Curriculum Areas - Mathematics
KS3 Results
KS3 SATS exams are taken in May. Students are entered for either the 3-5, 4-6, 5-7 or 6-8 paper and undertake two one hour papers, one calculator and one non calculator, and a 20 minute mental arithmetic paper. The department has achieved consistently pleasing results from students with over 80% of entrants achieving a level 5 or above since 2000. Over the same period the department has not stood still, striving to improve its results at level 6 and above, reaching an excellent 69.7% of entrants in 2007 with 88.5% gaining a level 5 or above.
| Year | % 5 | % 6 | AV | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | NR |
| 2000 | 81 | 55 | 5.6 | 2 | 42 | 74 | 53 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | 80 | 54 | 5.5 | 6 | 43 | 75 | 60 | 34 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 81 | 61 | 5.7 | 9 | 56 | 63 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 82 | 61 | 5.7 | 10 | 49 | 72 | 47 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2004 | 84 | 60 | 5.6 | 8 | 44 | 78 | 51 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 | 87 | 62 | 5.8 | 13 | 63 | 68 | 59 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 2006 | 84 | 64 | 5.9 | 21 | 55 | 64 | 42 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 89 | 70 | 5.9 | 17 | 56 | 79 | 41 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
KS3 Level 8 Extension classes
The school offers voluntary after school Level 8 classes for the most able students wishing to be entered for the level 6-8 exam. The essential exam preparation classes offer a valuable learning opportunity, taking the most able students in year 9 up to intermediate GCSE standard. The course proves more popular each year with increasing success due to an ethos of hard work and academic achievement being seen as desirable throughout Lynn Grove.
GCSE Results
We follow the Edexcel Syllabus (no. 1387 with coursework) over the course of year 10 & 11 at either Foundation or Higher level GCSE. The candidate takes 2 exams; calculator and non-calculator and a coursework element consisting of 2 centre assessed tasks. These are chosen from 3 completed tasks; two in year 10, and one catch up in the week prior to the October half term in year 11. A data handling project and an investigation are entered making up 20% of the overall final grade.
| Year | % A-C | A* | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | U |
| 1999 | 53% | 0 | 15 | 39 | 48 | 53 | 25 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | 51% | 1 | 16 | 34 | 51 | 55 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 | 55% | 2 | 17 | 40 | 56 | 61 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 54.6% | 3 | 20 | 47 | 48 | 62 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 57.3% | 3 | 14 | 62 | 15 | 55 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | 62% | 5 | 22 | 37 | 63 | 37 | 37 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | 54.5% | 9 | 14 | 35 | 65 | 63 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 2006 | 58% | 3 | 20 | 33 | 64 | 48 | 28 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | 68.9% | 3 | 31 | 61 | 60 | 44 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
GCSE Revision Sessions
GCSE revision sessions for all year 11's on a voluntary basis in the run up to their exams have been in operation for a number of years. The sessions are a combination of electronic whiteboard presentations and exam preparation and offer an informal fresh approach to the classroom environment. Aimed at higher level students hoping to gain a grade A, A* and borderline Intermediate candidates who wish to obtain a grade C or higher, the 10 week course has been a resounding success and an experience that the pupils involved attended on a weekly basis with dedicated enthusiasm and an excellent attitude.
Early entry GCSE + GCSE Statistics.
The higher intermediate group take their GCSE Mathematics in November and progress onto GCSE Statistics. This not only presents the opportunity of gaining an additional qualification it also offers valuable preparation for many of the courses offered at AS level.
| Year | % A-C | A* | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | U |
| 2005 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 90% | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 94% | 0 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Early entry GCSE + Free Standing Maths Qualification
A small group of only the most able students are permitted on the FSMQ course. At the end of Year 9 students can opt to do extra maths in one of their option blocks.
The criteria of the option requires that the students gained, or are expected to gain, a high level 7 at Key stage 3. It has been introduced specifically for mathematically gifted students and to encourage progression to study mathematics further, and to provide an understanding of more advanced mathematical skills.
During year 10, both the normal maths and the option block lessons, give the opportunity for students to follow the entire Higher GCSE syllabus. Students take their examination with the current year 11's at the end of that academic year.
During year 11, pupils will study the 'Free standing additional mathematics' qualification. This has specifically been designed to support and strengthen the further study of specific mathematics qualification and also support those pupils who may continue on to study subjects that may involve some advanced mathematical content. It carries a level 3 status (advanced level) and counts toward UCAS points.
UKMT Mathematical Challenge
The UKMT mathematical challenge offers an opportunity for the most able students to shine on a school and national level. The Junior and Intermediate maths challenges are run by UKMT, based at the University of Leeds. The 25 question multiple choice paper leads to bronze, silver and gold certificates of merit for the top entrants and progression into the European Kangaroo championships.
Run by Mr Farman, the junior maths challenge is aimed at year 8 and below and sees 60 students from the top sets in both bands receive pleasing results. The Intermediate challenge regularly sees 80-90 entered each year on a voluntary basis for year 11 and 9 and a compulsory basis for the top 2 sets in year 10.
