Mathematics

Mathematics Department Staff

Curriculum Leader: Mr J Hill

Maths Teachers
Mr A Belshire, Miss D Coffey, Mr C Eaton, Miss E Hadjiyiakoumi, Mr B Howman & Mrs M Lewis

Curriculum Maps

GCSE Options

Mathematics

Exam Information & Revision Resources

Exam Information

Mathematics Revision Resources

Intent

“ADD Jesus to your life” (Romans 10:9-10)

“MULTIPLY your good deeds” (2 Corinthians 10:8)

“DIVIDE your blessing with others” (2 Corinthians 9:11)

“SUBTRACT your fears” (1 Peter 5:7)

“EQUALS a wonderful life” (Psalm 16:11)

The National Curriculum states that “Maths is a creative and highly interconnected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems.” Maths at St Thomas More is a unique subject which shows the beauty of problem solving, the awe and wonder of sequence and captures unique moments of understanding, with a thrill of knowledge acquisition. Maths is essential to daily life and is a vital component of science, technology, engineering, finance and is required for most forms of employment. We aim to give our pupils an appreciation of the beauty and power of Maths, a firm sense of enjoyment and confidence and curiosity and a thirst for learning. Maths at STM explores the beauty of the nature of God through the sequences of the created world.

Catholic Social Teaching with Mathematics

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) can be incorporated into Maths lessons in a variety of ways, promoting the values of social justice, human dignity, and the common good.

1. Ethics in Economics and Finance

Mathematics is often used in economics, finance, and budgeting.

Fair Trade: Using data and statistics to explore global trade, fair wages, and inequality in wages, while linking the CST principle of "Preferential Option for the Poor" (caring for the marginalized).
Debt and Poverty: Pupils analyse the impact of personal debt, illustrating how some economic systems may exploit the poor. This ties into CST's "Option for the Poor and Vulnerable" and the principles of solidarity.

2. Geometry and Architecture

When teaching geometry, lessons incorporate CST by discussing how structures (like homes, schools, and churches) are built with care and respect for all people. This connects with the principle of human dignity and the importance of creating environments that are equitable and accessible.

3. Problem-Solving and Justice

In Maths problems, teachers pose real-world scenarios that highlight issues of justice. For example:

Resource Distribution: Solving problems involving the fair distribution of resources (food, water, education) in communities. This connects to the CST principle of Solidarity, which calls for working together for the common good.
Sustainability: Maths lessons explore sustainability through calculations involving resources, energy use, or environmental impact, aligning with CST's concern for care for creation.

4. Using Maths for Social Justice Projects

Pupils could use Maths to create projects that advocate for social justice, such as:

Creating Awareness Campaigns: Pupils calculate and visualise data about issues like hunger, pollution, or homelessness.

5. Analysing Patterns of Inequality

Using Mathematical models, pupils examine patterns in social, economic, or environmental inequalities (e.g., how wealth is distributed across countries or communities). This teaches them the importance of addressing social justice and the need to correct systemic imbalances, reflecting CST's emphasis on justice and equality.

By weaving Catholic Social Teaching into the context of Math lessons, pupils can learn to apply these principles in practical ways, understanding the importance of numbers not just as abstract concepts but as tools for promoting the well-being of all people and the common good.

Pupil Affirmation

“I love the challenge it presents and the enthusiasm of the teachers”

“I enjoy knowing that every problem has a solution”

“There is a difference between not knowing and not knowing yet”

Learning Outside of the Classroom

Sparx Maths creates perfectly tailored practice homework for each pupil each week driven by our scheme of learning. The practice is challenging, to ensure pupils need to think and achievable so that pupils can be successful. The practice uses spaced repetition and interleaving to support a change in pupils' long-term memories.

Inclusivity

Pupils can gain support within lessons using our Maths mats that are available in all Maths classrooms. These remove barriers to learning and allow pupils to access the content of the lessons with greater ease.

Sparx Maths is inclusive and can adapt to all pupils' current level of expertise. This promotes engagement, confidence and ultimately learning.

Reading

In Maths we help pupils struggling to access their full potential when problem-solving by encouraging reading throughout all lessons. There is a significant connection between reading ability and success in all GCSE subjects, including maths. We regularly expose pupils to keywords and developing understanding and confident use of these within lessons. Practising the reading of contextualised problems and mastering the art of decoding what the expectations of each question are.

Rewards

To help reward and motivate pupils, Sparx generates XP level-up certificates.

Termly rewards for the achievements in Maths