Maths

Maths Curriculum Vision

We want all pupils at Holly House School to experience the beauty, power and enjoyment of mathematics and develop a sense of curiosity about the subject with a clear understanding. 

Our school vision aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability and additional needs to flourish and become the very best version of themselves they can be. 

Through the Mathematics curriculum our students will become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, be able to solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of unfamiliar contexts and real-life scenarios. 

 Students will explore mathematical reasoning by following a line of enquiry to an outcome. 

Students will have an appreciation of number and number operations, which enables mental calculations and written procedures to be performed. 

Our aim by the end of KS3 is that students will be able to apply their mathematics to a variety of situations with increasing sophistication, including in unfamiliar contexts and to model real-life scenarios in future educational settings. 

In turn this will develop each students’ positive attitudes towards using key Mathematics skills in their future lives. 

Intent

Why do we teach this? Why do we teach it in the way we do?  

Mathematics is an important creative discipline that helps us to understand and change the world. We want all pupils at Holly House School to experience the beauty, power and enjoyment of mathematics and develop a sense of curiosity about the subject with a clear understanding.  

At Holly House we foster positive can-do attitudes and we promote the fact that ‘We can all do maths!’ We believe all children can achieve in mathematics, and teach for secure and deep understanding of mathematical concepts through manageable steps.  

We use mistakes and misconceptions as an essential part of learning and provide challenge through rich and sophisticated problems. At our school, the majority of children will be taught the content from their year group only. They will spend time becoming true masters of content, applying and being creative with new knowledge in multiple ways.  

We aim for all students to:  

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics so that they develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately. 
• be able to solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of problems with increasing sophistication, including in unfamiliar contexts and to model real-life scenarios
• reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry and develop and present a justification, argument or proof using mathematical language
• have an appreciation of number and number operations, which enables mental calculations and written procedures to be performed efficiently, fluently and accurately to be successful in mathematics

Implementation

 What do we teach? What does this look like?  

Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability, additional needs, to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be. We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.  

Maths Lesson: Unit planning based on National Curriculum Statements (Themes), manageable steps (White Rose Maths).  

Children are taught Mathematics for approximately 40 mins daily (some sessions are 1;1). Support is determined during each lesson to ensure secure understanding based on the needs of the child. Challenge is visible throughout the whole session, where children are asked to reason and prove their understanding at a deeper secure level. 

Maths Lessons 

Daily Maths Lessons (09:20 – 10:00) Designed to Support and Challenge 

Teach it!  

Practice it!  

Do it!  

Twist it!  

Deepen your understanding! 

 Lesson Design:  

1) Learning intention 

2) Teach it!  

3) Practice it!  

4) Do it! Up to 5 examples – 3 ‘Standard’ and 2 ‘Non-standard’  

5) Twist it! Misconceptions (True/False, Spot the mistake, explain why and Prove it)  

6) Deepen your understanding! New problems, (Empty box, Here’s the answer and always/sometimes/never)  

7) Lesson Recap Mini  

Impact

What will this look like? By the time children leave our school they will:  

By the end of KS3 we aim for children to be fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics with a conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately. They should have the skills to solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of situations with increasing sophistication, including in unfamiliar contexts and to model real-life scenarios. Children will be able to reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry and develop and present a justification, argument or proof using mathematical language.