Mathematics
Our Mathematics curriculum develops all students into confident and fluent mathematicians, equipped with strong reasoning and problem-solving skills and able to navigate successfully the numerical world around them.
We are ambitious for, and have high expectations of, all of our students and know that every student can experience success in mathematics through careful sequencing of the curriculum and high-quality, research-informed teaching and learning. We believe that every student at Paddington Academy, regardless of prior or current attainment, has the right to access the centuries-old, rich body of mathematical knowledge, from Pythagoras’ theorem through to combinatorics. Our consistent use of explicit instruction and systematic retrieval practice across all classes ensures all students make progress in mathematics.
We recognise that rapid and accurate recall and application of mathematical knowledge and standard techniques (‘fluency’) forms the foundation of student success and confidence in the subject. Therefore we ensure that our students systematically acquire declarative and procedural knowledge so that they are set up for long-term success in mathematics. Our curricular sequencing provides opportunities to revisit concepts in mathematics and our lessons provide opportunities for students to go beyond fluency towards applying their conditional mathematical knowledge to more complex problem solving and conjecture. For example, students are introduced to the mean in Year 7, averages and range in Year 8, averages in frequency tables in Year 9 and combined grouped averages in Year 10. Through the development of strong reasoning and problem-solving skills, we want our students to appreciate the beauty and power of mathematics. Extension opportunities such as the UKMT Maths Challenges are provided at all key stages.
Mathematics is essential to everyday life and almost all forms of employment. Our mathematics curriculum therefore also aims to equip our students with the strong financial literacy and the confidence to engage with data needed to lead a well-informed and fulfilled life. It also empowers our students to work in a diverse range of fields including engineering, physics, architecture, medicine and business.