Platanos College » Mathematics

We have high expectations for all our pupils and ensure that every learner is challenged and supported to reach their full potential.

Mathematics Curriculum

At Platanos College, our Mathematics curriculum is both creative and ambitious for all of our pupils. Through our Mathematics curriculum, we recognise that Mathematics is essential to everyday life, the it is critical to science, technology and engineering in this every-changing world. Through our curriculum, we recognise the importance of mathematics in supporting pupils be successful in employment in the future. We aim to develop pupils’ fluency and problem-solving skills as well as their mathematical reasoning skills through our Mathematics curriculum.

Our curriculum is sequenced in line with the National Curriculum and is designed to support our pupils to become highly knowledgeable and skilled mathematical pupils. Pupils are taught to make connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly challenging problems.

In addition, pupils are given the opportunity to develop their mathematical knowledge and skills through extra-curricular activities and opportunities. This includes the celebration of numeracy days such as Pi Day and the opportunity to participate in national competitions such as The Maths Challenge.

The Maths curriculum in Platanos College is sequenced in such a way that it enables pupils to:

develop fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts;
select and apply mathematical techniques to solve problems;
reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences, and draw conclusions;
comprehend, interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms appropriate to the information and context.

Key Stage 3 Maths

The Key Stage 3 curriculum is studied over Years 7, 8 and 9. We offer a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum where pupils are encouraged to become independent and thoughtful learners. In Key Stage 3 Mathematics, pupils study key concepts within number, algebra, ratio and proportion, geometry, probability and statistics. The curriculum is clearly sequenced so that each unit builds on prior knowledge and introduces pupils to new concepts. Pupils across Key Stage 3 are given a knowledge organiser at the beginning of each term. This sets out the key concepts and disciplinary literacy that they will learn over the course of the term. Regular assessments is used to identify areas of difficulty for pupils and to address this.

We recognise the importance of embedding the necessary skills at Key Stage 3 to ensure pupils excel in their exams at Key Stage 4.

Year 7

In Year 7, pupils study a range of topics in line with the National Curriculum.

The topics covered in Year 7 are:

Number skills
Fractions
Decimals
Equations, functions and formulae
Equations
Sequences and graphs
Analysing and displaying data
Multiplicative reasoning
Angles and shapes
Perimeter, area and volume

Year 8

In Year 8, pupils build on the knowledge that they have learnt in Year 7 and cover the following topics:

Factors and powers
Working with powers
2D shapes and 3D solids
Constructions and loci
Scale drawings and measures
Graphs and real-life graphs
Transformations
Fractions, decimals and percentages
Probability

Year 9

The Year 9 programme of study builds on prior learning with pupils focusing on the following topics:

Numbers
Algebra
Interpreting and representing data
Fractions, ratio and percentages
Angles and trigonometry
Area and volume
Transformations and constructions
Graphs
Equation and inequalities
Equations and graphs

Key Stage 4 Maths

In Key Stage 4 Mathematics, the curriculum builds on pupils’ study in Key Stage 3. In Key 4, pupils develop their mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills in topics such as Statistics and Probability and Geometry. The school uses the Edexcel Examination Board for Maths and as such, pupils cover the following topics in Key Stage 4 Maths:

Number
Algebra
Ratio, proportion and rates of changes
Geometry and measures
Probability
Statistics

Two tiers are available for this GCSE. Decisions regarding what tier pupils are entered for are made in conjunction with pupils and their families.

The Mathematics department has a well- sequenced curriculum with regular opportunities for pupils to revise prior learning. A focus of the mathematics curriculum is developing pupils’ confidence and resilience towards the subject.

Year 10

Pupils start their GCSE journey in Year 10. The course encourages the development of fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts. This course supports pupils to comprehend, interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms appropriate to the information in context. In turn, this supports our pupils to develop their financial literacy as they prepare for their next steps in education.

In Year 10, pupils study the following topics:

Fractions, ratio and percentages
Angles and trigonometry
Area and volume
Similarity and congruence
Graphs
Equation and inequalities
Multiplicative reasoning
Probability
Further statistics

Year 11

In Year 11, pupils study the following topics which is in addition to the revision of Year 10 topics:

Similarity and congruence
Trigonometry
Equations and graphs
Algebra
Circle theorems
Further statistics
Vectors and geometric proof
Proportion

The Edexcel Mathematics GCSEs are weighted as follows:

Tier	Topic area	Weighting
Foundation	Number	22-28%
	Algebra	17-23%
	Ratio, Proportion and Rates of change	22-28%
	Geometry and Measures	12-18%
	Statistics & Probability	12-18%
Higher	Number	22-28%
	Algebra	17-23%
	Ratio, Proportion and Rates of change	22-28%
	Geometry and Measures	12-18%
	Statistics & Probability	12-18%