Intent

The intent of our mathematics curriculum is to provide children with a foundation for understanding number, reasoning, thinking logically and problem-solving with resilience so that they are fully prepared for the future.

By adopting a Mastery approach, it is also intended that all children, regardless of their starting point, will maximise their academic achievement and leave Our Lady of Lourdes with an appreciation and enthusiasm for Maths, resulting in a lifelong positive relationship with number.

• We ensure that we deliver a high quality maths curriculum that is both challenging and enjoyable.
• We want children to make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems.
• We intend for our pupils to be able to apply their mathematical knowledge to all other subjects.
• We want them to know that maths is essential to everyday life and that our children are confident mathematicians who are not afraid to take risks.
• Fully develop independent learners with inquisitive minds who have secure mathematical foundations and an interest in self-improvement.

Implementation

Lessons are planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before. Teachers follow the White Rose Maths Hub materials. Staff also refer to the Calculation Policy when teaching formal methods, understanding that sometimes children find their own efficient methods along the way. Each week a Times Tables focus is planned to give children the opportunity to practise and improve their rapid recall skills with facts 12x12. Children enjoy the weekly challenge and strive to improve their time and score each week. All children also have access to their own personal account of ‘Times Tables Rockstars’ where they can compete against other pupils and classes in school.

At Our Lady of Lourdes we employ a variety of teaching styles and opportunities for children to learn and develop their Mathematical skills and competencies, both individually and collaboratively. The main aim of all lessons is to develop children’s knowledge, understanding and skills, applying these to a variety of contexts. One of the key elements in lessons throughout the school should be on developing the children’s mental calculation strategies alongside developing the children’s written calculation strategies as laid out in the Written Calculation Policies for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

A curriculum of financial education is taught across the school and is delivered in partnership with HSBC.

Impact

A mathematical concept or skill has been mastered when a child can show it in multiple ways:

• Using the mathematical language to explain their ideas, and can independently apply the concept to new problems in unfamiliar situations.
• Children demonstrate quick recall of facts and procedures. This includes the recollection of the times tables.
• The flexibility and fluidity to move between different contexts and representations of mathematics.
• The ability to recognise relationships and make connections in mathematics.
• Children show confidence in Believing that they will achieve.
• Children show a high level of pride in the presentation and understanding of the work.

At Our Lady of Lourdes we expect that by the end of Year 6 our children:

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics
• reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations.
• solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication.