Maths Department

Salford City Academy's Mathematics department is situated in the heart of the school with 4 dedicated teaching rooms & 1 ICT suite. Within the department are 6 specialist maths teachers.

At Key Stage 3, pupils learn from a state of the art scheme of learning designed to promote rapid progression, higher order thinking and develop problem solving skills. A lead maths teacher regularly refines and enhances its application within the department.

At Key Stage 4 pupils follow the EdExecel Linear specification for GCSE. In the last academic year we enjoyed record results. With the recent changes to the GCSE syllabus, teaching time has been built into the scheme of work to develop problem solving skills and the use and application of mathematics.

Across all age ranges and abilities, we pride ourselves on the level of support we give to our pupils. Support and intervention is also enhanced through our promotion of whole school numeracy.

The maths department also runs various extra curricular clubs such as GCSE revision, Nintendo DS problem solving & numeracy club. Gifted and talented pupils are entered for the UKMT Challenge, a number of pupils have achieved the high accolade of a Silver award. The department also takes part in the Jaguar Mathematics Challenge as well as entering the Mathletics week on an annual basis.

OUR AIMS

To provide the best possible mathematical education for the pupils at the school.
To help every pupil reach their potential in terms of examination results.
To set challenging targets and have high expectations for all pupils.
To offer a variety of approaches to teaching and learning, to engage and motivate pupils and demand their active participation.
To smooth the transition for pupils between Key Stages and ensure progression in teaching and learning throughout their time at the academy.
To explore enrichment opportunities outside the curriculum and to enhance pupils' enjoyment of mathematics.
To teach pupils all the mathematical skills that are necessary to prepare them for life beyond school.

At the end of his/her mathematical education at Salford City Academy, each pupil will be able:

To perform basic numeracy skills
To perform the basic mathematical skills needed in his/her chosen career or for entry to higher or further mathematical education
To understand the mathematics likely to be encountered in daily adult life
To reason clearly and logically, and to set out a rational argument
To approach problems systematically, choosing appropriate techniques for their solution
To follow logical instructions clearly expressed
To experience satisfaction in and enjoyment of his/her mathematical achievements
To obtain his/her best possible results at KS3, KS4, AS/A Level & other Sixth Form courses.

Mathematics...

Mathematics is the means of looking at the patterns that make up our world and the intricate and beautiful ways in which they are constructed and realised. Numeracy is the means of making that knowledge useful.

Mathematics contributes to the school curriculum by developing pupils' abilities to calculate; to reason logically, algebraically, and geometrically; to solve problems and to handle data. Mathematics is important for pupils in many other areas of study, particularly Science and Technology. It is also important in everyday living, in many forms of employment, and in public decision-making. As a subject in its own right, Mathematics presents frequent opportunities for creativity, and can stimulate moments of pleasure and wonder when a problem is solved for the first time, or a more elegant solution to a problem is discovered, or when hidden connections suddenly manifest.

It enables pupils to build a secure framework of mathematical reasoning, which they can use and apply with confidence. The power of mathematical reasoning lies in its use of precise and concise forms of language, symbolism and representation to reveal and explore general relationships. These mathematical forms are widely used for modelling situations; a trend accelerated by computational technologies.

The subject transcends cultural boundaries and its importance is universally recognised. Mathematics helps us to understand and change the World.