Maths

Intent

Maths is all around us. Learning to understand the number system is one of the most important things that any child will do at our school. So much learning depends on a secure grasp of number and we prioritise giving children opportunities for deepening their understanding. Our aim is for all children to be confident mathematicians and resilient problem solvers who are able to access a wide range of mathematical contexts and articulate their reasoning.

Mathematical skills are the strongest predictor of academic success and beyond. Therefore, our intention is to include maths in as much of the curriculum as possible, providing children with opportunities to master their skills in purposeful ways.

We aim to foster a real love of numbers and to establish children as lifelong problem solvers, in a world which is ever changing. We promote both individual depth of knowledge and collaborative, problem solving skills. We set a high profile for maths in our school and everyone across the school community helps promote its importance.

Implementation

Lessons are planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before. Additionally, teachers plan lessons which cater for different styles of learning and abilities. Physical resources (e.g. Numicon, Dienes), pictures and numbers are used alongside each other to support the children’s journey from concrete to pictorial to abstract.

Teachers loosely follow the Maths No Problem scheme to support their planning and as we move forward, we plan to implement this scheme in a more dynamic and flexible way. Staff also refer to the Calculation Policy when teaching formal methods, understanding that sometimes children have their own efficient methods that they employ.

Our current whole school drives are on times tables and problem solving. Fluency starters, including times table practice, are included in every maths lesson, and all children have access to the interactive resource ‘Times Table Rock Stars’ where they can compete against other pupils in school. Problem solving has become a discrete weekly lesson in which teachers use ‘low floor, high ceiling’ tasks to cater for all abilities and teach explicit problem solving skills e.g. working systematically, trial and improvement.

Impact

We endeavour to foster mathematicians who have solid number sense, are fluent calculators and proficient problem solvers. The impact of our mathematics curriculum is that children understand the relevance of what they are learning in relation to real world concepts.

We have nurtured an environment where maths is fun and it is good to be ‘wrong’ because the journey to finding an answer is most important. Our children have a growth mindset and a ‘have a go’ attitude, choosing the equipment they need to help them along with the strategies they think are best suited to each problem. Children are developing ‘talk for maths’ and are able to reason verbally, pictorially and in written form.

Our Maths Team

Mrs Gunning - STEM and Humanities Faculty Lead

Mr Moore - Year 6 Teacher 

Mrs Bhamra - Mastery Maths Specialist