Mathematics

‘‘Maths may not teach us how to add love or minus hate, but it gives us every reason to hope that every problem has a solution.’’

                                                                                                                                                                                          – Unknown.

Maths at Washingborough Academy

Intent

Maths at Washingborough Academy aims to inspire and encourage our children to become able, confident, and independent mathematicians. We firmly believe that being a fluent mathematician is essential to everyday life.

Through the delivery of an engaging curriculum, we nurture curiosity and excitement for all children and each lesson builds on a conceptual understanding of mathematical content, ensuring our children enhance their ability to discuss, explain, and challenge their own understanding effectively. Our mastery approach towards the curriculum develops children’s resilience and promotes an encouraging and inspiring classroom environment where each child is given the opportunity to develop their fluency, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving skills.

Through the teaching of our values-based curriculum, we encourage our children to develop a growth mindset where they understand that setbacks are a positive learning tool that can support their progress. We believe that maths is for everyone and we expect that all children will leave Washingborough Academy with an appreciation and enthusiasm for maths and a positive relationship with number which will ensure they are fully prepared for their future.

Implementation

We appreciate the value of creating a coherent journey for all children, in line with the national curriculum. Each year group follow a long-term plan where small, cumulative steps form the foundations for an enriched mathematical understanding. The curriculum is taught on a yearly cycle, tailored to each year group’s objectives within mixed year group classes. Individual lessons are consistent across the whole school using a structured format which includes opportunities to learn and develop mathematical concepts. To meet the needs of every child, we implement the following:

Lessons:

  • Maths lessons are taught at least 5 times a week
  • Key slides are used throughout the whole school and include opportunities for counting, exploring real life contexts and revising key mathematical terminology
  • Use of a ‘Let’s Explore’ slide to allow children to explore and unpick a mathematical problem
  • A ‘Practise’ part of lessons to give children chance to apply the skills they have learned
  • The opportunity to ‘Dig Deeper’ for children to build on and develop their understanding of a focus area
  • An ‘Extend’ element to lessons for children to show their understanding on a greater depth level
  • Opportunities to work in pairs, groups or independently
  • Clear steps to allow the children to demonstrate their understanding in each activity
  • Independent work is marked, and next steps are provided to support and challenge each child in a productive manner e.g., “Can you explain the importance of a place holder?” All feedback is purposeful, and children respond and correct their work with a positive mindset
  • Children have access to whiteboards and jotters to draft their methods
  • Children have the opportunity to be part of a guided group during each activity – sometimes guided groups are identified by teachers prior to the lesson or are selected during the input in response to each child’s needs
  • KPI grids have been made for each year group. These are used to support staff members in ensuring that all children are ready for the next phase of the curriculum
  • KPI grids are used to identify gaps in learning and the next steps for each child which are addressed in intervention groups
  • The opportunity to explore a variety of concrete manipulatives, visual representations, and abstract methods
  • Resources that are used as a learning tool to scaffold and consolidate understanding from Foundation Stage to Year Six
  • The opportunity to develop fluency skills and solve increasingly complex problems in a systematic manner
  • Frequent coverage of key mathematical vocabulary to encourage children to communicate their understanding with precision
  • KPI sheets are completed at the end of each unit to assess the next steps and gaps in learning

Times Tables:

  • Times tables lessons are taught at least once a week
  • Physical actions, characters and other forms of media are used to motivate the children and support their retention of key number facts
  • The focus of each lesson is based on patterns and children are given exposure to concrete and pictorial representations of times tables facts
  • The format of each lesson is consistent across each year group to allow consistency and continuity
  • Games and practical activities are used to support learning
  • Children complete a times tables quiz once a week and share their incorrect answers with parents so they can continue to be practised at home
  • Children from Year 1 to Year 6 have access to a Times Tables Rock Stars account
  • Teachers group children based on which times tables they need support with – identified in a weekly quiz
  • Weekly challenges are set for each child based on their group’s focus to support their fluency and recall
  • Class ‘battles’ are also set to promote and reward children working collectively whilst practising their times tables
  • A trophy is awarded to the class that has accumulated the most points from Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 to celebrate their achievements – this is awarded in a times tables assembly on a termly basis
  • In Upper Key Stage 2, children who have a rapid recall of their tables are challenged to apply their understanding to a range of arithmetic and reasoning-based questions

 

Mastering Number:

  • Mastering Number sessions will be taught four times at week in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1
  • Children will explore number facts, using concrete resources and appropriate mathematical terminology
  • Children will be given the opportunity to explore the relationship between numbers up to 10 and manipulate these using resources

 

Magic Maths:

  • Magic maths sessions are taught twice a week in Key Stage Two
  • These sessions focus on an area of the curriculum for each year group e.g., ‘Converting improper fractions to mixed numbers’
  • Children are given the opportunity to complete a short arithmetic quiz on a fortnightly basis which is used to identify areas for focus
  • Each focus area is embedded and applied during subsequent lessons to consolidate and support retention
  • Children have the opportunity to draft their ideas in their jotters and on whiteboards
  • Children are given the opportunity to work in pairs, groups or independently

Impact

The impact of our maths curriculum is measured in a variety of ways:

  • Discussions with children during lessons
  • Targeted questioning during lessons
  • Marking of children’s work
  • Pupil’s voice
  • Book studies
  • Learning snapshots
  • Termly formative assessments using our school’s maths KPI grids
  • Termly summative assessments
  • Weekly times tables quizzes
  • Maths awards in Celebration Assemblies

By the time children leave Washingborough Academy, they will:

  • Be confident in calculating with number
  • Be able to apply their knowledge to real-life scenarios
  • Be able to articulate and challenge methods, carefully explaining their reasoning
  • Have developed a resilient mindset and be unafraid of using concepts such as trial and error to aid their progress
  • Be able to represent their method using a range of visual representations
  • Be able and independent mathematicians

‘‘In mathematics the art of proposing a question must be held of higher value than solving it.’’

– Georg Ferdinand Ludwig Philipp Cantor