“Mathematics is a creative and highly interconnected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment.” (National Curriculum 2014)

AIMS

At Sherborne Primary School we aim to provide children with a rich and balanced mathematics mastery curriculum. Thorough teaching of the National Curriculum’s three aims of Fluency, Reasoning and Problem Solving, ensures: children know and understand key mathematical facts and methods and can recall these efficiently; children can effectively use their mathematical skills and understanding; and children can make links with mathematics to practical and real life situations. Our innovative teaching encourages our children to be mathematically confident and to share an enjoyment for this subject. Children at our school are taught the fundamentals of mathematics enabling them to make connections, to see the application of maths in other subjects and to see the value of mathematics in everyday life. We believe that positive attitudes and high expectations inspire children to achieve high standards.

METHODOLOGY

Our teaching for mastery in mathematics is underpinned by the NCETM’s 5 Big Ideas.

• Opportunities for Mathematical Thinking allow children to make chains of reasoning connected with the other areas of their mathematics.

• A focus on Representation and Structure ensures concepts are explored using concrete, pictorial and abstract representations, the children actively look for patterns and generalise whilst problem solving.

• Coherence is achieved through the planning of small, connected steps to link every question and lesson within a topic.

• Teachers use both procedural and conceptual Variation within their lessons and there remains an emphasis on Fluency with a relentless focus on number and times table facts.

Sherborne Primary School’s mathematics curriculum uses a problem solving approach. During each lesson we prioritise the mastery of conceptual mathematics understanding through the use of real life/ everyday problems as pupils explore and investigate. Communication is key as they work alongside peers to reason, explain and justify their thinking using mathematical vocabulary. Teachers carefully plan open ended, challenging questions which enable our children to make connections, identify patterns and draw conclusions about Mathematical concepts and problem solving. Misconceptions are addressed as they arise and teachers actively engage children in proving their ideas. During each lesson all children use apparatus as visual aids, as they make progress in the lesson they move towards using pictorial and abstract representations for mathematical concepts.

RESOURCING AND COVERAGE

The school uses the WhiteRose Scheme of Work to ensure coverage of the National Curriculum objectives for mathematics. The use of high quality materials and tasks to support learning and provide access to mathematics, is integrated into all lessons. These may include NCETM Mastery Assessment materials, NRICH activities and tasks, I See Reasoning and Problem Solving materials and Twinkl Mastery in Maths materials.