Maths

Curriculum

Welcome to the Mathematics Department at Thorns, where we believe in unleashing the power of numbers and equations to inspire, challenge, and shape young minds. We are passionate about mathematics and are dedicated to providing an exceptional learning experience for our students. Whether you are a parent seeking information or a student embarking on a mathematical journey, this is the place to discover what to expect and how we support and stretch our students.

At Thorns, we understand that mathematics is not just about numbers and formulas; it is a way of thinking, problem-solving, and understanding the world around us. Our curriculum is carefully designed to align with the National Curriculum, ensuring that students develop a solid foundation in core mathematical concepts and skills, while also fostering a love for the subject.

From the year 7 to year 11, our teachers are committed to creating a positive and stimulating learning environment. They bring mathematics to life by incorporating real-world examples, interactive activities, and practical applications into their lessons. By doing so, we strive to show students how mathematics is relevant and essential in various fields such as science, engineering, finance, and technology.

Our curriculum provides a progressive and comprehensive 5 year approach to mathematics education. Starting with the fundamentals of number sense and arithmetic our aim is to build a strong mathematical foundation, enabling students to tackle increasingly challenging problems with confidence and perseverance.

We believe in supporting every student on their mathematical journey, ensuring that they reach their full potential. Our teachers employ a variety of instructional strategies and resources to cater to different learning styles and abilities. We are mindful that not all students will love mathematics with the same level of passion as us for a variety of reasons. We provide additional support to students who may need it through one-on-one tutoring, small group interventions, and differentiated instruction. Our goal is to empower all students to thrive in mathematics, regardless of their starting point.

However, we don’t stop at supporting students at their current level; we also strive to stretch their mathematical abilities. We recognise that some students have a natural aptitude for mathematics and are eager to delve deeper into the subject. For these students, we offer enrichment activities and opportunities to participate in mathematics competitions and challenges.

Beyond the classroom, we foster a strong sense of community and collaboration among our students. We encourage teamwork and peer-to-peer learning, as we believe that discussing mathematical concepts and solving problems together enhances understanding and critical thinking.

We also believe in keeping parents informed and involved in their child’s mathematical education. We organise regular termly letter updates where we provide resources and suggestions for parents to support their child’s mathematical learning at home, ensuring a strong partnership between school and home.

We invite you to join us on this exciting journey, where numbers come alive, problem-solving becomes second nature, and mathematical thinking paves the way for success in all areas of life. Together, let’s embark on a mathematical adventure that will open doors and shape the future of our students.

  • Students follow a scheme of work from year 7 to 11 to embed the core skills of Mathematics 
  • They revisit, build and extend on the Foundations set at KS2 with the following topics being taught during their year: 
    • Analysing and displaying data 
    • Number skills 
    • Expressions, formulae and functions 
    • Decimals and measures 
    • Fractions and percentages 
    • Probability 
    • Lines and angles 
    • Sequences and graphs 
    • Transformations 
  • The students are grouped appropriately according to their ability 
  • The students receive a homework sheet of 4 questions each fortnight 
  • The students receive teacher personalised feedback through an ‘exit ticket’ of 4 questions completed each fortnight 
  • Students follow a scheme of work from year 7 to 11 to embed the core skills of Mathematics  
  • The following topics are being taught during their year: 
    • Ratio and proportion 
    • Number 
    • Area and volume 
    • Expressions and equations 
    • Decimals and ratio 
  • The students are grouped appropriately according to their ability 
  • The students receive a homework sheet of 4 questions each fortnight 
  • The students receive teacher personalised feedback through an ‘exit ticket’ of 4 questions completed each fortnight 
  • Students follow a scheme of work from year 7 to 11 to embed the core skills of Mathematics  
  • Students complete a baseline assessment to determine their pathway of topics and inform our adaptive curriculum 
  • The students are grouped appropriately according to their ability 
  • The students receive a homework sheet of 4 questions each fortnight 
  • The students receive teacher personalised feedback through an ‘exit ticket’ of 4 questions completed each fortnight 
  • Students follow a scheme of work from year 7 to 11 to embed the core skills of Mathematics  
  • Teachers use assessments for learning techniques to determine their pathway of topics and inform our adaptive curriculum 
  • The students are grouped appropriately according to their ability 
  • The students receive a homework sheet of 4 questions each fortnight 
  • The students receive teacher personalised feedback through an ‘exit ticket’ of 4 questions completed each fortnight 
  • Students are prepared on ‘how to revise’ in readiness for their first mock examination 
  • Students follow a scheme of work from year 7 to 11 to embed the core skills of Mathematics  
  • Teachers use assessments for learning techniques to determine their pathway of topics and inform our adaptive curriculum 
  • The students receive a homework sheet of 4 questions each fortnight 
  • The students receive teacher personalised feedback through an ‘exit ticket’ of 4 questions completed each fortnight 
  • Students are prepared on ‘how to revise’ in readiness for their mock and actual examination with the exam board ‘Edexcel’ 

Mrs Sahota

Head of Department and Senior Teacher

Studied Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics at A level achieving Grade As. Studied at Imperial College London to gain an upper second-class joint honours Masters degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Management followed by a post graduate diploma in secondary education from the University of Birmingham. She joined the Senior leadership team at Thorns in January 2023.