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Mathematics

Curriculum Intent & Rationale

In the mathematics department we support and build on the aims and vision of the school in the following ways:

  • We develop an appreciation and enjoyment of mathematics including its historical and current development, through offering a wide range of mathematical experiences and using a wide variety of learning materials and teaching styles.
  • We help students to reach their full potential in mathematical skills by the use of group work, class-work and individual study and by offering challenges at appropriate levels.
  • We help students to acquire the understanding, knowledge, skills and interests that are relevant to present and future needs and life skills, by having a well-prepared programme of study.
  • We assist and encourage each student to achieve the best qualifications they can by providing a broad, balanced and differentiated scheme of work, setting them high but achievable targets and by giving guidance and advice on entry for suitable examinations at appropriate levels.
  • We promote a sense of personal responsibility and disciplined learning through the course. We will encourage students to make positive responses to all tasks, from a pride in setting them out through to their assessment, meeting all deadlines on time.
  • We develop areas of the curriculum which we share with other subjects by continuing to build on links with other disciplines.
  • We promote respect for religious, moral and cultural values and tolerance towards those who hold different views by awareness of these issues in the general management of classes, the organisation of group work, discussion and particularly in the use of course materials and supporting text books which were selected for the way these matters have been carefully addressed.

Maths lesson

At Camp Hill, students develop the ability to solve demanding problems, to think on their feet, to reason logically, to explain their thought processes using precise language and to apply technology appropriately.

Mathematics is a challenging and exciting subject, often described as ‘exercise for the brain’. It is satisfying to study in its own right and continues to be highly valued by employers in all fields.

We consider the abstract beauty and elegance of proofs, while also learning about the applications of mathematics in a range of contexts. Pupils are encouraged to discuss and develop their ideas with their peers and are given regular and thorough feedback on the progress they make. 

Mathematics is an ancient subject, which is very much alive at Camp Hill today. The department continues to offer a range of additional support opportunities for key stages 3 and 4 and the sixth form, plus a whole host of extra mathematical enrichment activities including individual and team mathematics competitions, trips and lectures. In addition to our in-house activities, we have formed many partnerships with other schools in the area.

Implementing Our Curriculum

Key Stage 3

We build on learning at Key Stage 2 while introducing students to mathematical concepts that they are less familiar with such as algebra, Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometry, area and volume, statistics and probability.

Each year in Key Stage 3 we teach a varied set of topics suitable for the ability level of the students and consistently revisit topics through a typical mathematical spiral curriculum. For example, linear sequences are covered in Year 7 and then revisited in Year 9 where the topic of extended to quadratic and geometric sequences.

Students get the opportunity to explore spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through wider discussion opportunities, use of film and video, and through opportunities for extended reading, puzzles and games.

Key Stage 4

Students study the Edexcel GCSE in mathematics (higher tier). Learning opportunities are a combination of new content coverage and revision of material at Key Stage 3. This ensures that prior learning opportunities are linked into the Key Stage 4 scheme of work.

The content of the GCSE is covered well in advance of the end of Year 11, allowing specific targeted revision opportunities to be provided that are suitable for all learners. Setting in Key Stage 4 allows targeted teaching, support and appropriate differentiation while ensuring that all students cover the whole specification to enough detail to achieve the top grades.

Additional extension and enrichment opportunities, as well as links to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, reading and careers are provided throughout.

Key Stage 5

In Years 12 and 13 students study for the Edexcel A level in mathematics where the course is broken down into pure mathematics (algebra, trigonometry, calculus, proof, sequences and logarithms) and applied mathematics (mechanics and statistics).

Links are made to the Key Stage 4 programme of study and the first part of the course is taught in a way that students who have missed content from KS4 are in no way disadvantaged. A baseline test is administered in week 7 to check understanding. This enables appropriate early intervention to be organised.

Students can also study for an additional A level in further mathematics where they cover a broader and extended content from both pure and applied mathematics.

Exam results are excellent and the majority of Year 11 chooses to study mathematics in the Sixth Form, again obtaining outstanding results. Many students go on to study degrees which contain mathematics as a key element.

