Bellemoor School | Southampton

Aims

To promote the enjoyment of mathematics and to ensure that every pupil achieves some measure of success no matter what their ability.

• To teach mathematics that is relevant and useful both to everyday life and to other areas of the curriculum.
• To provide a sound mathematical background for those pupils who will go on to study mathematics at a higher level. 

Programme of Study

At Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) we work within the framework of the National Numeric strategy with Compact Maths as a resource to work from.

In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) the GCSE Exam Board used is Edexcel Syllabus 1388 Module Maths, and the scheme of work is based on the Heinemann London GCSE Mathematics Higher, Intermediate and Foundation Course.

The boys are generally taught as a class, although there is also scope for individual problem solving and investigative work.

Teaching is directed towards increasing boys ability in mental and written calculation.  Pupils are set according to ability.  Their work is frequently marked and assessed, and there are frequent reviews of the set.

 

Homework

Two homeworks a week will be set.  The work will often be a short task, either an exercise or an open-ended small task, which helps consolidate and develop work done in class.

Parents are asked to see that:

• their son shows clearly in his books where the homework starts and finishes
• their son spends the right amount of time on the work
• any books and materials are returned to the school.
  
  

Assessment

Formal assessment is carried out in a number of ways:

• pupil self assessment 
• regular tests of units 
• yearly examinations 

Ways in which parents can help

• show enthusiasm for mathematics as well as pointing out its importance
• help to reinforce the learning that has taken place in school for example, learning multiplication tables, remembering formulae such as those for a circle, circumference C = 2∏r and area A = ∏r²
• look at their exercise books and discuss what and how to improve
• find out where they make silly errors and help them to correct them
• make sure your son has the necessary equipment pen, pencil, rubber, ruler, protractor and calculator.