We aim to show students how to connect to the world through maths and how solving problems in maths can support them in their daily lives.

We plan for fluency, engagement and problem solving

The ethos underpinning Mathematics at the Meadows is that students develop fluency in key facts and skills, gain confidence in their ability to succeed and apply their skills, knowledge and resilience to increasingly complex problems.

We aim to make Mathematics a subject that is accessible to all students through making the content interesting, relevant and challenging for all learners and all abilities. Our curriculum is designed to give our students the skills and knowledge to be able to move on and function in the world as confident, numerate young adults, with problem solving capabilities. This will be facilitated through careful sequencing and personalised learning approaches to build on prior learning, creating lots of opportunities for retrieval, alongside problem solving and further confidence building. By adopting a systematic curricular approach, SEND and disadvantaged students have a better chance of success.¹ Our curriculum takes account of this by using a step by step approach, with explicit, systematic instruction and rehearsal of declarative and procedural knowledge.

KS3

Students follow the National Curriculum at KS3 aiming to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time. Our sequencing aims to support the ability to recall and apply knowledge leading onto solving problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems ie: mastery. Breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions is fundamental to them achieving success.

Many of our students join us with low prior attainment in Maths, often with the belief that they cannot be successful in this subject. We recognise the need to provide regular opportunities for students to retrieve subject knowledge from Key Stage 2, with the Year 7 curriculum providing a link between the two Key Stages. In addition to 4 lessons each week students also have weekly numeracy lessons to address gaps and build student confidence in number bonds and key skills. These structured lessons take into account the needs of individual students and are responsive in addressing confidence as well as understanding.

The planning of learning is deliberately sequenced to ensure that students accumulate knowledge of key mathematical facts including vocabulary and the conventions of algebra and geometry. Additionally, not all our students join us in Year 7 so our curriculum includes regular opportunities to revisit learning and fill potential gaps and we acknowledge the need to be flexible and adapt our curriculum to meet the needs of our students.

Teachers adapt the implementation of the curriculum to the individual needs of learners to ensure that lessons are both engaging and challenging. The curriculum is divided into units, enabling students to revisit prior knowledge allowing for deeper understanding to develop through explicit connections. The domains are;

• Number
• Algebra
• Ratio, proportion & rates of change
• Geometry & measures
• Probability
• Statistics

Subject Curriculum Overview: Key Stage 3

The Year 9 curriculum bridges KS3 & 4, consolidating skills & knowledge acquired in Years 7 and 8. These interleave with new topics and more challenging problems are introduced in order to prepare pupils for the GCSE requirements.

KS4

In KS4 our Scheme of Learning is based around the AQA GCSE. Alongside this we provide opportunities for students to gain the Entry Level Certificate and Functional Skills to support understanding and success. The concepts learned at KS3 are further developed through retrieval of prior knowledge and connections to new learning. Teachers make adaptations to connect maths to practical and real world applications to engage our students.

A greater emphasis is placed on written reasoning to prepare for exam style questions.

Subject Curriculum Overview: Key Stage 4

Qualification Pathways

A range of qualifications and pathways are available to our students, maximising their opportunities for success.