Mathematics
Our Maths faculty have an inspiring vision which drives all they do: ‘Teaching students Mathematics skills for life’.
They are a large and highly skilled faculty of staff who genuinely love maths, and who convey their love of the subject to all the students they teach. Comprising thirteen staff with many years’ experience, the maths team focuses relentlessly on enabling students to understand the kind of maths which they will use for the rest of their lives, and ensuring that students’ confidence with numeracy is at the forefront of every lesson. All students study maths at both KS3 and KS4, along with a significant number choosing to carry on with the subject at post-16. So students are fully prepared for GCSE, elements of the GCSE curriculum are covered in Years 8 to 10; Year 11 involves students revising and consolidating this knowledge. The faculty are also actively involved in our Year 6 Transition Week, meaning that students’ primary school maths skills never dip.
In their maths lessons, students are encouraged to solve problems for themselves, and to become learners who can draw on all their knowledge of numbers and mathematical processes to understand why they get the answers they do. They focus on applying maths to real life scenarios across a wide range of topics, and are always stretched to increase their knowledge by being given challenging next steps.
The faculty prides itself on being organised, dedicated and hard-working, and teaching lessons which make students think at all times. Consequently, the results achieved by the Maths faculty are impressive, and mean that students leave Ridgewood equipped with the mathematical skills and knowledge they require for the next step in their education or career. As well as success in examinations, the faculty consider it essential that students enjoy maths beyond the classroom and annually enter students for the UK Maths Challenge, aiming to win a bronze, silver or gold certificate for their mathematical skills.
For more information about A level Maths and Further Maths, please visit our Sixth Form course pages.
Year 7
Year 7 Topics and Assessment
- Algebra (algebraic notation and forming expressions, simplifying algebra, substitution, expanding and factorising, forming and solving equations, forming and solving equations including inequalities, sequences)
- Number (fractions, fractions of an amount, arithmetic with fractions, number theory, percentages, ratio, written calculations, rounding and approximation)
- Geometry (angles, angles in parallel line and constructions, volume, Pythagoras’ theorem)
- Data handling (charts and averages)
Students will be assessed in Weeks 6, 18 and 30 of the school year, as well as completing independent learning assignments.
Useful websites
- www.mrbartonmaths.com/gcsetakeaway
- www.corbettmaths.com
- www.mrcartermaths.com (Username and password available from your child’s maths teacher)
To further support your child in Maths, you can remind him/her of the importance of having the correct equipment: pen, pencil, 30cm ruler, protractor, compass and a scientific calculator if possible. It would also be beneficial to students if they were encouraged to complete homework to a high standard using either revision guides or the websites above to support them.
Year 8
Year 8 Topics and Assessment
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Foundation Tier |
Higher Tier |
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Integers and place value |
Calculations, checking and rounding |
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Decimals |
Indices, roots, reciprocals and hierarchy of operations |
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Indices, powers and roots |
Factors, multiples, primes, standard form and surds |
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Factors, multiples and primes |
Algebra: the basics, setting up, rearranging and solving equations |
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Algebra: the basics |
Sequences |
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Expressions and substitution into formulae |
Averages and range |
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Tables, charts and graphs |
Representing and interpreting data and scatter graphs |
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Pie charts |
Fractions and percentages |
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Scatter graphs |
Ratio and proportion |
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Fractions, decimals and percentages |
Polygons, angles and parallel lines |
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Percentages |
Pythagoras’ Theorem and trigonometry |
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Equations and inequalities |
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Sequences |
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Properties of shapes, parallel lines and angle facts |
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Interior and exterior angles of polygons |
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Students will be assessed in Weeks 7, 19 and 31 of the school year.
Useful websites
- www.mrbartonmaths.com/gcsetakeaway
- www.corbettmaths.com
- www.mrcartermaths.com (Username and password available from your child’s maths teacher)
To further support your child in Maths, you can remind him/her of the importance of having the correct equipment: pen, pencil, 30cm ruler, protractor, compass and a scientific calculator if possible. It would also be beneficial to students if they were encouraged to complete homework to a high standard using either revision guides or the websites above to support them.
Year 9
Year 9 Topics and Assessment
|
Foundation Tier |
Higher Tier |
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Integers and place value |
Calculations, checking and rounding |
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Decimals |
Indices, roots, reciprocals and hierarchy of operations |
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Indices, powers and roots |
Factors, multiples, primes, standard form and surds |
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Factors, multiples and primes |
Algebra: the basics, setting up, rearranging and solving equations |
|
Algebra: the basics |
Sequences |
|
Expressions and substitution into formulae |
Averages and range |
|
Tables, charts and graphs |
Representing and interpreting data and scatter graphs |
|
Pie charts |
Fractions and percentages |
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Scatter graphs |
Ratio and proportion |
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Fractions, decimals and percentages |
Polygons, angles and parallel lines |
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Percentages |
Pythagoras’ Theorem and trigonometry |
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Equations and inequalities |
Graphs: the basics and real-life graphs |
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Properties of shapes, parallel lines and angle facts |
Linear graphs and coordinate geometry |
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Interior and exterior angles of polygons |
Quadratic, cubic and other graphs |
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Statistics, sampling and the averages |
Perimeter, area and circles |
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Right-angled triangles: Pythagoras and trigonometry |
3D forms and volume, cylinders, cones and spheres |
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Real-life graphs |
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Straight-line graphs |
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Students will be assessed in Weeks 8, 20 and 32 of the school year.
