Each student follows a course designed to enable her to develop her mathematical skills, to apply her knowledge in everyday situations and to solve real life problems with confidence. The department aims to make mathematics stimulating and enjoyable to all.

A variety of teaching methods are employed but there is a strong tradition in the department for teacher-led lessons as the best means for putting over many topics and explaining mathematical techniques. The style of lessons will encourage mental agility and efficient and appropriate use of the calculator. The lesson will usually be in three parts. The first part of the lesson will be a mental and oral starter in which the students are asked questions and encouraged to verbalise their solutions and ideas. The main part of the lesson will come next and finally there may be a plenary if appropriate.

Initially in year 7 students are taught in their mixed ability forms. Currently, they are set at the beginning of the spring term into 8 groups using Key Stage 2 results, teacher input and internal testing as a guide. The top set is small to accommodate the accelerated learning of the gifted and talented students and the eighth set is also small to offer extra help to those students who find maths particularly difficult.

The department uses the Key maths textbooks from year 7 to year 9 and Edexcel’s own GCSE textbook in years 10 and 11. There may be an opportunity for some students to take GCSE a year early. Currently such students study an AS module in year 11.

In the sixth form, generally students will study for three modules in the first year, leading to an AS qualification. In year 13 three A2 modules are studied for the A level qualification. In addition there is the opportunity for some students to study the subject to a higher level by studying Further Maths. At GCSE the examination board is Edexcel and for AS/A2 is OCR.

Course Content

Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11

Each girl follows a course designed to enable her to develop her mathematical skills, to apply her knowledge in everyday situations and to solve real life problems with confidence. The department aims to make mathematics stimulating and enjoyable to all.

Course Content

AS and A2

The AS course is currently divided into three modules C1, C2 and S1. C1 and C2 are the compulsory pure maths modules. S1 is a statistics module. For the A-level (AS and A2) course, a total of six modules are studied currently. C1, C2, C3 and C4 are the compulsory core pure mathematics modules. The modules taught may vary in the future.

Learning Methods and Assessment

Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11

A variety of teaching methods are employed but there is a strong tradition in the department for teacher-led lessons as the best means for putting over many topics and explaining mathematical techniques. The style of lessons will encourage mental agility and efficient and appropriate use of the calculator.

Initially in year 7 students are taught in their mixed ability forms. They are set at the beginning of the spring term into seven groups using Key Stage 2 results, CAT scores and internal testing as a guide. The seventh set is kept small to offer extra help to those girls who find maths particularly difficult.

Within a set, students usually work as a group with the teacher introducing the topics and instructing them as to which questions to do. The textbooks used in years 7, 8 and 9 are Key Maths. Testing continues at regular intervals, so students can be moved from one set to another whenever the need arises.

Learning Methods

AS and A2

Usually two members of staff teach every student. Students often work together with the teacher in the initial stages of each topic. A typical lesson takes the form of a discussion with formal notes and worked examples. A variety of textbooks provide students with further reading, worked examples and practice exercises. Students are given many problems to solve in private study outside the classroom situation. The student is set homework throughout the course and they are given opportunities to practise past papers under examination conditions. The course is modular with no coursework component.

Expectations of Students

AS and A2

The students are expected to spend at least 4 hours per week in private study. Homework will normally be set each week. They will be expected to take a great deal of responsibility for their own learning and to ask questions and participate in class discussions.

Careers Implications

A level mathematics is a valuable and recommended qualification for many degree courses. It demonstrates an ability to work logically and concisely and provides an essential qualification for many areas in science and business. Well qualified mathematicians are in great demand in almost every branch of modern life, including actuarial work, the Civil Service, computing, education and industry.

A-Level Further Maths

This course is only available as an AS/A2 in years 12 and 13

Course Content

This course currently consists of 3 modules