Richard Challoner School

Mathematics

Mathematics Teachers

  • Mrs H Mennis (Subject Leader)
  • Mr V Bardsley
  • Mrs N Cloudsdale
  • Mrs R Costello
  • Mr J Gallagher
  • Mr C MacGreevy
  • Mr N Mander
  • Mr I Olekh
  • Mr C Smith
  • Mrs A Southall
  • Miss M Taylor
  • Miss L Thompson

A Vision for Mathematics

Students at Richard Challoner study Maths because it enables them to succeed by developing tools that build confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Our maths teachers...

  • inspire students to make sense of the world around them
  • teach students to approach problems logically and systematically
  • encourage students to embrace and learn from their mistakes
  • support students to acquire knowledge and to develop fundamental skills that will be both relevant across their school studies and empowering throughout their lives.

Key Stage 4

KS4 Coordinator: Miss Taylor

For Foundation maths at KS4, the classes follow our GCSE curriculum Stages A-D, starting at the different stages as indicated below.

Year 10 Year 11
Set 4b Stage C Set 4a and 4b Stage D
Set 5a and 5b Stage B Set 5 Stage C and some D
    Set 6 Stage B

Information about the content in each stage can be found below.

Stage A B C D
Grades 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5
Topic 1 Number skills Percentages Number skills Powers and Standard form
Topic 2 Factors, multiples and primes Ratio and Proportion Formulae, equations and inequalities Equations
Topic 3 Algebra skills Sequences and Equations Fractions Angles
Topic 4 Fractions Coordinates and graphs Transformations Vectors
Topic 5 Angles and polygons Scales and measure Percentages and decimals Percentages
Topic 6 Data Perimeter, area and volume Probability Ratio and proportion
Topic 7 Decimals Averages and range Area and volume Sequences
Topic 8   Transformations Maps and bearings Formulae, quadratic and simultaneous equations
Topic 9   Money skills Constructions and 3D representations Perimeter, surface area, area and volume
Topic 10     Statistics Graphs
Topic 11     Money skills Trigonometry and Pythagoras
Topic 12       Probability
Topic 13       Bounds and compound measures
Topic 14       Construction and Loci

For Higher Maths at GCSE, the classes listed follow Stages E-I as detailed below:
Year 10: Sets 1,2,3,4a
Year 11: Sets 1,2,3
 

Autumn Term
Year 10
Topic  
Stage E Number Calculations, checking and rounding, Indices, roots, reciprocals and hierarchy of operations (BIDMAS), Factors, multiples, primes, standard form and surds
  Algebra The basics, setting up, rearranging and solving equations, Sequences
  Interpreting and Representing Data Averages and range, Representing and interpreting data and scatter graphs
  Fractions Ratio and Percentages Fractions and percentages, Ratio and proportion
Spring Term
Year 10
Topic  
Stage F Angles and Trigonometry Polygons, angles and parallel lines, Pythagoras' Theorem and trigonometry
  Graphs The basics and real-life graphs, Linear graphs and coordinate geometry, Quadratic, cubic and other graphs
  Transformations and Constructions Transformations, Constructions, loci and bearings
Summer Term
Year 10
Topic  
Stage G Area and Volume Perimeter, Area and Circles, 3D forms and volume, cylinders, cones and spheres, Accuracy and Bounds
  Equations and Inequalities Solving quadratic and simultaneous equations, Inequalities
  Probability Probability
Autumn Term
Year 11
Topic  
Stage H Multiplicative reasoning Multiplicative reasoning
  Similarity Similarity and congruence in 2D and 3D
  Further Trigonometry Graphs of trigonometric functions, Further trigonometry
  Further Statistics Collecting data, Cumulative frequency, box plots and histograms
  Equations and Graphs Quadratics, expanding more than two brackets, sketching graphs, graphs of circles, cubes and quadratics
Spring Term
Year 11
Topic  
Stage I Circle Theorems Circle theorems; Circle geometry
  Further Algebra Changing the subject of formulae (more complex), algebraic fractions, solving equations arising from algebraic fractions, rationalising surds, proof, Vectors and geometric proof
  Vectors and Proof Reciprocal and exponential graphs; Gradient and area under graphs, Direct and inverse proportion

 

Exam Board: Edexcel

Assessment:

In Year 10 there are assessments after each unit and a mock exam at the end of the year.

In Year 11 there are assessments after each unit, two sets of mock exams, one in December and one in the spring.

Final GCSE assessment: Three papers each 1½ hours long covering all content; one non-calculator, two calculator papers.

Key Stage 5

KS5 Coordinator: Mr C MacGreevy

Mathematics: A Level

A level Mathematics gives you the opportunity to further your understanding of topics in pure mathematics such as geometry, trigonometry and calculus and to use these concepts within applied mathematics.

Pure mathematics, worth ⅔ of the A Level, is the study of the basic concepts and structures that underpin mathematics and can be classified into:

  • algebra (functions, logarithms and calculus),
  • geometry (trigonometric identities and equations) and
  • modelling (the application of pure mathematics in real world contexts).

Applied mathematics, worth ⅓ of the A Level, is split into two strands:

  • Statistics (data collection and analysis, statistical distributions including probability and hypothesis testing) and
  • Mechanics (the study of motion and equilibrium, including forces and moments).

Exam board: Edexcel

Assessment:

At the end of year 12 there are 2 internal exams: 1 pure, 2 hours in length and 1 applied (statistics and mechanics), 75 minutes in length.

At the end of year 13 there are 3 external exams: 2 pure and 1 applied, each 2 hours in length.

Calculators are allowed for all exams.

Further Mathematics: A Level

Course Content: Further Mathematics broadens the student’s understanding of Mathematics by introducing new topics of Pure Mathematics and a larger selection of mathematical applications.  Pure Mathematics topics include matrices, complex numbers, differential equations and Maclaurin and Taylor series.

Students study Further Pure and optional papers comprising Mechanics and Decision Maths.  Further Pure and the optional units are in the ratio 1:1

Exam board: Edexcel

Assessment:

Four papers, two Further Pure and one Mechanics and one Decision Maths.

Each exam is 1.5 hours.

If Mathematics or Medicine is to be studied at University, please read the individual university prospectuses to discover the need, or not, of Further Mathematics at AS or A Level, and whether it is an advantage or disadvantage.  Visit www.ucas.co.uk for information about university requirements or http://furthermaths.org.uk/universities for advice.