The school has been very successful in recent years. In 2007 Samuel Reynolds qualified for the Grey Kangaroo for outstanding year 10 and 11 pupils, Martin Talbot qualified for the Pink Kangaroo for outstanding year 9 pupils and Ben Thistlethwaite qualified for the Cayley paper, the equivalent of the Olympics for the best brains in the country. Most pupils who take the challenge find the problems a good way to exercise their little grey cells!
Junior
| Year | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE |
| 1999 | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| 2000 | 2 | 13 | 9 |
| 2001 | 7 | 10 | 18 |
| 2002 | 4 | 12 | 18 |
| 2003 | 6 | 11 | 19 |
| 2004 | 4 | 14 | 13 |
| 2005 | 5 | 13 | 10 |
| 2006 | 4 | 9 | 15 |
| 2007 | 1 | 12 | 14 |
| 2008 | 9 | 14 | 14 |
Intermediate
| Year | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE |
| 1999 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| 2000 | 4 | 8 | 17 |
| 2001 | 2 | 10 | 15 |
| 2002 | 12 | 17 | 13 |
| 2003 | 4 | 17 | 20 |
| 2004 | 7 | 14 | 18 |
| 2005 | 5 | 14 | 11 |
| 2006 | 4 | 16 | 25 |
| 2007 | 6 | 16 | 19 |
| 2008 | 12 | 18 | 21 |
Senior
| Year | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE |
| 2008 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
(only entered due to additional maths option choice)
Festivals
The festival season offers an opportunity for year 8 and 9 students to experience mathematics in the real world. The 2 days have in the past offered a variety of activities, including: puzzles; maths trails; computer games. Previous projects have included a housing development project involving the planning of the site through to the brochure advertisements and 3d site models, the design and furnishing of a new school building and this year incorporated the Cambridgeshire Software House creation "Maths in Motion" which challenges pupils to use mathematics to set up and race grand prix cars! It is anticipated that the Maths in Motion software will be run as an additional club in the coming academic year. Other non-mathematical skills are also practiced including a workshop on face painting!
Numeracy Summer School
The summer holiday is usually a time to wind down, forget about school and look forward to the 6 week holiday. Not for a group of dedicated year 7 mathematicians from middle schools around the area. A group of 20 most able students are treated to an array of mathematical activities to extend and encourage their interest in the subject. Everything from cooking in ratios, mathematical treasure hunts and visits to the inspire centre and Forum in Norwich; through to students creating their own mathematical websites and applying statistical analysis to their own recorded basketball matches.
The week allows the confines of the classroom to be forgotten and is greeted with great enthusiasm from the students involved. An awards ceremony is held on the final day, where certificates and mathematical themed goody bags are given to each student. The Numeracy Summer School takes place during the final week of the summer holidays which means it makes the transition from middle to high school a little less daunting and gives a chance to make friends before that dreaded first day!
Schemes of Work
Below are some schemes of work that the students can use to ascertain their current level. They are based on an "I can do this...so I am level x" statement.
Web sites
With the ever increasing accessibility of the internet, both at home and school, pupils are encouraged to use the growing bank of mathematical resources on the net. The tool has been invaluable for introducing new topics; class activities and pupils self revision.
The following list of links gives a good wide selection of revision sites on the internet that are free to use:
BBC bitesize revision for KS3 and KS4, and Mathsfile. Useful although doesn't contain all topics need
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/maths/
This is the BBC site specifically designed for the KS3 tests. The maths is interactive and there are tests. Also useful for the English and Science.
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/maths/
As you can imagine, this is the BBC GCSE site and is pretty good with examples to read through and interactive tests. The levels are given with each page, but the foundation levels are most relevant. Intermediate is appropriate for pupils studying level 8 of the national curriculum.
Excellent for reminding you of the key facts.
This includes a version of 'who wants to be a mathonaire' and if you can bring yourself to ignore the games, there is a very useful GCSE and AS interactive exam bank on this site.
Games and activities including 'How big is your brain' and 'add it up'.
It also contains detailed lessons for a whole range of topics and subjects. This is a subscription site to which every member of Lynn Grove has access, and is used by all years on a regular basis.
A useful revision site for all subjects.
www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/book7/book7int.htm
Basic number work, algebra, shape and space and data handling - designed for levels 3-6 of the national curriculum, intermediate level and foundation level.
www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/book8/book8int.htm
More complex Number, Shape, Algebra, Data Handling - designed for levels 5-8 of the national curriculum, intermediate level.
Just type the topic and then your level.
It is a good idea to review earlier levels as well!
Examples and a sample set of questions for most of the topics on the GCSE maths exam. Not set by level so you need to know what you're looking for.
There are links to examples on any topic on the KS3 maths exam, even though it is designed for GCSE Maths.
Printable versions of these links designed for years 9 and 11 are available below.
Year 11 Internet Revision Sites (pdf, 69KB)
Year 9 Internet Revision Sites (pdf, 57KB)
VLE
The department has an ever increasing bank of resources available for the students to access from home both for revision purposes and homework activities. Work is in progress to allow students to access audio versions of the KS3 mental arithmetic tests and papers from home in preparation for their exams in May.
Resources for the innovative SRS system, where students can answer questions with quiz style handsets to get an instant response, are being developed and trialled in conjunction with VLE resources as we endeavour to continuously improve the accessibility and understanding of mathematics for the students.
For more information on the Lynn Grove VA High School VLE see the VLE Home Page
