Mathematics

Staffing

The Mathematics Department consists of the following staff:

• Mrs L Osborne (Head of Department)
• Mrs G Bulloch (Assistant Head)
• Mr P Crockford
• Miss Drage
•  Mrs B Emmrich (Year 11 Pupil Achievement Leader)
• Miss S Gilks
• Miss Stanley

The department has six full time Teachers of Mathematics, one of whom holds responsibility as an Assistant Head. All work together extremely well as a team and are very supportive to the Head of Department. Under the direction of the Head of Department members share responsibility for the progress of girls throughout Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and the Sixth Form.

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  Mathematics Courses

  KS3

  
  In Year 7 pupils are taught in four equal ability tutor groups each of 32 girls. The Mathematics Department has written its own comprehensive scheme of work in line with National Guidelines but with a considerable amount of extension material. In addition the girls complete a number of short investigations and problem solving activities to help them improve their functional skills in Mathematics. All the pupils follow the same scheme of work and are tested on a regular basis throughout the year and in addition they have an end of year examination.

  In Year 8 the pupils continue to be taught in equal ability tutor groups. The scheme of work in year 8 is based on the content of the Essential Mathematics 8H textbook, but is again supplemented with other material. Further investigations and problem solving activities are completed. All the pupils follow the same scheme of work and are tested on a regular basis throughout the year and in addition they have an end of year examination. These results are used to place the girls in ability sets in Year 9.

  From Year 9 onwards the pupils are taught in five Mathematics sets but each set covers the same scheme of work. The lower sets have a smaller number of pupils so they are able to receive more individual help where necessary.

  In Year 9 the students begin the OCR Specification A GCSE Modular course (first teaching in September 2010).  The scheme of work is based on the content of the Essential Maths Higher GCSE textbook but is supplemented with other material where necessary. Throughout the year all girls take the same tests on the work covered together with the end of year examination.  These results are used to adjust the setting for Year 10.

  KS4

  
  In Year 10 and Year 11 the girls continue preparation for GCSE.

  Throughout the year all girls take the same tests on the work covered together with the end of year examination. These papers will be of the style of the GCSE papers and will contain actual GCSE questions.

  It is departmental policy not to make unnecessary changes to the teaching groups at this time unless a student clearly needs special consideration.  Continuity with the same member of staff is considered to be the most important consideration at this time.  However changes in sets are made during the year to enable fast tracking of the top sets and at the end of Year 10 where this is deemed to be beneficial to the student.

  Results at GCSE are excellent. All pupils in set 1 and 2 are expected to achieve grade A*, set 3 and 4 are expected to achieve grade A*/A and most pupils in set 5 are expected to achieve grade A/B with only the occasional C grade.

  All students aim to finish the GCSE course in the November of year 11.  Sets 1 to 3 will then work towards and sit the OCR Additional Qualification and sets 4 and 5 will sit the AQA Certificate in Further Mathematics.

  Sixth Form

  Mathematics is an extremely popular option in the Sixth Form.  Usually there are eighty or more girls who study A Level Mathematics and a further 15 who also study Further Mathematics.  We have followed the MEI Structured Mathematics specification for many years and it has proved to be very popular with excellent results. There are four teaching groups who study the single A Level.  Those students who choose to study Further Mathematics form a separate teaching group.  Results at both single A Level and Further Mathematics A Level are excellent.

  Rooming/Resources.

  The Department has five large and one smaller teaching room and an adjoining Mathematics office. All rooms each have a computer, ceiling mounted projector and eBeam software so the whiteboard can be used interactively for classroom demonstrations.  In addition, the computer network throughout the school allows pupils access to a wide variety of mathematics software.  All girls in the Sixth Form who study mathematics are advised to purchase their own graphical calculator for individual use.  We use an extensive range of mathematics software on a daily basis and have available Autograph 3, Secondary Living Worksheets, Geometer Sketchpad and Headstart GCSE Mathematics for class demonstrations and individual use by students. Staff and students also have unlimited access to these online resources:

  mymaths.co.uk

  mei.org.uk (for Sixth Form Mathematicians).

  Success Rates

  The department has enjoyed a great deal of success at GCSE and A Level.  Results have been excellent and consistent over many years at all levels and the large number of girls choosing to study mathematics in the Sixth Form has been maintained due to the high success rate at GCSE.  Many of the girls have gone on to study Mathematics at university, including Oxford and Cambridge.

  Further Information

  This is a forward thinking and innovative department committed to raising standards in teaching and learning.  The successful candidates will be joining a hard-working department and it is hoped that the colleagues who join us will share our enthusiasm for the subject and inspire us with new ideas and initiatives.