Maths
The Maths Department aim to make learning maths fun, interesting and challenging. To ensure pupils are appropriately challenged we set them according to ability and attainment. Pupils will be tested within the first week or so of the Autumn Term to determine setting. These settings are provisional and pupils may be moved between sets if it becomes clear that this will benefit their learning. Pupils are expected to bring the following equipment to all lessons - a pen (blue or black), a pencil, a ruler and a calculator. The National Curriculum requires all children to be taught how to use a calculator effectively. A calculator is thus an essential for work in the classroom and at home. Furthermore public examinations require the use of calculators. These are not provided by the school.
We do therefore strongly recommend every pupil to buy a suitable calculator if they do not already have one. The simplest and cheapest way to do this is to buy a scientific calculator from the LRC once students arrive in September at a cost of approximately £5.00. We are cheaper than retail outlets because we are able to sell them without charging VAT. Such a calculator will last a pupil right through to Year 11 provided it is looked after. Make sure it is identified in some permanent way as the school cannot be responsible for private property. Then bring it to every lesson! The LRC also sells basic stationery equipment including compasses and protractors.
At the same time we do discourage over-dependence on calculators. We expect pupils to know their basic number facts (addition and subtraction facts up to 20 and multiplication times up to 10 x 10), and as at primary school they are taught how to work things out using pencil and paper where appropriate. This is also a requirement of the National Curriculum and pupils' ability to perform pencil and paper calculations will be tested in GCSE.
In accordance with the School Policy for home study, we aim to set one written or learning homework each week.
We wish every pupil a happy and successful Maths experience at Idsall.
MATHS AT KEY STAGE 4
As with English, a good Mathematics qualification is a necessary for many jobs and for entry to Higher Education courses.
All students study Mathematics until the end of Year 11 and the vast majority will sit public examinations in the form of GCSE.
There will be two levels of entry for GCSE - Foundation and Higher and students will be following a course which is targeted at one of these levels from the start of Year 10. The decision on which course is most appropriate for each student is based on a number of factors, including performance on Year 9 tests - hence thorough preparation for these tests is vital.
EXAM: GCSE (Edexcel) 100% Examination
Further information from: Mrs Lloyd