Key Stage 4

Students at Key Stage 4 mainly study the AQA GCSE Mathematics Syllabus 8300. Some students will be entered for Foundation tier and some will be entered for Higher tier in order to achieve the highest possible grade. All students are entered at the end of Year 11 for GCSE Mathematics course.

Structure of GCSE

• 1 Exam in Y11
• Students will be doing full GCSE Mock exam throughout Y10 and Y11 (PPE exams in November and March for Year 11 and January and July for Year 10)
• One GCSE
• No coursework
• Everyone can gain a grade 4 or 5 (regardless which tier they are doing)
• Externally assessed
• Higher and Foundation tier

Overview of content

• Number
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Measures
• Statistics
• Probability
• Ratio and rates of change

Overview of Assessment

• Three written papers – each 33.3% of the final grade (80 marks for each paper, total 240 marks)
• 1 hour and 30 minutes (Foundation and Higher papers)
• One Non-calculator and two calculator papers (very important to have good scientific calculator skills)
• Available in May/June 2018
• 80 marks on each paper
• Foundation Tier (5 – 1 grades)
• Higher Tier (9 – 4 grades / grade 3 sometimes allowed)

Equipment needed

• Scientific calculator
• Pens, pencils, ruler, etc.
• Compasses and protractor

How can you, as parents, support your child’s learning?

• Ensure that students are reviewing their work, through discussions with you
• Help organise your child so that they bring all their equipment, books and home work to school
• Talk about Functional Mathematics in everyday situations, such as:
  • Approximating and comparing the sizes of objects
  • Discussing speed and time when travelling in a car
  • Looking at price comparisons and percentages in newspaper adverts
  • Figuring out what a telephone or utility bill actually means and where the numbers come from
  • Talking about time, both 12 and 24 hour clocks
  • Comparing prices and looking at Best buys when doing your weekly shop
  • Budgeting and saving money

Further Maths Level 2 AQA maths qualification

Higher achieving students in Year 11 students will have a chance to achieve an extra Maths qualification to help them bridge their knowledge between GCSE Maths and A-level Maths. Teaching this course has shown that these students achieve higher grades in GCSE Maths as many higher topics overlap between the two courses

Students who should partake in the course:

• Students currently on a grade 5 or above
• Students who are driven to reach higher levels
• Any student who is planning or considering taking A level maths.

Requirements of the students:

• Attend promptly all after school sessions
  • Mondays 3.15 – 4.15 in D1.06b
  • Saturday sessions prior to exam in June

• Do pre-learning prior to sessions to ensure the most effective use of time
  • Notes on MEI Integral and Google Classroom

• Complete all homework and online tests
  • Paper assignments and tests on MEI Integral
• Give 100% effort

Recommendations for the students:

• Graphing calculators are allowed in the maths GCSE, the Further Maths Certificate and in A level maths and are highly recommended by all exam boards. These calculators are an expensive investment and understandably cannot be purchased by all but we do recommend for any students who are certain to be continuing on to A levels in Maths.
• The main two brands are by Texas Instruments and Casio but please insure you do not purchase one with a facility for symbolic algebra, differentiation and/or integration as these are not permitted.

• Recommended: TI 84 series
• Not recommended: TI – Nspire series as these are not allowed.

Course Breakdown:

• Paper 1 – non calculator
  • 1.5 hours
  • 70 marks
  • 40% of final mark

• Paper 2 – calculator
  • 2 hours
  • 105 marks
  • 60% of final mark

• Eligible grades
  • A* to C with an additional Distinction grade (A* with distinction)

• Content Topics
  • Number and algebra (7 – 9 GCSE)
  • Further Algebra
  • Coordinate geometry (7 – 9 GCSE)
  • Geometry 1 (7 – 9 GCSE)
  • Geometry 2
  • Calculus
  • Matrices

Useful Websites:

• www.mymaths.co.uk
• Sam Learning
• BBC Bitesize
• Edexcel/AQA/OCR websites (for past/practice papers)
• Kangaroo Scheme of Work – http://www.kangaroomaths.com/kenny2.php?page=Kschemeks4
• PIXL Maths App – students should have their logins to use this app (need to ask their classroom teacher to get one)

Events and Visits

• UK Intermediate and Junior Maths Challenges – National mathematics competition for gifted and talented Key Stage 3 and 4 students

YR9 Foundation Curriculum Map

YR9 Foundation Scheme of Work

YR9 Higher Curriculum Map

YR9 Higher Scheme of Work

YR10 Foundation Curriculum Map

YR10 Foundation Scheme of Work

YR10 Higher Curriculum Map

YR10 Higher Scheme of Work

YR11 Foundation Curriculum Map

YR11 Foundation Scheme of Work

YR11 Higher Curriculum Map

YR11 Higher Scheme of Work