• T Convie (Head of GCSE and A-level)
• N Glackin (Head of KS3)
• B Killen
• S Monan
• M McNamee
• C McHugh
• A Walsh

Mathematics is a subject that opens doors and provides opportunities: doors to employment and further/higher educational courses and opportunities to learn about the relevance of mathematics to everyday life.

Mathematics is all around us. It exists in the proportions of artistic works, in the scores of our favourite songs and in the physical structures we live and work in daily. It is also the bedrock of many other subjects including the Sciences, Economics and Engineering and is extremely relevant to subjects like Psychology and Design.

The study of mathematics can develop a host of skills that are essential to students continuing in their studies as well as those currently in or entering the workplace. These include problem-solving, logic and reasoning, and attention to detail. Mathematics can also lead to careers in finance, business, IT and teaching, among others.

The following topics are taught during years 8, 9 and 10. Assessments are conducted at Halloween, Christmas, March and End of Year.

The year 8 topics:

1. Rounding Numbers
2. Properties of Numbers
3. Co-ordinates
4. Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
5. Negative Numbers
6. Problem Solving 1
7. Fractions
8. Decimals
9. Percentages
10. Order of Operations – BIDMAS
11. Using a Calculator
12. Problem Solving 2
13. Rules of Algebra
14. Solving Equations
15. Substitution into Formulae
16. Direct Proportion
17. Angles
18. Pie Charts
19. Problem Solving 3
20. Perimeter, Area and Volume
21. Straight Line Graphs
22. Metric and Imperial Units
23. Averages and Range
24. Probability
25. Problem Solving 4
26. Rotational Symmetry
27. 3D Objects and Nets

The year 9 topics:

1. Negative Numbers
2. Sequences and Formulae
3. Formulae and Expressions
4. Pythagoras’ Theorem
5. Properties of Numbers
6. Problem Solving 1
7. Rules of Algebra
8. Solving Equations with Brackets
9. Area
10. Percentage Change
11. Drawing Graphs
12. Problem Solving 2
13. Fractions
14. Bearings and Scale Drawing
15. Constructing Triangles
16. The circle
17. Volume
18. Problem Solving 3
19. Reflection
20. Enlargement
21. Rotation
22. Translation
23. Ratio and Proportion
24. Averages
25. Scatter Graphs & Line of Best Fit
26. Problem Solving 4
27. Probability
28. Stem and Leaf Diagrams
29. Calculations with Decimals
30. Using a Calculator and BIDMAS

The year 10 topics:

1. Rounding, Estimating, Upper and Lower bounds
2. Money Matters
3. Speed, Distance and Time
4. Rules of Algebra
5. Solving Equations
6. Problem Solving 1
7. Indices
8. Averages
9. Trigonometry
10. Percentage change / Reverse percentages
11. Area and Volume
12. Changing the Subject
13. Problem Solving 2
14. Factorising
15. Solving Quadratic Equations
16. Fractions
17. Simple Algebraic Fractions
18. Standard Form
19. Simultaneous Equations
20. Problem Solving 3
21. Compound Interest
22. Relative Frequency
23. Trial and Improvement
24. Gradient and y=mx+c
25. Angles in Polygons
26. Inequalities
27. Travel Graphs
28. Problem Solving 4

After studying KS3 Mathematics, pupils are able to study GCSE Mathematics, developing into GCSE Further Mathematics, A-level Mathematics and A-level Further Mathematics.

All students study GCSE Mathematics. Each student will study two modules which best suit their ability.  Currently, the following combinations are used:

The content of each module relates to:

• number and algebra;
• geometry and measures; and
• statistics and probability.

Each module gives students opportunities to:

• develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts;
• acquire and use problem-solving strategies;
• select and apply mathematical techniques and methods in mathematical, everyday and real-world situations;
• reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences, and draw conclusions; and
• interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms.

It also gives students a sound basis for progression, including progression to further study of mathematics at AS/A2 level or to the world of work.

The modules all provide opportunities for students to develop and apply their mathematical skills to real-life contexts.

There is no coursework associated with GCSE Mathematics.

All modules in GCSE Mathematics are assessed through written examination papers, which are set and marked by CCEA.

