Course Description

You will have already studied Mathematics for several years before embarking upon the GCSE course which has been designed to build upon the foundations laid down in Years 7, 8 and 9.

A mixture of learning activities are used in the teaching of Mathematics, including teacher led discussions and tasks, small group investigations, use of ICT and textbook/booklet practice to deepen a student’s understanding. Our aim is to make Mathematics as accessible and enjoyable as possible for all our students through the use of a variety of teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles. Investigative and exploratory work is encouraged in the learning of Mathematics together with a strong emphasis on the essential algebraic, numeric, geometric and statistical skills.

The coverage of broader and deeper mathematical content is delivered through a single extended GCSE with two tiers of entry. There is more emphasis on problem-solving, communication, proof, and interpretation. There will be additional requirements to provide clear mathematical arguments.

• Higher tier will include questions that will stretch the most able.
• Foundation tier will focus on core mathematical understanding and skills for all students to master.

 

 External Assessment Structure

• Students will be entered for GCSE at the end of Year 11

Examination Level	Grades Available	Papers and Duration
Edexcel Higher	4-9	3 x 1.5 hours
Edexcel Foundation	1-5	3 x 1.5 hours

On both Foundation and Higher levels of GCSE entry each paper is worth 80 marks - the combined score for all 3 papers is used to decide the grade. Grade boundaries vary so it is not as simple as saying X marks will gain you a Grade 4 etc.

• Paper 1 is a non-calculator paper
• Paper 2 is a calculator paper
• Paper 3 is a calculator paper

The assessment objectives for the examinations are as follows:

• AO1:     Use and apply standard techniques -                              (50% Foundation, 40% Higher)
• AO2:     Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically -      (25% Foundation, 30% Higher)
• AO3:     Solve problems within mathematics and other context -       (25% Foundation, 30% Higher)

 

Internal Assessment Structure

Year 10 and Year 11 students are assessed on a termly basis based on the topics studied in lessons.

Year 10 will sit full GCSE papers at the end of each year to track progress and inform subsequent teaching.

Year 11 students sit two mock exams, one in November and one in March. These are to encourage students to prepare for their GCSE examinations in the summer.