How is Mathematics taught at this school?

INTENT

At Stoke Damerel Primary Academy, every Mathematics lesson builds on knowledge, skills and understanding from previous lessons and prior learning. Lessons are taught in a logical progression, systematically and explicitly enough for all pupils to acquire the intended knowledge and skills. Children develop their understanding the use of Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract methods. Lessons follow a recognisable sequence that is pertinent to the White Rose Mastery Scheme and moves learning forward. Wherever relevant, cross-curricular links are built upon and revised. Reading is a focus to ensure all children can access all areas of Mathematics. All children, including the most disadvantaged pupils, the most able pupils and pupils with SEND receive the same challenge within the same broad curriculum. Children develop their vocabulary and knowledge daily, and are encouraged to be ambitious and articulate.

IMPLEMENTATION

All lessons are planned with Mastery pedagogy using high quality and appropriate resources with excellent subject knowledge, based upon the small steps of the White Rose Mastery Scheme. Children are equipped to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, reason mathematically and can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems. All lessons contain challenging, relevant vocabulary to extend children’s word banks. Mathematicians at Stoke Damerel are taught to note connections, similarities and differences between units of study and develop the correct use of Mathematical terms. Teachers employ a wide range of AfL strategies to support all learners and check pupils’ understanding (used to identify and correct misconceptions and to inform future teaching). Teachers use assessment to help pupils embed and use knowledge fluently. The youngest children build their confidence and fluency through Mastery lessons alongside The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) Mastering Number programme. Children’s Timestables understanding is developed from Year 2 upwards through routine practice and recall.

IMPACT

At SDPA, well-constructed and well-taught Reading, Writing and Mathematics lessons lead to good results because those results reflect what children have learned. All learning builds towards age-related expectations with adaptive teaching provisions in place to support and challenge all pupils to develop depth of knowledge. Children will be able to develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately, and to reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language. While most evidence for core subjects is recorded in exercise books, all pupils will be able to present their understanding, skills, opinions and learning through speaking, computing, a variety of artistic media as well as writing. We believe that the core subjects are the roots to strong growth in all aspects of life, and are given the due priority that they deserve.