Mathematics
At Horsforth Featherbank Primary School we adhere to the 2014 Primary National Curriculum Key Stages 1 & 2 Framework for Mathematics which states that:
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.
The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:
- become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
- reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
- can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.
Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas. The programmes of study are, by necessity, organised into apparently distinct domains, but pupils should make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge to science and other subjects.
Mathematics Intent
At Featherbank, our ambition is to provide the foundation for the development of the mathematical skills needed in later life by promoting enjoyment, initiative, imagination and logical thinking.
To ensure all children reach their full potential in mathematics, their individual needs and abilities are recognised and developed in a caring and supportive environment, in partnership with parents.
Mathematics Implementation
At Featherbank, subject knowledge allows the intentions of our mathematics curriculum to be delivered successfully. We continually strive to build upon the excellent understanding of the expectations of the curriculum that our staff have. We achieve this through regular quality CPD which is provided through the subject leader and external courses. Good practice is always shared between staff and all CPD is used to inform teaching and learning across school.
All KS1 classes have a 15 minute Number Sense lesson daily. The systematic and structured programme enables children to develop both a deep understanding of number and number relationships, and fluency in addition and subtraction facts.
Five 45 minute maths lessons are taught weekly, covering the objectives outlined in White Rose Maths.
All KS2 classes have five one hour maths lessons a week. Four of these lessons cover the objectives outlined in White Rose Maths. The 5th lesson is an independent arithmetic lesson.
All lessons covering those objectives set out in the White Rose Maths planning follow the same structure, covering basic fluency, varied fluency and reasoning & problem solving. Starting off being guided by the teacher, children are then able to move through these different areas at their own pace and at their own level of challenge.
Stand alone arithmetic lessons allow the children to be taught specific strategies to tackle basic calculation questions, including mental and written strategies. These strategies can then be effectively applied in other contextual situations.
Alongside the White Rose materials, we use many other resources to ensure that our offer is rich and varied. These include Twinkl, Classroom Secrets, NCETM, NRich. These are used across KS1 and KS2 allowing children to be exposed to a variety of different types of learning and to ensure coverage of fluency, problem solving and reasoning in different formats. Teachers also implement the schools agreed calculation policies for progression in written and mental calculations.
Mathematics Impact
By the end of their time at Featherbank, children should be able to demonstrate a quick recall of facts and procedures; this includes the recollection of the times tables. Most children will have achieved the objectives at the expected standard for each year group. Those who have not been able to do this will have been shown to have made progress against their own starting points. Children are taught to show confidence in believing that they will achieve through their use of a growth mind set.
Children will have developed the flexibility and fluidity to move between different contexts and representations of maths. Mathematical concepts or skills are mastered when a child can show it in multiple ways, using the mathematical language to explain their ideas, and can independently apply the concept to new problems in unfamiliar situations.
Formative assessments take place throughout the year and the Maths Leader performs monitoring on a regular basis; gaps in children’s learning are identified and interventions are put in place to help fill them.
Summative assessments take place on a termly basis. These help pupil progress meetings to focus on the support that is needed for individual children. Pupil provision mapping is conducted, tracked, monitored and guided by the Head Teacher to support the ongoing progress of pupils to maintain high standards of learning, and both support and challenge pupils in their learning.
Maths Policy
We follow the National Curriculum and regularly review our school's Maths Policy to ensure that we are placing our children's learning at the heart of everything we do.
Take a look at the maths learning taking place at Featherbank
Mathematics Links
Here are some recommended websites for supplementing learning in Maths, as well as for aiding with homework.
