Maths at Spa Bermondsey
Maths at Spa School Bermondsey is functional, purposeful and contextual. We believe that mathematical skills are an essential part of students’ education as they provide powerful ways of exploring, investigating and understanding the world around them.
Maths is split into strands: Number, Shape, Space and Measure and Data Handling. The entire Maths curriculum is underpinned by Using and Applying which supports students to use their skills in a range of contexts. There is a large emphasis placed on teaching maths for independence by experiential learning in the community and we recognise the importance of ensuring our pupils can generalise their mathematical skills to settings outside of the classroom.
Maths develops inquiry and problem-solving skills which are integrated across all key stages. Pupils in Key stage 3 and 4 have four maths lessons each week. Pupils in Key stage 5 have three maths lessons each week. Learning in Key Stage 5 is also consolidated by opportunities to practise their functional maths skills through their lessons at the Park College, The School House Cafe or in the community.
In Key Stage 3 pupils learn via practical, hands-on activities in the context of the classroom. Pupils are engaged in lessons via role play, games, visual and tangible resources. Activities could include collecting and analysing data about their class, identifying numbers and shapes in the classroom environment, or planning budgeting for a class trip.
In Key Stage 4 pupils focus on applying their mathematical skills to their everyday life. Pupils develop their problem-solving skills in real life contexts and learn strategies for checking their work and comparing data. In Key Stage 4 pupils also have the opportunity to gain accreditation in maths by taking part in the ASDAN Transition Challenge or completing WJEC Entry Pathways units at Entry 2 or 3.
In Key Stage 5 pupils consolidate and generalise their maths knowledge. Lessons have an emphasis on independence and learning often directly links to pupils’ experience of the community, the world of work, travel, money and time management. Pupils in Key Stage 5 are all entered for accreditation in Maths via either ASDAN Personal Progress or by sitting Functional Skills exams at Entry 1, 2, 3 or Level 1.
In each lesson pupils have an individual learning objective that is set, then assessed by their teacher, who plans for the next steps which will support pupils build on the progress they have made. Pupil progress in Maths is assessed weekly via our bespoke Spa Core curriculum and teachers record pupil outcomes by creating learning records on our online learning platform.
In addition to capturing progress through learning records and the Spa Core curriculum, individual EHCP targets are also embedded into pupils’ maths lessons. Many pupils will have IEP targets with a mathematical focus which will support them to become more independent and confident in the community and their everyday life.
Pupils have regular opportunities to practise what they have learnt in their maths lesson in the community when on school trips by reading timetables, paying for tickets, topping up oyster cards and planning routes.
All pupils at Spa School Bermondsey have the opportunity to gain accreditation in maths.
