Mathematics
Staffing: Mrs Watson (Head of Department), Mr Adjei, Mr Allen, Miss Marsh, Mr Miller, Mr Ellison and Miss Jackson (Mathematics Learning Assistant)
Mathematics is the means of looking at the patterns that make up our world and the intricate and beautiful ways in which they are constructed and realised. Numeracy is the means of making that knowledge useful.
Our aims are:
- To set challenging targets with high expectations for all pupils.
- To offer a variety of approaches to teaching and learning to engage and motivate pupils and demand their active participation.
- To smooth the transition for pupils between Key Stages and ensure progression in teaching and learning throughout their time at Bury Church of England High School.
- To explore enrichment opportunities outside the curriculum to enhance pupils’ enjoyment of Mathematics.
Key Stage 3
We follow the National Numeracy Strategy adapted to suit the needs and abilities of our students and our main text resource is “Framework Maths”, a set of text books suited to the needs of students of all abilities. Within the department, we adopt a wide range of teaching and learning styles- visual, auditory and kinaesthetic - to enable pupils to reach their full potential.
Our department subscribes to the website www.mymaths.co.uk where pupils are able to practice their maths skills at home and complete homework online. We also make use of the Visual Learning Environment and various pieces of software during lessons including Activexpression where pupils are able to vote on the answer to a question using handsets provided in class.
Key Stage 4
At GCSE we offer the Edexcel Linear A GCSE route. Students are set according to ability based on their results at the end of year 9. We continue to make use of all those resources available at Key Stage 3 and maintain a variety of teaching and learning styles. In 2010, 80.4% of students achieved grade A*-C - a result well above the national average.
We aim to stimulate enjoyment of the subject along with a sense of purpose and with the functional maths skills embodied within the GCSE course students can see how maths is useful to them in real-life situations.
Extra Curricular Activities
- Chess club
- Problem of the week
- Bury Maths Challenge
- Other National challenges - as opportunities arise
