Maths KS3

Mathematics may not teach us how to add love or minus hate, but it gives us every reason to hope that every problem has a solution.                                                                               

Curriculum Vision

At New Bridge School, our aim is to ensure Maths education develops functional Maths skills, problem solving and reasoning skills and an understanding of the world that supports independent living and employment.  We intend all pupils to experience a sense of enjoyment and curiosity in their study of this subject.  ​ 

The New Bridge Maths Curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils within the Main Body: ​ 

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately; 
• reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language; 
• can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.  

Maths Lessons at New Bridge School 

Our students take part in five maths lessons per week. The majority of our main body students will access the National Curriculum for maths, covering many of the fundamental concepts needed to become fluent in maths at a level suitable for their current learning profile.

Our students who are focusing on EHCP targets within the main body, focus on mathematical foundations.

Each maths lesson has five key elements to ensure we are practising a range of maths skills. Our basic skills element to the lesson allows our students to continually revisit previous learning, to help keep it fresh in their minds.

Each lesson then has a functional skills element, which focuses on mathematical skills needed for life in the community. E.g. money, time, measure and timetables.

Your child’s teacher will then introduce or revisit a mathematical concept and will give the students the opportunity to practise their new skills independently.

We also encourage students to develop their problem solving and reasoning skills. Students are given the opportunity to hone these skills as they learn new concepts.

As much as possible, students are encouraged to solve mathematical problems practically, using concrete resources. This allows students to really visualise a new maths concept and understand what it means.  

Teachers continually assess students to ensure they are fluent with new concepts. Lessons are then adapted to ensure that all students are making good progress in maths.  

Pupil Voice                                                         

Mr Higgins makes it fun and the things we use, I like too.                                                                               

In Maths I draw on the table. It helps me to focus and to see the Maths problem better because it's in front of me.