You will be encouraged to develop your numerical, algebraic and spatial skills and to appreciate the use of Mathematics in other fields of learning. The Mathematics course teaches you to think and communicate in a precise, logical and creative way, selecting appropriate mathematical techniques and applying your knowledge when solving problems.
You will learn topics relating to number, algebra, geometry and statistics. They will encourage you to think in a flexible way and to recognise relationships in Mathematics, for instance, using ratio and proportion as well as algebraic structures to solve problems. You will be introduced to numerical concepts ranging from exact expressions to approximations, and algebraic applications, such as common functions and their graphs, along with various types of sequence. You will also study geometrical reasoning, including trigonometry and circle theorems, as well as statistical observations and probability theory.
You will take three exam papers at the end of Year 11. Each of the papers is one-third of the overall assessment. Paper 1 is a non-calculator paper. Calculators are allowed for papers 2 and 3. There is no coursework.
All students will be given the opportunity to study for the Free Standing Mathematics Qualification (FSMQ) in Additional Mathematics alongside your GCSE in Mathematics but this will be dependent on your performance in the GCSE course and will take into account your other subjects and interests, too. If you take the Additional Mathematics course then both the GCSE and FSMQ assessments take place at the end of Year 11.
A good deal of the Additional Maths content is taught in normal Maths lessons, as there is shared content within the GCSE course. Students who would like to follow Additional Maths in full, covering areas such as Calculus, Exponentials and Logarithms, Enumeration and Linear Programming, will be invited to join an extra-curricular session from the start of Year 10, once each week. Expressions of interest in studying Additional Mathematics will take place towards the end of Year 9. it would be expected that only those students who were on target to secure a grade 8 or 9 in GCSE Mathematics should be considering taking Additional Mathematics, this is not part of the GCSE options process. Decisions about examination entry will not be made until half-way through Year 11. It should be noted that students who are keen to follow Additional Maths will probably have already been attending Year 9 “Stretch and Challenge” Maths Club.
You will develop topics from the GCSE course, giving you an introduction to the power and elegance of advanced Mathematics. The topics give you an experience of the directions in which the subject is developed post-GCSE and the opportunity to explore applications of Mathematics relevant to other areas of study.
You will take one exam paper at the end of Year 11. Calculators are allowed for this paper.