Maths at Stringer
The Maths department is fully committed to the Every Child Matters agenda. In particular we:
- Aim to improve the enjoyment of Mathematics by all students, regardless of ability. Students should be taught mathematics rather than taught to pass a mathematics exam, in the expectation that the latter will follow as a matter of course. For this reason, investigative teaching forms an important part of the teaching programme, as do innovative starter and plenary activities
- Encourage parents to actively support their children's Maths, through advice on the curriculum through the termly curriculum booklet and on aspects of Maths that can be practiced at home; The Maths content on the school website is currently under review with a view to improving our advice to parents through this medium
- Provide a safe teaching environment in which inappropriate behaviour or bullying is not tolerated
- Encourage good attendance at Maths lessons for all children, and investigate instances of poor attendance
Our approach to teaching Maths has proved highly successful. Our Results for 2011 were 84% of students achieving A*-C in Maths, a full 10% over any other school in the Authority.
Moreover, our approach in teaching ensures that every child succeeds - we put the same amount of effort into a potential A* student or a student who will have achieved well to gain a grade E as we do into a student who is targeting a grade C. This means that 84% of our children last year made at least 3 levels of progress during their time at Stringer.
Grade |
% |
Cummulative % |
|---|---|---|
| A* | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| A | 19.0 | 27.7 |
| B | 24.8 | 52.4 |
| C | 30.8 | 83.3 |
The following provides a summary of our results over the past few years:
  |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maths A*-C | 83.5 | 71.2 | 70.7 | 74.2 | 66.7 | 66 | 62.3 | 53.1 |
| Brighton & Hove | 60 | 56 | 53 | 52 | 50 | 48 | 48 | 43 |
| National | N/A | 58 | 57 | 56 | 57 | 54 | 52 | 50 |
Setting and Tiering Policy
The aim of the department is to set all children in a way which improves teaching and learning throughout all maths lessons, and hence maximises the potential and creates the best learning experience for each child. The number of teaching hours per fortnight is as follows:
- Year 7: 6 hours
- Year 8: 6 hours
- Year 9: 6 hours
- Year 10: 7 hours
- Year 11: 8 hours
Setting Structure
Setting currently comprises 7 ability levels as follows:
- 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d
- 2a, 2b, 2c
The sets are hierarchical, although there will always be an overlap between sets. Moreover, sets are not taught according to a particular syllabus for that set. Teachers teach the group according to the ability of the students. Hence two set 2a classes may be targeting different levels.
Movement Between Sets
Regular tests are undertaken throughout a student's career in the school to allow objective assessment of progress across the whole year group. The results of these tests are used to inform (but not to dictate) movements of students between sets. The aim is that each child should be in the set which allows him to maximise his performance. Therefore whilst test results provide important evidence of the need to move sets, this can only be used to support the judgment of the class teacher. In addition to the test result and the teacher assessment, account will be taken of prior performance and prior set moves. The aim will be both that students are not moved as a result of an unusually good/poor performance in a test. It is also not desirable for borderline students to 'yo-yo' between sets. Set changes are not limited to resetting tests, and may be agreed with the relevant Head of Department at any time if it becomes clear that this will be in the best interests of the child.
Test Schedule
The current test schedule is as follows:
- Year 7: During the first half term, February half term, end of Summer term
- Year 8: February half term, end of Summer term
- Year 9: End of Christmas Term, Summer test (SAT style test)
- Year 10: End of Christmas term, end of Summer term
- Year 11: GCSE Mock Exam (December/January)