Mathematics

Mathematics Statement

At Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Primary School, we want every child to be happy and enthusiastic learners of mathematics.  They should be eager to achieve their potential in order to fulfil their God-given talents. We firmly believe that the recipe for success is high quality teaching and challenging experiences. These are central to the life of our happy and caring school.

Intent

• At Mount Carmel, we are dedicated to teaching a broad, balanced and progressive mathematics curriculum. Children will access the ten key areas of learning:
• • Addition and Subtraction
  • Algebra
  • Fractions
  • Geometry: Position and Direction
  • Geometry: Shape
  • Measurement
  • Multiplication and Division
  • Place Value
  • Ratio and Proportion
  • Statistics
     
• Our purpose is to encourage children to use mathematics to reason, problem solve and develop fluent conceptual understanding. The mathematics curriculum enables children to understand the world around them by making connections between mathematics and everyday life. Our wider curriculum supports our vision and provides links where mathematics can be incorporated across different areas of learning.  The structure of the mathematics curriculum, across the school, shows clear progression in line with age related expectations. Teachers encourage children to explore skills and knowledge in depth, and gain a secure understanding of key concepts. These are revisited regularly allowing repetition to reinforce learning. A concrete, pictorial and abstract approach provides children with a clear structure in which they can develop their depth of understanding of mathematical concepts. We aim to ensure that mathematics is a high profile subject which children view with enthusiasm and joy.

Implementation

• The subject leader for mathematics meets with the whole school at the start of the academic year and informs staff about standards, expectations and school priorities for the forthcoming year. Communications continue throughout the year including learning walks and book reviews.
   
• Carefully designed schemes of learning in mathematics ensure consistency and progress of all learners across the key stages. Pupil progress is reviewed every ten weeks, throughout the year, following their GL Assessments. The results are discussed at pupil progress meetings with the teachers and senior leadership team.
   
• The mathematics curriculum is taught for at least one hour each day. Further opportunities to develop and apply mathematics skills are provided for Year 6 children at the “Mathematics Club” (Monday to Thursday – 8:00am – 8:45am).
   
• Learning objectives in every mathematics lesson are clearly displayed and explained in order to guide children through the National Curriculum.
   
• High quality teaching responds to the needs of children.  Spiral learning is a key focus of all formative and summative assessment in order to identify and address misconceptions early.
   
• The “Times Tables Rock Stars” scheme was launched in September 2020 enabling all children from Year 1 to Year 6 to practise and embed their multiplication and division core skills. “Numbots” was also introduced to secure knowledge of number bonds and addition and subtraction facts for Early Years and Foundation and Year 1.  Abacus Evolve Resources are used to support the teaching of the National Curriculum both in school and during periods of home-learning. The “My Maths” initiative was introduced in September 2022 and ensures homework supports learning.
   
• From September 2024, we will be working with the Maths Hub North West One implementing Mastering Number from Reception to Year 1 and Year 2. The programme aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim over time is that our children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. Attention will be given to key knowledge and understanding needed in Reception classes, and progression through KS1 to support success in the future.

• With Maths Hub North West One, we will be participating in the Primary Teaching for Mastery Programme from September 2024. The Mastery Readiness stage is the first year of a four year journey aiming to develop our skills and practices to build a sustainable, mastery approach to mathematics teaching and learning. After completing the Readiness year, our school will continue the mastery journey by partaking in the Development, Embedding and Sustaining phases.

• We will be participating in the Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Maths (SKTM) programmes for Teaching Assistants, Early Years Specialists and Primary Teachers throughout 2024-2025. These programmes will support teaching assistants and teachers to develop their specialist knowledge for teaching mathematics. A key focus is not only on improving the participants’ understanding of the important structures of mathematics, but also to ensure they have the appropriate pedagogical knowledge to teach our pupils well.

Impact

• Children of all abilities achieve well in mathematics; they are happy and confident learners. This is reflected in their progress which reveals a clear learning journey.  Children talk enthusiastically about their learning in mathematics and are eager to further their learning in the next stages of their education. They become confident mathematicians who are not afraid to take risks.
   
• Children will become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time. Children will solve problems by applying mathematics in a variety of scenarios with increasing sophistication, including partitioning problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering to seek solutions. Pupils will have the conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
   
• Children will be able to reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, recognising relationships and generalisations using mathematical language.
   
• Learning in mathematics will ensure children understand how mathematics is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. Opportunities will exist for children to experience learning beyond the classroom.  This will allow them to enrich their knowledge by undertaking investigations in mathematics outside of the classroom.
   
• Children leave Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Primary School with a wide range of happy memories in mathematics. These are formed through challenging and exciting experiences that enhance a child’s awareness of their own abilities and strengths as a learner. Children see learning in mathematics as an ongoing process not a one-off event.  Through mathematics, children deepen their appreciation of their faith and fulfil their God-given talents.

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