

Statistics

Further quadratics (including quadratic and linear sim equations)

Advanced Trigonometry

Summer
Term

Sequences and algebra

review

Quadratics – plotting and equation solving

Circle Theorems

Algebraic fractions

Graph transformations

Review of similarity and congruence

Final probability

Upper Years Maths

The upper years curriculum will involve the following:

 

Year 12

Year 13

Autumn
Term

Teacher 1
Proof

Quadratics and polynomials

Graphs and their shapes

Graph transformations

Coordinate geometry and equations of circles

Exponentials

Trigonometry

Teacher 2
Differentiation and integration

Equations of tangents and normal

Vectors

Kinematics

Teacher 1
Normal distribution

Normal dist and hypothesis testing

Review of proof

Proof by contradiction

Sequences and series

Arithmetic and Geometric sequences and series

Numerical methods

Teacher 2
Applications of chain rule

Moments about a point

Mechanical modelling

Vectors in 3D
Kinematics and 2D

Resolving Forces

Forces in equilibrium

Friction

Projectile motion

Vectors and calulus in kinematics

Spring
Term

Teacher 1
Data Handling (presentation and interpretation of data)

Standard deviation

Binomial expansion

Probability

Discrete distributions

Teacher 2
Forces and Newton’s Laws

Connected particles

Radians and trigonometry

Small angle approximations

Trig identities

Area between curves and trapezium rule

Points of inflection, convex and concave functions

Calculus with trig functions

Product, quotient and chain rule

 

Teacher 1
Mock exams

Pearsons product moment correlation

Hypothesis testing and correlation

Further calculus

Teacher 2
Mock exams

Parametric curves

Parametric and implicit differentiations

Differential equations

Summer
Term

Sampling and hypothesis testing

Conditional probability

Summer exam preparation, exams and review

Functions (including modulus)

Partial fractions

Binomial expansion (for any rational power)

 Exam preparation and final exams

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