Mathematics encourages students to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards, mathematics and to recognise the importance of mathematics in their own lives and to society.
GCSE Mathematics should enable students to:
- develop fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts
- acquire, select and apply mathematical techniques to solve problems
- reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences and draw conclusions
- comprehend, interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms appropriate to the information and context.
Course Content & Structure:
There are two levels of entry at GCSE level (Foundation and Higher). Each student will be entered for the one which is appropriate for his/her ability in Mathematics at the end of Year 11.
Foundation Tier - leads to GCSE grades 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Higher Tier - leads to GCSE grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4
The Foundation tier includes content such as fractions, decimals, and percentages, simplifying algebraic expressions by expanding brackets collecting like terms, using ratio notation, solving problems involving area and volume, and probability. The Higher tier also includes content such as laws of indices, solving simultaneous equations, using inverse proportion, proving circle theorems, solving quadratic equations and constructing histograms with unequal class intervals.
It is important that pupils are entered for a tier which they can cope with as failure to gain the pass mark in any tier will leave them without a GCSE grade.
Assessment:
Assessment is 100% by terminal examination taken at the end of Year 11. Students will sit three papers, one without a calculator and two where a calculator is allowed, all equally weighted.
For further information, contact Mrs D Shaw.
