Head of Department: Mr Awuku
Direct Dial Telephone: 01344 465053
Email: sawuku@brakenhale.bracknell-forest.sch.uk

Aims

• To provide a high quality mathematical education
• To support every student in order to maximise their potential
• To communicate an enjoyment of mathematics
• To encourage students to appreciate the value of mathematics
• To explore the abstract academic and the every day uses of mathematics

Key Stage 3

The KS3 course is based on the Renewed National Numeracy Strategy Framework. This takes the National Curriculum and adds an emphasis on mental strategies and the development of thinking skills.

Key Stage 4

Students follow the OCR Graduated Assessment Course which involves them in up to five public examinations over the two year course. The results of these examinations form 50% of the final GCSE grade.

The topics studied during the course will vary according to the level of the class but in all cases will involve the following:

• Using and applying mathematics
• Number and algebra
• Shape, space and measures
• Data handling

Lesson time allocation: 4 lessons x 60 minutes per week.

Homework is set twice weekly according to the school Homework Timetable.

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Post 16

Students follow the AQA course and will be examined in January and May of each academic year.

In each of years 12 and 13 students will study two units of Pure Mathematics and a third unit of Applied Mathematics.

Teaching and Learning

Students are actively encouraged to think for themselves by interactive rather than didactic teaching. Cooperative working and a good mix of individual, paired, group and whole class learning is used. Students are expected to take a strong role in their own assessment to inform target-setting.

Resources

Text Books - ICT

• Each student will require access to a scientific calculator by the start of year 10 at the latest. These will be used for class work and homework.
• The Mathematics Department is fully equipped with interactive whiteboards and appropriate mathematical software, such as MyMaths and Maths Alive.
• Students have access to a variety of textbooks in the department. Revision Guides are available from the Learning Resource Centre(LRC).

Special Events

Year 7 students take part in the Maths Marathon which involves problem solving activities. All students who complete the tasks are awarded a certificate and two student are selected to represent the school at the Local Authority Final.

The top students in each year takes part in the UK Mathematical Challenge which involves a one hour test of their mathematical problem solving. The challenges are in three levels with years 7 and 8 being junior level, years 9, 10 and 11 are intermediate and years 12 and 13 take senior challenge.

Other Information

Support is available within the Mathematics Department after school from 3.05pm to 3.30pm. In addition, extra classes are available at key times to support examination preparation.

Extraction groups are organised as part of many classes and are designed either to support students who are struggling with areas of the work or to extend those students who are talented in the subject being studied at that time.

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