Overview

Learners at Upper Batley High School study all five areas of mathematics including number, algebra, shape and measure, ratio and proportion, and handling data and probability.  In studying Mathematics, learners develop highly important skills based around the ability to recognise and manipulate patterns. Mathematical skills such as problem solving are used in almost everyone’s professional and/or personal lives. Furthermore, they are core to many professions, for instance, those in engineering, science, finance, insurance, accountancy, banking, design, architecture, computing and economics. Employers, colleges and universities place a high value on mathematical and numerical skills and learner attainment in Mathematics is a strong predictor of career success. 

Outline of Course Content

Year 7

In the first half term of Year 7, learners at UBHS work on algebraic thinking, covering sequences, algebraic notation and equality and equivalence.

In the second half term, learners work on place value and proportion, covering place value, ordering integers and decimals, and equivalence between fractions, decimals and percentages. 

In the third half term, learners work on applications of number, learning how to solve problems with the four operations.

In the fourth half term, learners cover fractions and percentages of amounts before work on directed number, covering operations with equations and directed numbers.  Learners then work on the addition and subtraction of fractions.

In the fifth half term, learners work on lines and angles, covering constructing, measuring and using geometric notation, and developing geometric reasoning.

In the last half term of Year 7, learners work on reasoning with number, covering developing number sense, sets and probability, and prime numbers and proof.

Year 8

In the first half term of year 8, learners at UBHS work on proportional reasoning, covering ratio and scale, multiplicative change and multiplying and dividing fraction.

In the second half term, learners work on representations, covering working in the Cartesian plane and representing data.

In the third half term, learners cover tables, before working on algebraic techniques, covering brackets, equations and inequalities, and sequences.

In the fourth half term, learners cover indices, before working on developing number, covering fractions and percentages, standard index form, and number sense.

In the fifth half term, learners work on developing geometry, covering angles in parallel lines and polygons, area of trapezia and circles.

In the last half term of Year 8, learners cover line symmetry and reflection, before working on reasoning with data, covering the data handling cycle and measures of location.

Year 9

In the first half term of Year 9, learners at UBHS work on reasoning with algebra, covering straight line graphs, forming and solving equations, and testing conjectures.

In the second half term, learners work on constructing in two and three dimensions, covering 3D shapes, and constructions and congruency.

In the third half term, learners work on reasoning with number, covering numbers, using percentages, and maths and money.

In the fourth half term, learners work on reasoning with geometry, covering deduction, rotation and translation.

In the fifth half term, learners continue with reasoning with geometry, covering Pythagoras’ theorem, enlargement and similarity.  Learners also cover solving ratio and proportion problems.

In the last half term, learners cover rates of change before working on representations, covering probability and algebraic representations.

Years 10 and 11

All learners start their GCSEs in year 10 and cover all five areas of mathematics: number, algebra, shape and measure, ratio and proportion, and handling data and probability. 

Learners will follow one of two pathways during years 10 and 11. The foundation pathway allows learners to achieve a grade 5-1, whilst the higher pathway will allow learners to obtain a grade 9-4.

As a department we focus on which pathway is most suited to each individual learner. It is very important learners understand their pathway as this could have an influence on any further education courses they wish to do in future.

The Mathematics department currently submit learners following the foundation pathway for examination with the OCR exam board.  Learners following the higher pathway are submitted for examination with the Edexcel exam board.

Other Details

The department recommends the use of Mathsgenie, OnMaths, and CorbettMaths websites and the Mathswatch virtual learning environment for revision.  Revision guides and scientific calculators are also available at a discounted price from the Maths department.