Maths
Mathematics is taught to all students in Years 7-11, although most students with Special Educational Needs (Moderate Learning Difficulties) are taught in a Resource Base outside the department. Students come into the school in Year 7 in six mixed ability classes within two parallel bands. They are put into 3 sets within these bands for Mathematics for the first three years (Years 7-9) based primarily on their Key Stage 2 SATs results. There are opportunities to move sets following formal (and informal) assessments each year. Years 10 and 11 are also taught in 2 half-year groups but these are decided based on Key Stage 3 results in Maths, Science and English. These are not the same as in the lower school allowing subjects to group all very able and, all very weak students, together. In general, no classes are larger than 30 in size and the lower ability groups tend to be much smaller. All teaching staff are expected to teach at all levels and abilities within Key Stages 3 and 4. Continuity of teaching is considered important and it is likely that staff will retain teaching groups throughout their school life. Year 7 will have some of their Mathematics taught within projects as part of an Integrated Curriculum combined with other subject areas next year.
Schemes of work are in use for all levels of work and Key Stage 3 is based on the National Numeracy Framework. All students in mainstream maths are entered for GCSE Mathematics with some students having the opportunity to take this at the end of year 10. At present we run a linear course with OCR for those students doing their GCSE after 1 year and a modular course with AQA for those doing it in two years. This is likely to change so that both follow a modular course in the future, as we intend to start teaching this at the end of Year 9. More able students also have the chance to take GCSE Statistics, this maybe at the end of year 10 or 11, depending on the class that they are in. All students have their own textbook although staff are encouraged to supplement the work with their own worksheets and/or other departmental texts which are held in a central store.
There are 7 teachers within the department although not all teach maths exclusively and some have responsibility for other school areas. The department is housed predominantly in a suite of five rooms with another room elsewhere. Each room in the suite has its own computer and access to the school network. Four of the rooms have data projectors and three have interactive whiteboards with the possibility that all will have this facility next year. Staff work together well so that all classes have the opportunity to use rooms with interactive access. We have a trolley of 15 laptops that are bookable and for exclusive use by the department, as well as a variety of practical equipment to aid investigational work. We also have a variety of software programmes available for use including interactive work.
Target setting within the department has been inherent for a number of years and teachers are expected to take responsibility for ensuring their own teaching groups maintain or outstrip their projections. High standards are encouraged throughout. Discipline within the department is good with the school following an Assertive Discipline procedure, which is supported by Senior Staff.
Click here for more information on the exams taken at Coppice.
Previous page: Science
Next page: Humanities