Our vision is for all learners at Ormiston Bridge Academy to become confident learners who enjoy discovering and explaining Mathematics; learners who are not afraid to tackle challenging problems, to make mistakes and to learn from them. We are committed to providing a nurturing and encouraging environment in which pupils can grow in knowledge and understanding of mathematics and develop transferable problem-solving skills.
Key Stage 3
The curriculum is organised in strands: number, algebra, ratio, proportion and rates of change, geometry, probability and statistics. At KS3 there is a high level of movement; few students stay here for three years, and many have missed learning time before arriving with us. Therefore, we teach Year 7, 8 and 9 topics in a way which enables us to recap work from the previous year, where possible.
Where learners may have encountered topics before in primary school or Year 7 or 8, we give them a short, pre topic quiz before teaching. The completed quizzes are used to inform planning and decision making about where to start on a given topic. Work is differentiated and “stretch” tasks are included in every lesson. Problem solving and reasoning is incorporated into every topic, giving pupils a solid preparation for studying GCSE later.
For Year 7 and 8 learners, the focus in terms 1 and 2 is on number and calculations. A strong foundation in this gives learners the skills which they need in order to access algebra, ratio and proportion and statistics topics later in the year.
Key Stage 4
Learners study for the AQA Mathematics GCSE. The syllabus builds on the mathematics studied at KS3, and is organised under the same headings: number, algebra, ratio, proportion and rates of change, geometry, probability and statistics.
All learners study the Grade 4/5 crossover topics in addition to those topics which are new to the Foundation GCSE course. Where learners may have encountered easier topics before at KS3, we give them a short, pre topic quiz before teaching. The completed quizzes are used to inform planning and decision making about what to teach to each class. For some classes they may need to spend more time on these formative units of work, and the “Scheme of Work” specifies which topics to leave out if there is not time to cover everything. Work is differentiated and Stretch tasks are included in every lesson. Working Above (WA) units are taught to learners who are likely to achieve above a Grade 5 and are aiming to sit the higher tier GCSE. As at KS3, problem solving and reasoning is incorporated throughout, and learners answer exam question practice on every crossover topic. Starter tasks often recap the topics covered so far at KS4.
Mathswatch
Mathswatch is used at both KS3 and KS4. The videos support learners at home; enabling them to re-visit and practice content covered in lessons. Teachers area able to set differentiated Mathswatch quizzes, selecting questions to ensure that all learners are supported and stretched as appropriate.
Mathswatch videos and accompanying tasks can also used by LSPs for targeted intervention for individual learners, allowing learners to work towards targets on the topics which they need to practice.