Mathematics
Mathematics at Buntingford First School, the aim is to inspire young people to see the true beauty of mathematics as a study of patterns. We want students to develop a passion for mathematics; in collaboration with teachers; that results in high quality teaching and learning experiences, co-curricular activities and sustained academic success well above the National average. Our curriculum will aim to develop students’ logic and multiplicative reasoning in order to solve increasingly complex problems, alongside embedding fluency utilising mathematical procedures. As a result, students will see mathematics as interesting, relevant and accessible. We are determined students will continue to positively engage their mathematics knowledge and skills in their everyday life with the expectation that many students will pursue mathematical fields of study and careers once their formal education has concluded.
KS1
At Buntingford First School the principal focus of mathematics at Key Stage 1 will be to ensure that pupils develop confidence and mental fluency with whole numbers, counting and place value. This will involve working with numerals, words and the 4 operations: including with practical resources for example, concrete objects and measuring tools. Pupils will also be guided to learn their multiplication and division facts.
We'll support children in their learning by providing them with opportunities to use concrete objects and/or act out an idea or skill. They'll also use visual, pictorial representations e.g. bar models to represent problems as well as using abstract representation – the symbolic stage where there is an understanding of formal methods.
Ongoing teacher assessment is carried out in all areas of mathematics across Years 1 and 2 to measure progress, fluency, and attainment. Students will be formally assessed on both reasoning and arithmetic during the Summer Term of Year 2.
KS2
At Key Stage 2 students will become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils have conceptual understanding and can recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately to problems. Student gain knowledge on how to reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language. The curriculum will enable our children to gain confidence with solving problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.
The principal focus of mathematics teaching in lower Key Stage 2 is to ensure that pupils become increasingly fluent with whole numbers and the four operations, including number facts and the concept of place value. This should ensure that pupils develop efficient written and mental methods and perform calculations accurately with increasingly large whole numbers.