Head of Department: | Miss E Daniels |
Exam Board | Edexcel |
Qualification: | GCSE in Mathematics |
Programme of study
We use mathematics to explain and understand the world we live in and to make predictions about what will happen in the future. Mathematics is a problem-solving tool that allows us to develop an understanding of all things in the world in which we live.
Students will continue to build on the skills learnt at Key Stage 3, covering number, algebra, shape and space and handling data in more detail.
Students will learn new skills and techniques in these areas, and then apply them in practical situations to see how mathematics solves real life problems. There is now a much greater emphasis in the assessment of mathematics in its use in real life scenarios.
How is the course structured & assessed?
We follow a five-year plan to provide full coverage of the curriculum to ensure the best possible progress is made. All students will be entered for their Mathematics GCSE at the end of Year 11, as we follow a linear specification.
There are two main ways that students’ work is assessed:
a) Internally – Mathematics teachers feed back to students on their progress by marking homework, mock assessments and offering supportive advice in
preparation for examinations. Sets contain small numbers to facilitate targeted support in key areas. This support will help students to achieve their target grade in mathematics.
b) Externally – students will sit a full GCSE examination at the end of Year 11. There are three 1 hour 30 minutes assessments, all carrying equal weighting. Paper 1 will be a non-calculator exam. Papers 2 & 3 will require a scientific calculator.
Students will be entered at either Higher or Foundation Tier in line with the new grading system: Higher Tier (9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4) or Foundation Tier (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) based on their performance and teacher assessment.
What can these qualifications lead to?
The GCSE grading system has set a ‘standard pass’ at a grade 4 and ‘strong pass’ at a grade 5. A Mathematics GCSE, along with an English GCSE, is a crucial qualification for students’ progression after Year 11. Students who are successful at the Higher tier grades are generally encouraged to consider taking Mathematics at A Level in the Sixth Form.