Maths

Mathematics Curriculum Overview

At Sandown Primary School, we believe that a high-quality mathematics education provides children with a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject. We are committed to developing confident, capable mathematicians who can apply their learning both within school and in real-life contexts.

Our mathematics curriculum follows the National Curriculum, using Maths No Problemand Mastery Numberwhilst ensuring the Five Big Ideas are embedded throughout.

Sandown’s curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems, developing secure conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
Reason mathematically by following lines of enquiry, identifying relationships and generalisations, and developing arguments, justifications and proofs using precise mathematical language.
Solve problems by applying their mathematics to a wide range of routine and non-routine situations, breaking problems down into manageable steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to move fluently between different representations of mathematical ideas. Although the programmes of study are organised into distinct domains, including number, measurement, geometry, statistics, and algebra, pupils at Sandown are supported in making rich connections across these areas. This strengthens their fluency, deepens their reasoning and develops competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems.

We recognise and celebrate maths learning at Sandown. Each fortnight, a child from each class receives an award in our celebratory assembly: Funky Friday. Each pupil contributes to the key-stage maths league by playing Doodle Maths. The winning class receives Golden Time.

Learning is carefully sequenced to build on prior knowledge and deepen understanding over time. Pupils are encouraged to explain their thinking, use accurate mathematical vocabulary and represent their ideas in multiple ways, including concrete, pictorial and abstract forms. Opportunities are provided for pupils to apply their mathematical knowledge across the wider curriculum, reinforcing its relevance and purpose.

Through our mathematics curriculum, pupils develop resilience, independence and a positive attitude towards mathematics, leaving Sandown Primary School well prepared for the next stage of their education.

This article is was published by the Hastings Observer and The Times Educational Supplement:

Two mathematics teachers from schools in Shanghai spent two-weeks teaching maths at Sandown Primary School, Hastings from 15th January 2018-26th January 2018.

Over the last two years, teaching at Sandown primary school has developed to incorporate Mastery teaching principles. The positive impact of this approach was reflected in last years’ Key Stage Two SATs results where Sandown achieved the best Maths results in Hastings and St Leonards.

Wen Jiang worked and taught alongside Miss Katrina Plüss, who went on a research visit to Shanghai in September 2017. Wen Jiang taught in Year 5 with a focus on fractions.

Jiamin Shi worked and taught alongside Miss Sharon Byrne in Year 2. Jiamin Shi taught a sequence of lessons based on early multiplication.

On Monday 15th January 2018 Sandown Primary School welcomed their exchange teachers with an opening ceremony that showcased many areas of their broad and creative curriculum. Pupils danced, sang, performed in the spoken word and some younger pupils counted to ten in Mandarin. Sandown extended their welcome to members of the local and wider community, including The Strategic Board from The Sussex Maths Hub, representatives from East Sussex Local Education Authority and a representative from the NCETM.

During the fortnight, Sandown hosted several showcase lessons where they welcomed over 300 local teaching practitioners giving opportunity for a wide range of colleagues to experience, and learn from, a Mastery approach to teaching. Teachers observed two lessons, Year 2 and Year 5, and engaged in a Teacher Research Group discussion following the lessons. Following these showcase events, Sandown received many positive emails outlining the impact that the lessons had.

Carol Knights, Director of Secondary Mathematics for the NCETM commented,

**“the lessons were interesting and inspiring and revealed that a great deal of thought had gone into the planning of the sequence of lessons and no detail is left to chance.”

Danielle Cassell, Senior management SLES commented that,

“it was inspiring to see maths taught with such high expectations and emphasis on establishing conceptual development balanced with procedural understanding and fluency. Many colleagues engaged in professional thinking, discussion and debate.”

Jo Steadman, Sussex Maths Hub Lead, thanked Sandown Primary School’s dedication to the project:

“Thank you to Winnie and Sammie, to Katrina, Charlie, all the staff, the parents and especially the children who were a credit to your school during the exchange. I enjoyed the morning on Monday, and everyone was so positive.”

This exchange is part of a long-term project, run within the Maths Hubs programme, to help teachers in English schools introduce mastery approaches to teaching maths in their schools. To continue this project, Sandown Primary School hopes to establish a twinning link with Jianshe Primary School, Shanghai.

Sandown Primary School would like to thank Miss Katrina Plüss for her outstanding organisation and demonstrating what a great ambassador she is for both teaching for mastery and for the school.

This is the fourth such exchange being run as part of the National Maths Hubs programme, funded by the DfE, and coordinated by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM).

For more information, see www.mathshubs.org.uk **or contact steve.mccormack@ncetm.org.uk

Maths

Mathematics Curriculum Overview

Teaching Maths for Mastery

England-China Teacher Exchange 2017-2018