Mathematics

Aims

We aim to instil in pupils an appreciation of how fascinating, creative, satisfying and useful Mathematics can be.

Staff and facilities

The department has 12 members of staff and occupies 11 classrooms. The department is well supplied with computers, interactive whiteboards and other practical equipment.

Subject time per 10-day cycle

Lower School – six lessons with up to 1hr 30 minutes of homework
GCSE – seven lessons with two hours of homework
A Level – Lower Sixth have 10 lessons per fortnight with additional individual study (Upper Sixth have 11 lessons)

Are pupils put into sets according to ability?

In the First Year the pupils are taught in their form groups. Although all pupils have a sufficient level of competency, there seems no upper limit to the ability of a significant number of our intake. Therefore it is our policy to begin setting according to mathematical progress from the Second Year onwards. Some transferring between sets is possible during the year and it is reviewed fully at the end of each year.

Gifted pupils

All the teachers in the Mathematics department are experienced in dealing with gifted pupils and every year we attract a significant number of particularly able pupils. The textbooks we use go well beyond public examination syllabuses, and we have a wealth of challenging material for those who make outstanding progress.

The United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) organises annual mathematics challenges for junior, intermediate and senior age groups and we enter large numbers of candidates, many of whom are invited to take part in follow-up rounds. Other competitions that we enter include the National Cipher Challenge, Alan Turing Cryptography competition, Liverpool MEM challenge and the Parallel Maths Project.

Mathematics in the Lower School

We hope pupils will settle into the school quickly and at first we will revise a number of topics, like fractions and decimals, which pupils will have covered at Junior School. However, for all pupils who need minimal revision, we have lots of extension material, puzzle sheets and investigations, to keep everyone stimulated and stretched. Very soon, however, we launch into the teaching of algebraic techniques. Greater importance is placed on the ability to explain how answers are produced rather than what the answers actually are. Much time is spent on the clear, concise and logical presentation of solutions.

Calculators

The use of calculators is not encouraged until the Second Year because we expect our pupils to be very good at mental and pencil-and-paper arithmetic.

Mathematics in the Middle School

Pupils pose for a picture during the 2024 Maths trip to Disneyland Paris

The compulsory IGCSE course in Mathematics runs over two years. Pupils are taught in sets with each pupil placed in the set which will enable him or her to achieve the best GCSE grade. What distinguishes one set from another is the pace at which new theory is introduced, absorbed and retained and the same topic may be presented to the sets in different ways.

Pupils in the highest set also study the Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics.

UK Mathematics Trust - Intermediate Maths Challenge 2023

Pupils also have the option of taking GCSE Statistics as an extra-curricular option; pupils take two exams at the end of the course. It is expected that pupils will work independently on some of the material and they must keep up with their commitments in all of the subjects that they are taught in their normal curriculum time.

A Level

Our Sixth Formers take the Edexcel Mathematics course. This comprises of three papers (two pure and one applied consisting of Mechanics and Statistics). All three papers are taken at the end of the course.

All students taking Mathematics at A Level need to have a strong grade 7 or above (A or A*) at GCSE. Success in Mathematics is dependent on a high standard of proficiency in algebraic techniques and so we recommend these skills are particularly sound. The A Level course is demanding and requires consistent application from Sixth Form pupils.

For Sixth for Maths students we run a trip to the Maths inspiration lectures, a national programme of interactive maths lecture shows. The lectures give pupils a chance to experience the UK’s most inspiring maths speakers presenting mathematics live in the context of exciting, real-world applications.

Further Maths

It is possible to study two A Levels in Mathematics. Further Mathematics extends the content covered in normal Maths whilst also introducing new topics, including decision Mathematics. Assessment is at the end of the course consisting of four papers covering pure topics with options in decision, mechanics and statistics. Pupils who are considering taking this qualification should be comfortably on course to achieve a grade 8 or 9 at GCSE.

Please consult the Sixth Form Handbook for further information

Core Maths

Pupils also have the option of studying the AQA Level 3 Mathematical Studies qualification which is graded and certificated on a five-grade scale from A to E and attracts up to 20 UCAS points. Studying Core Maths helps students develop their quantitative and problem-solving skills giving them confidence in understanding the mathematical content in other courses they are taking. This subject compliments those subjects which require use of mathematics, such as the social sciences, but which do not require knowledge of the more advanced techniques which would be required for courses such as engineering.

Mathematics at university

Mathematics is a versatile subject and affords a sound training in a logical discipline. Those wishing to read mathematics and most forms of engineering at university are advised to study both mathematics and further mathematics at A Level. Pupils who have studied further mathematics in the past have gone on to read subjects such as mathematics, engineering, IT, chemistry and economics. Support is available in the department for pupils sitting university entrance papers.

What else goes on?

We enter pupils into the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Math Challenges, and pupils regularly qualify for the next round in these competitions. In addition to this, we also enter team UKMT mathematics competitions and pupils can also part in the MEM challenged organised by the Liverpool Mathematical Society.

There are open help sessions at lunchtimes. All pupils are encouraged to see their teacher for any extra help or explanations they need.

Clubs

Mathematics is also very important in cryptography and we often enter teams in the Alan Turing cryptography competition and the National Cipher challenge. Pupils find all of these activities and competitions stimulating, a lot of fun and a chance to get to know and work with other pupils. Rite-angle is a national team competition for A-level students that we also take part in. Also, we have our weekly tactical games club which is very popular amongst First and Second Year pupils.

Junior School

Senior School

Sixth Form