About The Mathematics Department
Mathematics Department Results
This very successful, thriving department has had Specialist College status since 1st September 2004 and has seen it’s results improve year on year since then :-
Maths Results table
|
Year |
Key Stage 3 |
Key Stage 4 |
Key Stage 5 |
|
2005 |
75.6% Level 5+
51.9% Level 6+ |
52% A*-C
GCSE |
100% A-E A2
100% A-E Further Maths |
|
2006 |
79% Level 5+
60% Level 6+ |
56.1% A*-C
GCSE |
100% A-E A2
75% A-E Further Maths |
|
2007 |
75% Level 5+
56% Level 6+ |
61% A*-C
GCSE |
71% A-C A2
58% A-C Further Maths |
|
2008 |
78.4% Level 5+
59.7% Level 6+ |
67.4% A*-C
GCSE |
95% A-E A2
100% A-E Further Maths |
|
2009 |
79% Level 5+
60% Level 6+ |
67% A*-C
GCSE |
93% A-E A2
100% A-E Further Maths |
Results are based on Mock SATS
Fisher Family Trust shows high added value and indicators are very positive.
Staff
The Mathematics department is a well-qualified, cohesive and supportive group of 19 teachers who have embraced the opportunities of specialist status initiatives, raised expectations and the quality of mathematics teaching within Exmouth Community College and our partner schools. Most members of the department teach across the age, and attainment ranges, in Key Stage 3 and 4 - and many teach Post 16 courses. The department benefits from the college strategy of reducing class sizes for middle ability groups at KS 4. by increased staffing.
Accommodation and Resources
A substantial refurbishment of all rooms has taken place, including new interactive whiteboards. We now have networked computers in all Maths class-rooms, all members of the Maths team have their own machine. Mathematics is taught in specialist rooms on one site. Most teachers are timetabled into the same room for all of their lessons. A new state of the art Lecture Theatre was opened by Johnny Ball in October 2005 primarily for Maths teaching which incorporates an interactive whiteboard and wireless tablet computers. There is a well resourced maths office. Most members of the department have a laptop computer. Appointees will receive a laptop if required. The college is wi fi enabled and runs 13 IT suites and a range of resources and venues are available to the dept to enhance teaching and learning.
Curriculum
K.S. 3
We are in the process of reviewing and updating our key stage 3 curriculum. Years 7 and 8 are following a program of study based on the new national curriculum. They are using the Maths Links series of textbooks.
Following the governments decision to stop the KS3 SATs we are now able to spend more time preparing students for their GCSE years. Year 9 are following a scheme of work that is loosely based on the OCR modules. They will sit a mock GCSE module at the end of the year.
Students are set by ability from year 7 and able pupils are identified at the end of year 7. Enrichment activities provided every week in year 8. In year 9, students are prepared and entered for their first GCSE module a year earlier than their peers.
K.S. 4
At Key Stage 4, the department follows the OCR syllabus J517. The main teaching resource for Key Stage 4 is the series of Graduated Assessment texts addressing the modules of this syllabus. Able pupils identified at the end of year 9 are taught in accelerated groups in year 10 and are then entered for G.C.S.E. a year early. In Year 11 they are taught GCSE Additional Mathematics. These groups generally form the nucleus of the Further Mathematics groups in years 12 and 13.
K.S. 5
At Post 16 sees an increased uptake of single and further mathematics. A level students follow the MEI syllabuses in Mathematics and Further Mathematics, supported by the corresponding MEI module textbooks. The department is active in other areas of the Post 16 curriculum, contributing to the vocational, Key Skills and ICT programmes.
Every Child Matters
The department works closely with colleagues from the Special Needs Department and the co-ordinator for gifted and talented students. The department makes Special Needs provision for students in Year 7 -11 and offers other support to pupils as appropriate.
Independent Learning and ICT
The department is committed to integrating ICT within the mathematics teaching. In addition to ad-hoc access to ICT resources during lessons, regular blocks of teaching time are set aside throughout Key Stage 3 and 4 to allow particular topics to be taught in computing suites. The department is in the process of developing comprehensive teaching resources and support on the college intranet.
Specialist Status: more diversity and support.
For the last 4 years the department has appointed additional staffing to provide targeted support for underachieving pupils at K.S.3. Smaller class sizes are evident at KS 4 particularly in the C/D borderline classes. Additional non-contact time is available for a number of other initiatives taking place within the department such as using Post 16 students as mentors and parent/student Maths classes in Year 7. We also work very closely with our 14 partner primary schools where much work is being done with the gifted and talented students.
