MATHEMATICS
The new Mathematics Curriculum is now in place for all students in Years 7-11 . These students will sit the new style of GCSE and be awarded a grade 1-9 instead of A * -G .
This new GCSE is considerably more challenging and so we have been working hard to improve student ’ s resilience so that they do not give up when faced with more challenging questions .
Year 7
Year 7 students will be having another examination in the New Year . They can use their last paper and their homework sheets to revise . You should receive your child ’ s exam paper shortly after the examination . This will help both staff and the students identify the areas of focus in the coming term . Students should then work on these at home , in preparation for their next exam which will take place in the summer term . We have reshuffled the groups where necessary and students have been informed if they are to move . We will continue to review the setting each term so the next set of moves will take place after Easter . If you have any concerns or questions , please do not hesitate to contact me . There is help available for any student in MA4 every Wednesday after school . Some excellent 10 minute test books are available for £ 2 , for students who would benefit from regular practice on their maths skills .
Year 8
The second assessment for Year 8 students was in November . Students should have brought the paper home along with their analysis of it , and I hope that they have been working hard to improve . We have made the changes to the settings that we feel would be beneficial to students ’ progress , and will continue to review these each term . All students will be having another examination in the summer term . They can then use their last 2 papers and their revision workbook to help them revise . If you have any concerns or questions , please do not hesitate to contact me .
There is help available for any student in MA4 every Wednesday after school . Some excellent 10 minute test books are available for £ 2 , for students who would benefit from regular practice on their maths skills .
Year 9
The second assessment for Year 9 students was in November and they should have brought the paper home along with their analysis of it . We have made the changes to the setting that we feel would be beneficial to a student ’ s progress and these will continue to be reviewed each term . Many students really struggled with the new style papers ; the questions were not more difficult than usual but did look slightly different . This is the way that the new papers will be presented and will test the true understanding of the content . We are working hard with students to always have a go and show all of their working out . We would appreciate it if you could reinforce this message at home . If you have any concerns or questions , please do not hesitate to contact me .
The next assessment for Year 9 will be in the summer term . There is help available in MA4 every Wednesday after school . An excellent CD , for use in any computer with a CD drive is available from the maths office for just £ 6 ( RRP £ 12.95 ). This will help students to revise their maths on a regular basis and to work on areas in need of development .