Useful websites
- www.mrbartonmaths.com/gcsetakeaway
- www.corbettmaths.com
- www.mrcartermaths.com (Username and password available from your child’s maths teacher)
To further support your child in Maths, you can remind him/her of the importance of having the correct equipment: pen, pencil, 30cm ruler, protractor, compass and a scientific calculator if possible. It would also be beneficial to students if they were encouraged to complete homework to a high standard using either revision guides or the websites above to support them.
KS4
At GCSE, students follow the Edexcel Mathematics GCSE specification for Higher tier and OCR Mathematics GCSE specification for Foundation tier.
The KS4 maths curriculum builds on the skills learnt at KS3. Year 10 and 11 follow a scheme of learning which introduces new topics based on the tier of exam the students are sitting (Foundation or Higher) while practising and furthering the key skills taught at KS3.
Exam revision guides and workbooks are available in the School Shop.
The Higher Edexcel Mathematics paper (9-4) is assessed with 100% examination at the end of Year 11:
Paper 1 – 90 mins – Non Calculator
Paper 2 – 90 mins – Calculator
Paper 3 – 90 mins – Calculator
The Foundation OCR Mathematics paper (5-1) is assessed with 100% examination at the end of Year 11:
Paper 1 – 90 mins – Calculator
Paper 2 – 90 mins – Non Calculator
Paper 3 – 90 mins – Calculator
- The full specification for Higher tier can be found at:
The full specification for Foundation tier can be found at:
https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/168982-specification-gcse-mathematics.pdf
Please use the 'Contact Us' facility on this website if you would like any further information about the Mathematics scheme of learning.
Year 10 Topics and Assessment
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Foundation Tier |
Higher Tier |
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Perimeter, area and volume |
Accuracy and bounds |
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Transformations |
Transformations |
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Ratio |
Constructions, loci and bearings |
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Proportion |
Solving quadratic and simultaneous equations |
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Probability |
Inequalities |
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Multiplicative reasoning – Compound Units |
Probability |
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Multiplicative reasoning – extended percentage and proportion |
Multiplicative reasoning |
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Plans and elevations |
Similarity and congruence in 2D and 3D |
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Constructions, loci and bearings |
Graphs of trigonometric functions |
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Probability |
Further trigonometry |
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Multiplicative reasoning – compound units |
Collecting data |
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Multiplicative reasoning – extended percentage and proportion |
Cumulative frequency, box plots and histograms |
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Plans and elevations |
Quadratics, expanding more than two brackets, sketching graphs, graphs of circles, cubes and quadratics |
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Constructions, loci and bearings |
Circle theorems |
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Quadratic equations: expanding and factorising |
Circle geometry |
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Quadratic equations: graphs |
Changing the subject of formulae (more complex), algebraic fractions, solving equations arising from algebraic fractions, rationalising surds, proof |
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Circles, cylinders, cones and spheres |
Vectors and geometric proof |
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Fractions and reciprocals |
Reciprocal and exponential graphs; Gradient and area under graphs |
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Indices and standard form |
Direct and inverse proportion |
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Similarity and congruence in 2D |
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Vectors |
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Rearranging equations, graphs of cubic and reciprocal functions and simultaneous equations |
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Students will be assessed in Weeks 8, 20 and 36/37 of the school year.
Year 11 Topics and Assessment
Throughout Year 11, student will recap and revise the topics detailed above, with the curriculum bespoke to the needs of each class. Students will prepare rigorously for their GCSE examinations which take place in the summer term.
Home learning details and how parents can support their children:
- Ensure all students have pen, pencil, ruler, protractor, compass and scientific calculator.
- Ensure students complete weekly homework
- Encourage students to do revision at home. Workbooks with accompanying revision guides are available at the school shop.
- During KS4 students are preparing for their GCSE at the end of Year 11 so it would be very beneficial to their mathematical studies if parents encouraged students to revise using past papers, previous assessments and other questions for about 20 minutes, five times per week.
Useful web links:
Students can access exam questions and practice on specific topics at the following websites:
- Mr Barton Maths GCSE Takeaway
- Corbett Maths 5 A Day
- Maths Genie Predicted papers (Not official papers but great for practice)
- Mr Carter Maths (Username and password available from your child’s maths teacher)
These websites usually provide worked solutions. Students are encouraged to mark their work at home and then bring it in to school to ask their teacher for support on anything they have found challenging.
The CGP Head Start to A Level Maths textbook is currently available for free on Kindle. This might be useful for students looking to study A level Maths. If students find any topics challenging, they should work through questions on the topic using Corbett Maths or Maths Genie (links above).