KS3

Maths

About the course

The curriculum aims to provide the bespoke and robust framework that students need to develop their numeracy competence and the transferable skills essential to developing the numerical reasoning that motivates them to engage with learning and make progress. The curriculum presents students with a scaffold that encourages problem-solving and is in line with the new GCSE specification. It also promotes independence, transfer of pre-requisite skills and enhances resilience. 

Each 50-minute lesson is planned to meet individual learning needs while promoting collaboration between students through activities and investigative tasks. The lessons’ learning objectives are reinforced by applying the learning content to real-life and work-based situations. The depth of the content varies between students, given their different levels of challenge at the point of entry, which is determined by baseline assessment during the induction process. The sequence of learning tasks and gradient of difficulty ensures that students are able to recall previous learning and transfer relevant skills to solve problems. This helps boost students’ confidence, improve their behaviour for learning and raise attainment.

What will students learn?

The courses are designed to encourage the continuity and re-enforcement of knowledge so that it can be recalled and applied in subsequent learning. Topics covered include the study of:

  • numbers – to create a strong basis for Maths skills
  • fractions – to develop the knowledge of decimals and division previously studied
  • decimals – to extend number skills already gained
  • percentages – to build a mastery of fractions, decimals and percentage that allows for the transfer of requisite skills and knowledge
  • algebra– to harness the competence of number skills already gained to promote problem-solving
  • sequences –  to provide an opportunity to revise and master almost all of the previous topics
  • ratio and proportion – to use scale readings and worded problems to build on the knowledge of shape and measure, and extend the knowledge and skills gained in fractions
  • probability – to use the knowledge of fractions, decimals and percentages
  • data handling –  to use graphing to create and present professional quality data
  • angles – to use problem-solving skills that develop the shape module and numbers skills
  • graphing – to plot data on graphs and reinforce numeracy skills
  • transformations – to use graphs and proportions
  • shape and measure – to provide a foundation of practical Maths and activities
  • finance skills.

We have made a conscious move away from using textbooks and towards more active learning and investigation-based learning, which students find more engaging, and helps them retain more of what they have learnt.

Click on the link to view our KS3 Maths curriculum map. 

Additional support

The very small class size ensures that support for students is bespoke. Students who have significant gaps in their learning as a result of absence are assigned a tutor on a one-to-one basis. We also offer after-school revision sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Qualifications and accreditation 

Students can achieve accreditations in Entry level 1 to 3 and Functional skills L1 and 2. These qualifications help boost students’ confidence towards achieving a GCSE qualification in addition to achieving a National qualification in Mathematics.

Extra-curricular opportunities

As part of a bespoke timetable to meet individual needs, students are offered the option of studying Hair and Beauty, Engineering, Animal Care, Sports, Media, Art, Business, Health and Social Care. Opportunities to explore the relevance of Maths in a real-life context are provided in the curriculum to motivate students and improve engagement.

Student assessment

Students are regularly assessed throughout the course. At the time of entry, students sit the Key Stage 3 Pearson baseline test to establish their strengths and areas for development. This helps guide effective intervention strategies and generates a pathway to track their progress and attainment. Thereafter, students are assessed and graded every half term by formative and/or summative assessment.