Mascalls School
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The Mathematics Department

Mathematics Department

Department Staff


About Mathematics

Students at Mascalls are exposed to a variety of teaching techniques to enable them to access the Mathematics National Curriculum. They will need to problem solve, use ICT to assist them in their learning, do 'traditional' Mathematics (questions and answers) and complete project work based around various mathematical techniques. All of this work will be covered in the target areas of Number, Algebra, Shape, Space, Measures and Handling Data.
All teaching rooms have interactive whiteboards. There are also class sets of iPads and laptops available to use.

Key Stage (Year 7,8,9)

In Key Stage 3 we follow the new programme of study which focuses on developing mathematical processes and applications which are required for everyday life. This includes building personalised study and thinking skills. This is geared at helping our students become independent enquirers, reflective practitioners, team workers, creative thinkers, self-managers and effective participants. To achieve this we are following an investigational based scheme of work which provides our students with the opportunity to work on at least one project each semester, using the mathematical knowledge and skills they are learning during that semester. The investigations vary such that, some are ICT based and integrate knowledge from other subject areas, some are independent requiring persistence, and others are team based allowing students to learning from each other. All of the tasks address the functionality aspect of mathematics which will be required for the GCSE course in Key Stage 4.

The objective of this new way of teaching mathematics, not only removes the textbook as the main resource for teaching, but creates an environment where students are inspired to engage with the subject and discover concepts and methods for themselves, resulting in enjoyable and more rewarding experiences.

Key Stage 4 (Year 10 and 11)

Mascalls offers a variety of paths for students to follow and gain their GCSE Mathematics.
Most students follow the 3 unit OCR course (Course title Mathematics A, code J562). Lessons are 60 or 75 lessons long. Students attend 7 Mathematics lessons per fortnight and are set homework once per week.
There is no longer any coursework required for GCSE Mathematics. This now means that the entire qualification is examination based. Students take their first unit (Unit A, 60 minutes) in the November or January of Year 10, followed by a second (Unit B, 60 minutes, non-calculator) in June and the final unit (Unit C, 90 minutes) in the June of Year 11. There are opportunities for students to re-sit unit examinations ONCE ONLY, during Year 11, but this should be a last resort, following long term absence, etc.

During the November of Year 11, students sit a mock Unit C examination, thus providing a clear illustration of current level of attainment (adding existing Unit A and B results to the mock Unit C result), allowing teacher and pupil to formulate an individual study plan in preparation for the final examination the following June.
Exam Summary:


Please click here to open details of the exam timings


As shown, there are two tiers of each unit. Students targeting grade B or above generally take the Higher paper. Students targeting grade D or below tend to sit the Foundation paper. Those who are C/D borderline will be allocated a tier as the department sees fit.
In certain cases, students will gain their qualification through the Edexcel Linear course (Mathematics (1380) Linear). This consists of two 90-minute papers, one non-calculator, one calculator). These must be taken during the same examination session.
The most able students work towards a second GCSE in Statistics, taken at the end of Year 11. There is a significant piece of coursework which must be completed. Affected students will be informed by their teacher.
Key Stage 4 students are expected to take responsibility and display a maturity for their learning. It is expected that they will bring relevant Mathematical equipment to each lesson. The items required are:

  • protractor (angle measurer),
  • pencil,
  • ruler,
  • eraser,
  • compasses
  • calculator (scientific for Higher course).
Lesson Information:

Lessons are 60 or 75 minutes long. Mascalls works hard to continue building on the foundations built during Key Stage 3, addressing the Functional Skills requirement for Key Stage 4 which is tested integrally in all GCSE Mathematics examinations.

Personalised learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) are woven into the curriculum. Various texts are used, including the OxBox package (homework books issued to each student) and the Hodder Murray OCR Graduated Assessment series (grade specific books). Students are trained to be independent learners and to support one another through team activities and peer/self-assessment.

What do students need in order to do well?

  • Ability to make decisions and think independently.
  • Interest in learning new ideas.
  • Organise and bring in mathematical equipment.

What could I do with this qualification?

Most College and Sixth form courses require mathematics as an entry requirement.

Key Stage 5 (Year 12 and 13)

KS5 lessons are 60 or 75 minutes in length. The courses followed are AQA AS level Mathematics (5361), AS level Further Mathematics (5371) and A level Mathematics (6361).

The standard combination of modules is as follows:
AS Level Mathematics – Core 1 (MPC1), Core 2 (MPC2) and Mechanics 1 (MM1A)
A Level Mathematics – As above, plus Core 3 (MPC3), Core 4 (MPC4) and Statistics 1 (SS1B)
AS Level Further Mathematics – Further Pure 1 (MFP1), Further Pure 2 (MFP2), Decision 1 (MD01)
A Level Further Mathematics – Further Pure 3 (MFP3), Further Pure 4 (MFP4), Mechanics 2 (MM2A)