Maths Faculty

Welcome to the Mathematics Faculty at Rossett School. Our aim is to provide the best possible mathematical education for the students at the school. We have three key goals in achieving this:

1. Students to be taught the mathematical skills necessary to prepare them for life beyond school. As well as university maths courses this also takes into account the wide variety of mathematics performed by adults in all occupations and industries and all aspects of personal finance, such as investments and mortgages.
   
   
2. Students to reach their potential in terms of examination results. All members of the faculty are specialist mathematicians and we have many years experience of preparing students as thoroughly as possible for their formal assessments. Our results as a department have exceeded National Averages for many years.
   
   
3. Students to enjoy elements of mathematics for its own sake. There are many aspects of mathematics which have an intrinsic value, beyond everyday life or GCSE examinations. We try to communicate this vision of the subject with the students. Whether it is the beauty and geometry of a perfect tesellation, the mystery of a magician's number trick, or the fiendish logic of a Sudoku problem.

Key Stage 3

In KS3, pupils study a programme of lessons based on the National Framework for the teaching of Mathematics.

Organisation of Teaching

At Rossett the Years 7,8,9 are split into two half years of approximately 100 -120 students. There are a minimum of five sets running in each half year. The sets containing the weakest students are often staffed by two teachers + teaching assistants. A student to adult ratio in these sets of 5-1 is quite common and allows the faculty to target support to those who need it most.

In the top sets, students are encouraged to use their talents to the full. The faculty takes part in an annual competition to find the brightest young mathematicians in the country. The events are called the United Kingdom Mathematics Challenge, and are organised by the University of Leeds. This year over 40 students received a mixture of Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for outstanding achievement in this competition.

On arrival at Rossett pupils in Year 6 will be given a test which will be used, in conjunction with their primary school SATs level, to place them into sets. Students wil be given a second setting test approximately six weeks later to confirm that students are in the correct group. Setting is dynamic at Rossett and students are given many opportunies to be moved up (or possibly down) - usually once every half-term.

Key Stage 4

In Years 10 and 11, students follow the AQA modular GCSE course which now includes some Functional Maths. The exam is a two-tier scheme. Higher tier is aimed at grades A*,A,B,C,D. Foundation tier is aimed at grades C,D,E,F,G.

The functional maths element is intended to apply maths to real life situations and engage students in the Maths behind a wide range of real life applications.

There are three modules. The first is taken in November of Year 10 and is largely 'Statistics'. The next is 'Number and Algebra' taken at the end of Year 10. The final module is 'Geometry and Algebra'. This is the largest module worth 50% of the final grade and is taken at the end of Year 11.

In KS4, all pupils in the year are taught mathematics at the same time, resulting in 10 sets, containing all 210-240 pupils. At present sets 1 to 5 will study for the GCSE at Higher Level, and the other groups will study for the Foundation Level.

In addition our most able students will study the AQA Statistics GCSE parallel to their normal Maths GCSE examined at the end of the course.

KS5 - Sixth Form

In the sixth form, students have the following choices at A-Level. (All AQA courses.)
Entry Requirements for these courses are a grade "B" at GCSE.

AS/ A-Level in Methods and Statistics.
This course is made of 66% Pure Maths and 33% Statistics.
This course is most suited to those students who are interested in the Social Sciences or Biology. It is also a good course for those who are interested in financial or commerce career paths.

AS/ A-Level in Methods and Applied.
This course is made up of 66% Pure Maths and 33% Mechanics / Statistics. This course is most suited to those students who did triple science, or those who like Physics or Chemistry. (Mechanics is essentially the study of forces.) It is a good course for those interested in the sciences, design, or engineering.

AS/ A-Level Further Mathematics.
The course is made up of 66% Pure Maths + other optional modules which will be decided by the course tutor, in negotiation with the students.

GCSE Resit.
Any students who failed to get a grade "C" at GCSE will be able to attend a resit group to achieve this important qualification