Curriculum Maps

Maths Newsletters

2023-2024

Issue 101 - 7th November 2023 - Tall buildings
Issue 100 - 13th October 2023 - Different ways of looking at things
Issue 99 - 6th October 2022 - Trigonometry
Issue 98 - 25th September 2023 - The Romans
Issue 97 - 12th September 2023 - Lagrange's Four Square Theorem

2022-2023

Issue 95 - 1st December 2022 - Interesting things
Issue 96 - 14th September 2022 - Queens

2021-2022

Issue 94 - 16th May 2022 - Spirals
Issue 93 - 10th January 2022 - Dobble
Issue 92 - 15th December 2021 - Christmas 5
Issue 91 - 18th October 2021
Issue 90 - 13th September 2021

2020-2021

Issue 89 - 19th July 2021 - Summer sums
Issue 88 - 24th May 2021 - Eurovision
Issue 87 - 20th May 2021 - Food
Issue 86 - 19th April 2021 - Geometry
Issue 85 - 22nd March 2021 - Cheese
Issue 84 - 8th March 2021 - Decimalisation
Issue 83 - 22nd February 2021 - Ant-Man
Issue 82 - 8th February 2021 - Cubes
Issue 81 - 1st February 2021 - Mountains
Issue 80 - 18th January 2021 - Pirates
Issue 79 - 4th January 2021
Issue 78 - 14th December 2020 - Christmas 4
Issue 77 - 30th November 2020 - Chess
Issue 76 - 16th November 2020 - Peppa Pig
Issue 75 - 31st October 2020
Issue 74 - 19th October 2020 - Music
Issue 73 - 5th October 2020
Issue 72 - 21st Sept 2020
Issue 71 - 7th Sept 2020

2019-2020

Issue 70 - 9th July 2020 - Fractals 2
Issue 69 - 2nd July 2020 - The Moon
Issue 68 - 25th June 2020
Issue 67 - 18th June 2020
Issue 66 - 11th June 2020 - America
Issue 65 - 4th June 2020
Issue 64 - 28th May 2020 - The Beatles
Issue 63 - 18th May 2020 - World War II
Issue 62 - 14th May 2020 - Florence Nightingale
Issue 61 - 7th May 2020 - John Conway
Issue 60 - 30th April 2020
Issue 59 - 23rd April 2020
Issue 58 - 2nd April 2020
Issue 57 - 26th March 2020
Issue 56 - 20th March 2020 - MEDUSA

2018-2019

Issue 55 - 5th July 2019 - The Map of Mathematics
Issue 54 - 13th May 2019
Issue 53 - 3rd December 2018 - Christmas 3
Issue 52 - 5th October 2018 - Martin Gardner
Issue 51 - 17th September 2018

2017-2018

Issue 50 - 16th July 2018 - Dr Gadd
Issue 49 - 9th July 2018 - Miss Smallman
Issue 48 - 25th June 2018 - Dr Taylor's Newsletter
Issue 47 - 12th June 2018 - M.C. Escher
Issue 46 - 27th April 2018
Issue 45 - 27th March 2018 - Time
Issue 44 - 9th February 2018 - Valentine's Day 2
Issue 43 - 26th January 2018
Issue 42 - 8th January 2018 - Douglas Adams
Issue 41 - 23rd November 2017 - France
Issue 40 - 1st November 2017
Issue 39 - 18th October 2017
Issue 38 - 22nd September 2017

2016-2017

Issue 37 - 18th July 2017 - Maryam Mirzakhani
Issue 36 - 21st June 2017 - Mrs Palmer
Issue 35 - 12th July 2017
Issue 34 - 8th June 2017
Issue 33 - 25th April 2017
Issue 32 - 5th April 2017
Issue 31 - 27th March 2017
Issue 30 - 13th March 2017 - Birmingham University
Issue 29 - 13th February 2017
Issue 28 - 4th January 2017
Issue 27 - 12th December 2016 - Christmas 2
Issue 26 - 28th November 2016
Issue 25 - 31st October 2016
Issue 24 - 17th October 2016
Issue 23 - 3rd October 2016 - Stamps
Issue 22 - 19th September 2016
Issue 21 - 4th September 2016

2015-2016

Issue 20 - 18th July 2016 - Dr Ridha
Issue 19 - 20th June 2016 - Frances Kirwan
Issue 18 - 6th June 2016
Issue 17 - 23rd May 2016 - The Number 17
Issue 16 - 9th May 2016 - The London Eye
Issue 15 - 25th April 2016
Issue 14 - 11th April 2016
Issue 13 - 28th March 2016 - Easter
Issue 12 - 14th March 2016 - Pi
Issue 11 - 29th February 2016
Issue 10 - 14th February 2016 - Valentine's Day
Issue 9 - 1st February 2016 - Prime Numbers
Issue 8 - 18th January 2016
Issue 7.5 - 15th January 2016 - David Bowie
Issue 7 - 4th January 2016
Issue 6 - 14th December 2015 - Christmas
Issue 5 - 30th November 2015
Issue 4 - 16th November 2015 - Fractals
Issue 3 - 2nd November 2015
Issue 2 - 19th October 2015
Issue 1 - 5th October 2015