Mathematics
Curriculum Intent
Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history's most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.
Mathematics is essential to everyday life. A high-quality mathematics education provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.
At St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary Academy we develop confident, resilient mathematicians with the knowledge and skills for everyday life and future careers. Our mathematics curriculum nurtures and inspires inquiry and conjecture. It prepares children for their continuing learning journey, where doors will be opened rather than closed to future success. Supported by a culture of equality and aspiration we aim to remove disadvantage so that every child believes in themselves and can thrive. Through the curriculum, children are empowered to make valuable contributions locally and globally.
We are shaping assured, happy and resilient mathematicians who relish the challenge of maths. We see mistakes as being a crucial part of the learning journey and we celebrate them and reflect on what the mistake teaches us or how it helps us move one step closer to understanding. The pupils become independent, reflective thinkers, whose skills not only give them success in maths but also support them across the whole curriculum. Strengthening children’s capacity as learners and developing their independence, initiative, determination, and love of learning. Our approach to the teaching of mathematics develops children's ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Our mathematicians appreciate the contribution made by different cultures to the development and application of mathematics. Diversity in the field of mathematics – the achievements of eminent mathematicians past and present are a part of the rich diet from EYFS to Year 6 equipping children with the knowledge and cultural capital they need for future success.
At St. Joseph’s we reject the idea that some people are naturally good at maths and some ‘just can’t do mathematics’. Effectively supported by qualified, highly-skilled and enthusiastic teachers, pupils are encouraged and believe that with persistence with sustained effort they can and will succeed. Through whole-class interactive teaching, where the aim is for all pupils to work together so that the majority of pupils master concepts before moving on to the next part of the carefully sequenced curriculum. This is to ensure no pupil is left behind – through quality first teaching pupils can keep up not catch up.
Pupils with SEND needs who have attainment of two or more year groups below expectations for their age have an individualised and ambitious mathematics curriculum which follows an assess, plan, do, review cycle to ensure that they make progress and develop passion and curiosity for the subject.
Curriculum Implementation
Mathematics at St. Joseph’s is planned and sequenced using the White Rose Mathematics materials as a basis across school. In EYFS/KS1 the Mastering Number Programme (NCETM) is taught in short sessions each day in addition to the this to ensure the foundational knowledge and skills of mathematics are embedded. The curriculum is broken down into small manageable steps in order to ensure that each lesson has a clear focus and helps children understand concepts through carefully planned sequence of lessons. This avoids the cognitive overload that can occur when too many concepts are covered at once and ensures that each lesson contributes to the long-term goal. Within each lesson, children have the opportunity to acquire, practice, apply and deepen their knowledge and skills as appropriate. Concrete objects and manipulatives act as both temporary scaffolds and also tools to deepen understanding and challenge pupils.
Our curriculum is designed to ensure careful cumulative coverage, with a taught focus on the connectivity of mathematical concepts applied throughout the school year, with precise sequencing of taught knowledge and skills to enable strong progression for all pupils. Our cumulative and in-depth application of the curriculum allows our pupils to develop a more profound depth of understanding and application, as they building on previous learning while engaging with challenging and meaningful tasks. Adults use AfL techniques and skillful questioning to assess pupils' progress and adapt lessons to meet the needs of all learners.
The curriculum includes opportunities for all pupils to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practise with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
Pupils are taught to reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.
We intend for all pupils to solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of problems with increasing levels of challenge, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.
Maths Skills Progression 2024-2025
St Joseph's Calculation Policy 2024-2025
Other useful links:
Click on the links below to play an assortment of different games to help learn children learn their timetables in a fun and interactive way.
https://www.timestables.co.uk/blocky-multiplication.html
https://www.timestables.co.uk/times-table-duck.html
https://www.timestables.co.uk/figo-and-friends.html
https://www.timestables.co.uk/my-smart-horse.html