The Department for Education states:
‘Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.’
At Withington we cover all aspects of the National Curriculum, however this is just the minimum of what we try to achieve. Each year our schemes extend and enrich the mathematical experience, creating students with exceptional mathematical skills and understanding. The programme of study focuses on developing mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem solving, and relates these skills to topics within number, algebra, ratio, proportion and rates of change, geometry and measure, probability and statistics.

Key Stage 3

Year 7 topics:
Basic numeracy, basic algebra, standard form, angles, constructions, sequences, basic area and volume, equations, averages, statistical diagrams, circles, transformations, polygons and Pythagoras’ theorem.

Year 8 topics:
Rounding and estimation, percentages, bearings, algebraic manipulation, indices, equations, loci, congruency and similarity, straight line graphs, area and volume, probability, functions, plotting curves, compound measures, real-life graphs, factorising quadratics and cumulative frequency.

Year 9 topics:
Further algebraic manipulation, equations, percentages, Pythagoras’ theorem, trigonometry, quadratic equations, measures of average and dispersion, formulae, degrees of accuracy, straight line graphs, simultaneous equations, transformations, inequalities, functions, proof, arithmetic sequences, completing the square.

Key Stage 4 and 5

At GCSE and A Level, students are taught all aspects of the programme of study set out by the Department for Education. Girls in Year 11 sit the Edexcel IGCSE (9-1) and over half the cohort also sit the AQA Certificate in Further Mathematics. In the Sixth Form approximately 50% of all pupils study A Level Mathematics, and one quarter of these also study A Level Further Mathematics; both of these courses are examined by Edexcel.

Extra-Curricular Activities

All girls enter the individual Junior, Intermediate and Senior UKMT Maths Challenges. We also participate in the UKMT Team Challenges. In 2019-20, our team of Year 7 and 8 girls won the regional UKMT competition, and the U18s were runners-up in theirs; both teams qualified for the National Finals in London!
Chess club meets weekly, giving younger players the opportunity to learn basic skills and those with more experience to improve their strategic play. Each day we run Maths Workshops, these are ‘drop-in’ sessions for individuals to seek help with any aspect of their work in Mathematics.