Maths

Curriculum Overview

Maths is essential for equipping our students with the necessary skills to access independence, academic achievement and employability. In addition, we believe that Maths provides a solid platform for building self-esteem, resilience and a strong sense of achievement.

All Rumworth students will access a Maths curriculum which is appropriate and engaging; challenging and creative and through Assessment for Learning, personalised to enable all pupils make outstanding progress.

Rumworth is committed to the continuous development of a Mathematics curriculum that best meets the needs of our students. The mathematics curriculum has been developed to best meet the needs of our pupils but covers many aspects from the National Curriculum.

Rumworth Maths Vision

At Rumworth School, we want all our students to experience the joy of mathematics. To be able to have the enjoyment of solving a maths problem, the excitement of applying their mathematical knowledge, and the satisfaction of using the numeracy skills in a practical context.

Our aim is to produce confident, resilient, numerate young people who contribute positively to society and achieve their full mathematical potential. We recognise each learner is unique, which is why our curriculum is ambitious, creative and responsive to their individual need.  Throughout their time with us, we gain an in-depth knowledge of each student through rigorous assessment and use this to provide teaching that inspires and challenges.

During their mathematical journey we ensure that the students have regular opportunities to recall, practice and apply their mathematical skills in a wide range of practical contexts. This allow them to be become fluent in the appropriate stage of mathematics for their next steps.  We celebrate the individual successes and share achievements of our students to nurture their commitment to becoming independent functional mathematicians.

Curriculum Strands

Concrete Strand

This multisensory approach is a unique way of "thinking" about teaching Mathematics. Students are introduced to a new mathematical concept using concrete resources (e.g. fruit, Dienes blocks etc). This approach is aimed at students who are working below the traditional National Curriculum Level 1 who progress most when accessing Maths activities that are multisensory, practical and engaging.

Pictorial Strand

When students are comfortable solving problems with physical aids, they are given problems with pictures. To start this process, they are given pictorial representations of the concrete objects they were using.   Rumworth is developing its own bespoke approach to “Assessment for Learning” using the SOLAR assessment framework.  This is central to the Maths curriculum allowing students to access maths which is accurately pitched at their level. Pupils working within this strand will be focusing on achieving Entry Level Qualification in KS4 and KS5.

Abstract Strand

In this strand, the students are asked to solve problems where they only have the abstract i.e. numbers or other symbols. Building these steps across a lesson can help students better understand the relationship between numbers and the real world, and therefore helps secure their understanding of the mathematical concept they are learning. Students within this strand will access Entry Levels, GCSEs in KS4 and Entry Levels and Functional Skills qualifications in KS5.

Feedback and Assessment

All students should receive feedback in line with their personal feedback method which will be detailed in student profiles. Teachers should make their own professional judgement regarding the nature and format of students' work that they choose to retain.

Student progress is determined using SOLAR, and through external accreditation measures at KS4 and KS5, where relevant.

External Accreditation

This is offered as:-

• GCSEs
• Entry Levels
• Functional Skills