Mathematics
The Mathematics Curriculum Area is an extremely well motivated and dedicated team. Each curriculum area member teaches across the age and ability range and opportunities to take on responsibilities are negotiated each year. There are wide opportunities for staff development within the curriculum area and the skills and expertise of individuals are used to inform the rest of the team. In addition Mathematics is represented on whole school groups such as Curriculum, Staff Development, Business and Enterprise and Target Setting. As regards teaching our priority is to teach every lesson. 100% attendance by staff is the norm and department members are often asked by the students 'are you never ill?' The Mathematics team is renowned across Burnside as the department which not only prides itself on its teamwork, but is seen to work as a totally unified team in every aspect of the word. Whether it is raising money for breast cancer on Pink Friday, or the day the latest Bond movie 'Casino Royale' was released the whole department is attired in themed dress code. In addition all birthdays are celebrated and the whole team are actively encouraged to bake (bought versions are frowned upon!) cakes in honour of these.
The department has nine full time mathematics specialist teachers as well as two parttime nonspecialists all with a range of interests and experiences. Mathematics is taught in nine adjacent rooms on the ground floor of Block 2. In addition the department has a large well appointed and well equipped office/resources room, a hub containing four computers and a photocopier as well as a set of trolley laptops. All teaching rooms are equipped with ceiling data projectors and interactive whiteboards which are used extensively) along with sets of texts, calculators and practical equipment. Regular mathematics meetings are held (usually before rather than after school) where all members are involved in decision making as well as being actively encouraged to share good practice and exchange ideas.
Attainment and Progress in Mathematics is ‘Good to Outstanding’. Mathematics results in the 2006 national tests were highlighted in our recent Ofsted inspection March 07) as 'the expected level was above the national average in Mathematics'. The GCSE Mathematics result in 2006 was above the national average which in turn was above the LEA average. The department makes great use of electronic data including the traffic light system to monitor and evaluate the progress of all students. This is used to inform staff and to set targets for students. Last year’s Mathematics headline figures were impressive at all key stages:
Key Stage 3: 79% Level 5+ with 55% Level 6+
Key Stage 4: 59% Grade A* to C (including 14 A*)
Key Stage 5: After the results of the January 2007 modules, these are the average grades of the students:
Year 12 after 2 modules 8 A’s, 3 B’s, 1 C and 1 D
Year 13 after 5 modules 4 B’s, 1 C and 1 D
These excellent results helped Burnside achieve its best ever GCSE results in July 2006: 59% achieved 5 Grades at C or above with 53% achieving the new gold standard of 5 Grades C or above including English and Maths. This was also above the national average which in turn was above the LEA average. Mathematics is taught to all students in Years 7 to 11 in four 50 minute lessons each in a different day of the week (a total teaching time of 3 hours 20 minutes). The number of students in each set varies, but in general would be no more than 30. Sets are adjusted at least once a year following standardised tests. In Year 7 the sets are jointly determined by Maths and English, whilst in Years 8 and 9 they are jointly determined by Maths, English and Modern Languages. At the end of Year 9 all students take the Key Stage 3 SAT’s, after which the sets are determined solely by Maths for the whole of Key stage 4. At Key Stage 4 all students are currently entered for Edexcel’s GCSE Mathematics Syllabus 2504 (modular option) with the top four sets following the Higher Tier, the remaining sets following the Foundation Tier. The top set also take Edexcel’s GCSE Statistics Syllabus 2579 at the end of Year 11. Currently the department is piloting double entering some Foundation Level students for GCSE Statistics to link in with their data handling GCSE Mathematics project. Post 16 students receive 6 lessons per week (a total teaching time of 5 hours) as they follow Edexcel’s modular AS/A2 Syllabus. All students currently follow a common Year 12 course (Cl, C2 and S1), as well as in Year 13 (C3, C4 and Ml). A GCSE Resit Course is offered in Year 12 for students who have a grade D, as well as a Numeracy course for level 1 students.
To promote a wider interest in Mathematics the curriculum area actively encourages participation in Schools Fantasy Football to all students and staff, UK Mathematical Challenges are offered to the more able students in all years and there is a weekly Mathematics Club for the younger students. Gifted and talented students in years 8 to 12 attend Supermaths classes at the University and opportunities are rarely missed to take groups of students to external conferences. Revision classes, booster classes and coursework catch up sessions are a regular feature and support is available to students at all times of the day before school, as well as at lunchtimes and after school.