Mathematics teaches boys how to make sense of the world around them through developing their ability to calculate, reason and solve problems. It enables them to understand relationships and patterns in numbers and space within their day to day lives. As their knowledge and understanding grows, pupils will learn to appreciate and apply mathematics to a variety of contexts.
At Wetherby School we aim to:
- promote confidence and competence with numbers and the number system at levels appropriate to individual boys
- develop the ability to apply knowledge and solve problems through decision making and reasoning in a range of contexts
- develop and apply a practical understanding of the ways in which information is gathered and presented
- explore the features of shape and space, and develop and apply measuring skills in a range of contexts
- develop an understanding of the importance mathematics plays in everyday life
- develop the ability of pupils to apply their knowledge with confidence to new concepts
- encourage pupils to make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems
- develop pupils’ spoken mathematical language by using discussion to probe and remedy their misconceptions therefore assisting pupils to make a mathematical justification or argumentWe also teach reasoning from Year 1 and the boys are taught lateral thinking skills, which are applicable to many areas of the curriculum. We encourage the use of many different strategies to solve the problems posed in these lessons.The lower school focuses on the development of boys through the implementation of the reception curriculum. In Year 1, this is adapted and the boys become more acquainted to the formalities of a more traditionally based maths syllabus while employing practically based learning opportunities throughout each term. As boys progress through the school more emphasis is placed on the formal aspects of mathematics which are a requirement for entrance examinations.
- It is important to recognise that in order to adequately prepare boys for their respective preparatory school entrance examinations they must be able to meet the level of formality required to sit examinations. For this reason, although we have the same aims for the boys, the lower (Reception and Year 1) and upper (Year 2 and 3) schools set out to achieve these in slightly differing manners.
- Each year group in the school has a maths lesson every day. The emphasis is on the four operations and number bonds, as well as mental calculations and problem solving. We spend a great deal of time teaching each concept in a practical manner before transferring it into a more formal structure. We endeavour to make maths fun and very enjoyable for everyone.
