Maths

Intent, Implementation and Impact

At St Augustine’s Academy, we recognise that Mathematics is essential to everyday life. We are committed to ensuring that children are able to recognise the importance of Maths in the wider world and that they are also able to use their mathematical skills and knowledge confidently in a range of different contexts. We aim to ensure that our children have access to a high-quality mathematics curriculum that is both challenging and enjoyable. We want to develop our children into confident mathematicians who are not afraid to take risks. Children need opportunities to make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems.

Intent

At St Augustine’s Academy, our intent is to:

• Provide a high-quality, broad and balanced Maths Curriculum.
• Build the children’s confidence and resilience, ensuring that they are fluent and have conceptual understanding of key mathematical concepts.
• Ensure children are able to reason and problem solve in a range of mathematical contexts within maths lessons and in other areas of the curriculum.
• Ensure children have a positive view of mathematics and understand the power and purpose of mathematics in everyday life.

Implementation

Staff at St Augustine’s use White Rose Maths Schemes of Learning as a starting point in order to develop a coherent and comprehensive pathway through mathematics. In line with the Teaching for Mastery approach, learning is broken down into small, connected steps, building from what pupils already know. Contexts and representations are carefully chosen to develop reasoning skills and to help pupils link concrete ideas to abstract mathematical concepts. The use of high-quality materials and tasks to support learning and provide access to the mathematics is integrated into lessons. These may include White Rose Maths Schemes of Learning and Assessment Materials, NCETM Mastery Assessment materials, NRICH, Classroom secrets, visual images and concrete resources.

Maths sessions at St Augustine’s are taught daily to introduce, consolidate and strengthen either new or previously taught concepts. Teachers plan for and address misconceptions arising from White Rose sessions to ensure that all children are developing their mathematical understanding. All areas of Maths are taught in line with the National curriculum with each year group given sufficient time to embed the mathematical concept. White Rose has a clear focus on Fluency, Reasoning and Problem Solving. This is supported by conceptual and procedural variation and mathematical thinking. This focus is adopted by St Augustine’s where the approach to all mathematical concepts allows the children to work within a concrete, pictorial and abstract context.  Children are taught through clear modelling and have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understand of mathematical concepts.

Teachers use highly effective assessment for learning in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed. Pupils are always given the opportunity for self or peer assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson. Assessment is informed by half termly assessments, independent work in books, observations during lessons, verbal feedback, pupil voice and work scrutiny.

Impact

At St Augustine’s Academy, our pupils will have:

• Become fluent, competent and efficient mathematicians.
• The ability to recall facts and procedures, including the recollection of times tables.
• The ability to recognise relationships and make connections in maths.
• The ability to clearly explain their reasoning and justify their thought processes.
• The flexibility to move between different contexts and representations of maths.
• High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.