Mathematics
At Merchants' Academy Primary, we work collboratively with the Boolean Maths Hub to deliver the White Rose Maths curriculum and Mastering number to our children in Early Years to Year 6.
Primary
Secondary
Mathematics at Merchants’ Academy curriculum intent
At Merchants’ Academy, mathematics is for everyone. We aim to engage and enthuse students with essential mathematical knowledge and skills to reach their ultimate destination.
In years 7 and 8, students follow the modified mathematics mastery curriculum plan. This is intended to ensure that students have a strong foundation of key basic number and numeracy skills. We concentrate on depth over breadth, and different models and methods are used to explore mathematical concepts. We aim to ensure that our students acquire a deep, long term and a firm understanding of the subject.
Our mathematics curriculum is built upon how working memory works, and we have sequenced the content in a way that ensures that knowledge builds upon previous learning. During lessons, prior knowledge is ascertained to ensure students are consistently building upon their current understanding. In years 7 and 8, students are encouraged to physically represent mathematical concepts where possible. We use manipulatives such as Cuisenaire rods, bead ropes and Diene blocks to support students in their conceptual understanding.
At Key stage 4, we continue to build students’ understanding of mathematical concepts and develop further some abstract ideas. We aim to support students to be functional in real life and apply their mathematical knowledge to mathematical situations around us, e.g. taxes, loans, bus/train timetables and measuring area to mention a few real-life examples. We also develop and support students who intend to study mathematics at A level and university by giving our most able students the opportunity to study GCSE further maths. Students are supported to ensure that they are able to:
- Accurately recall facts, interpret notations and carry out routine procedures.
- Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically based on deductions, proofs and critical evaluation of presented information.
- Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts by making connections between different parts of mathematics, evaluate methods, obtained results and solutions, and how they can be affected by assumptions.
At Key stage 5, we delve deeper into familiar mathematical concepts as well as introducing new topics. For example, at GCSE students are taught to find the gradient of curves using the gradient of tangents, at A level students are taught how to calculate the gradient of curves using calculus. Additionally, students are supported in working with an extensive data set in order for them to develop their understanding of how data is interpolated and extrapolated from large data sets, this is an important life skill as it explains both how data can be manipulated using real-life examples and also the shortcomings of doing so.
Sixth Form
Mathematics at Merchants’ Academy curriculum intent
At Key stage 5, we delve deeper into familiar mathematical concepts as well as introducing new topics. For example, at GCSE students are taught to find the gradient of curves using the gradient of tangents, at A level students are taught how to calculate the gradient of curves using calculus. Additionally, students are supported in working with an extensive data set in order for them to develop their understanding of how data is interpolated and extrapolated from large data sets, this is an important life skill as it explains both how data can be manipulated using real-life examples and also the shortcomings of doing so.
Revision Resources
Use the following past exam papers and mark schemes to aid your mathematics revision.
Foundation tier = F / Higher tier = H
Other mathematics exam questions with their worked out answers can be found below to aid your revision: