MATHS

Intent 

Our pupils will be enthusiastic mathematicians, who confidently apply their knowledge to tackle new problems efficiently and effectively. They will recognise the importance of Maths in understanding and interacting with the world around us, and develop a strong foundation of number sense and fluency that will enable them to flourish in later life. They will identify connections between different mathematical topics, and apply their knowledge in different areas and subjects. Pupils will think critically about how best to answer questions, rather than simply approaching methods as a series of steps to be memorised. They will use Maths as a tool to practise logical and systematic thinking, learning how to break complex problems down into more manageable elements without feeling overwhelmed. They will be positive and resilient, both accepting that mistakes will be made and developing the skills needed to identify and correct them. They will be effective communicators, who can explain themselves clearly, discuss different ideas and justify the choices they make.

Implementation

We take a mastery approach to Maths, ensuring that all pupils are able to participate in, and to enjoy, lessons at Coppermill. Activities are based on a principle of back-and-forth interaction, where short tasks are interspersed with examples, explanation and discussion. All lessons begin with a focus on arithmetic, to embed number facts and develop ability in rapid calculation. We then engage with questions that link to prior learning, to make sure concepts are securely understood. We use White Rose and its ‘small steps’ as the framework on which to base our lesson planning, to ensure a broad and comprehensive coverage of the curriculum with clear learning objectives for each lesson. We supplement this with additional materials from a wide variety of schemes and sources, such as NCETM and NRich. This approach ensures our scheme of learning follows a clear progression from EYFS to Year 6, whilst still providing the flexibility needed for adapting lessons to the needs of specific classes, and for making cross-curricular links. 

Throughout Coppermill, our Maths teaching follows a ‘CPA’ progression, moving from concrete examples to pictorial representation and abstract ideas. We use a wide variety of manipulative resources in lessons, to facilitate understanding through hands-on activities. As children progress through our school, we increasingly use real facts and figures in the problems we tackle, treating the numbers we work with as additional learning opportunities. Rather than focusing solely on getting to an answer, we discuss our preferred methods, consider alternatives and evaluate their efficacy. We include extension activities in each lesson, in the form of ‘challenge’ questions, allowing more confident pupils to apply their learning in different ways. Teachers leave additional questions or next steps individually in pupils’ books, for them to respond to in the next lesson. Our pupils use TT Rockstars to support fluency, speed and understanding of times tables and we use a variety of games and puzzles to practise arithmetic and problem solving skills in a challenging and fun way. We recognise the importance of neat presentation for the work in our Maths books, but also include ‘rough arithmetic’ pages where pupils can jot down their own ideas and methods with more freedom. 

Impact

We measure the impact of our Maths curriculum at Coppermill through termly assessment in both reasoning and arithmetic. Teachers make frequent use of formative assessment during lessons, using whiteboard challenges, arithmetic quizzes and discussion. Pupils complete end-of-unit assessments for each topic, so that gaps in understanding can be identified, and lessons can be adapted accordingly. The majority of marking is completed in the lesson, as self-marking, to provide pupils with instant feedback and allow misunderstandings to be quickly addressed. The Maths subject lead works across the school, participating in book looks, lesson observations and pupil voice conversations. Following these, support is offered on relevant topics, and CPD sessions are used to celebrate successes and share ideas.