Questions may require knowledge and use of problem-solving strategies. Each written paper includes structured questions, questions set in context and some questions requiring the unprompted solution of multi-step problems.

Within all units there will be questions on the functional elements of mathematics. This means that students will need to show how they can apply mathematical skills to questions set in a wide range of contexts.

There will also be questions that assess quality of written communication (QWC). These QWC questions assess how students can express solutions in clear, concise, correct mathematical language, in words or in symbolic form.

More details on the individual modules, their respective topics and related guidance notes are available in the full specification on the CCEA website.

This GCSE Further Mathematics specification replaces the old Additional Mathematics specification and retains much of the same content. To study GCSE Further Mathematics you will ideally need to be studying ordinary GCSE Mathematics modules M4 and M8.

GCSE Further Mathematics involves studying mathematics at a level beyond GCSE Higher Tier. It can act as a stepping stone that gives students a sound basis for studying GCE A-level Mathematics, introducing some of the mechanics and statistics topics that appear at AS/A2 level.

Further Mathematics can also help students progress to other studies that require mathematical knowledge and skills, for example higher level science, geography, technology or business.

The Further Mathematics specification consists of three units, and students must study all three.

In Unit 1: Pure Mathematics students investigate algebra, trigonometry, differentiation, integration, logarithms and matrices.

Unit 2: Mechanics includes exploring kinematics, vectors, forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion, friction and moments.

Unit 3: Statistics includes an understanding of statistical terminology, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, probability, and bivariate analysis.

Through these units students will have opportunities to:

• develop their mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding;
• select and apply mathematical techniques and methods in mathematical, everyday and real-world situations;
• reason mathematically, interpret and communicate mathematical information, make deductions and inferences, and draw conclusions; and
• design and develop mathematical models that allow them to use problem solving strategies and apply a broader range of mathematics to a variety of situations.

Each of the three GCSE Further Mathematics units is assessed through a written examination paper with the following weightings:

Unit 1: Pure Mathematics     50%            2 hour written paper

Unit 2: Mechanics                 25%            1 hour written paper

Unit 3: Statistics                   25%            1 hour written paper

The examination paper for each unit has a single question-and-answer booklet that includes a formula sheet.

There is no coursework associated with GCSE Further Mathematics.

More details on the individual modules, their respective topics and related guidance notes are available in the full specification on the CCEA website.

GCE A-level Mathematics builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding that students have developed in their previous study of mathematics up to GCSE level. A study of GCSE Further Mathematics is beneficial but is not a requirement.

Students with a qualification in A-level Mathematics have experienced success in further and higher education as well as careers in accountancy, finance, statistics, computer programming, engineering, medicine, psychology, dentistry and teaching among others.

A-level Mathematics aims to develop and strengthen a range of knowledge and skills. Among these, the course aims to help students:

• develop their understanding of mathematics and mathematical processes;
• develop their reasoning skills and their ability to recognise incorrect reasoning;
• extend their mathematical skills and techniques for use in more difficult, unstructured problems;
• understand the coherence and progression in mathematics and how different areas of mathematics are connected; and
• become aware of the relevance of mathematics to other fields of study, the world of work and society in general.

A-level Mathematics offers students two qualifications. These are:

• Modules AS-1 and A2-1 address Pure Mathematics
• Modules AS-2 and A2-2 address Mechanics and Statistics

At AS level, students must complete two modules. To obtain the Advanced GCE qualification, students must complete four modules (two at AS plus an additional two at A2).

AS and A2 Mathematics Summary

In A level Mathematics, synoptic assessment will be in place at A2.  Synoptic assessment involves:

• Building on the materials from the AS units
• Bringing together and making connections between areas of knowledge, understanding and skills that have been explored throughout the course.

A module may be repeated only once.

A2 assessment units provide opportunities to demonstrate higher order thinking skills by incorporating more demanding unstructured questions.

An A* cannot be achieved at AS level.  The following uniform marks are used to determine grades.

Note, to obtain an A* at A2, a candidate must score at least an average of 80 uniform marks in all four modules and 90 uniform marks in the two A2 modules.