The Maths curriculum has been developed with our curriculum intent woven throughout, as well as our understanding of St Bede’s pupils, their context and their prior learning.
In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 – 9), pupils explore the 4 key strands of mathematics in every year (Number & Ratio, Algebra, Geometry and Statistics) allowing their knowledge to be broadened and deepened in each iteration. Launching in September 2025, our Year 7 pupils shall experience their learning through a mastery approach, with the purpose of ensuring every pupil achieves their potential in maths with a deep and fluent understanding of the subject.
In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 – 11), pupils commence their GCSE programme of study completing either the Foundation (Grades 1 – 5) or Higher (Grades 1 – 9) tiers of the OCR exam board. Again, pupils revisit and deepen their understanding of the 4 key strands of mathematics, applying them to more complex problems and contexts. The final assessment for their qualification takes place at the end of Year 11 through three 90 minute examinations, using a non-calculator paper. A portion of our Key Stage 4 pupils undertake a course in GCSE Further Mathematics, providing in conjunction with Royal Grammar School Newcastle.
In Key Stage 5 (Years 12 – 13), pupils build greatly on their GCSE learning completing the Edexcel course for A Level Mathematics. As well as Pure Mathematics topics (including coordinate geometry, differentiation and trigonometry), pupils explore Applied Mathematics in more detail than ever before, visiting topics such as kinematics in Mechanics or normal distributions in Statistics.
In addition to pupil’s classroom learning, we have an exciting extra curriculum for pupils to enjoy with a sequence of clubs and activities to connect their math’s learning to new contexts. As a Catholic school, the education of the whole person is equally important and we have a bespoke personal development strands interwoven within our taught curriculum, exploring careers, local context and key individuals in mathematics as well as protected characteristics and British Values.
Key Stage 4 Assessment Objectives
A01: Use and apply standard techniques. Students should be able to:
- accurately recall facts, terminology and definitions
- use and interpret notation correctly
- accurately carry out routine procedures or set tasks requiring multi-step solutions
A02: Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically. Students should be able to
- make deductions, inferences and draw conclusions from mathematical information
- construct chains of reasoning to achieve a given result
- interpret and communicate information accurately
- present arguments and proofs
- assess the validity of an argument
A03: Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts. Students should be able to:
- translate problems in mathematical or non-mathematical contexts into a process or a series of mathematical processes.
- make and use connections between different parts of mathematics
- interpret results in the context of a given problem
- evaluate methods and results obtained
- evaluate solutions to identify how they may have been affected by assumptions made.
Key Stage 5 Assessment Objectives
Mathematical argument, language and proof:
- Construct and present mathematical arguments
- Understand and use mathematical language
- Comprehend and critique mathematical arguments and proofs
Mathematical problem solving:
- Recognise the underlying mathematical structures in a situation; simplify and abstract appropriately to solve problems
- Evaluate the validity of solutions to problems
- Understand and use the concept of a mathematical problem-solving cycle
Mathematical modelling:
- Translate a given situation into a mathematical model; understand its assumptions
- Use a mathematical model to explore situations
- Interpret the outputs of a mathematical model
- Understand that a mathematical model can be refined by considering its outputs
