MIDDLE
HEADER

Maths

A level Mathematics is an interesting and challenging course which extends the methods learnt at GCSE level and includes the study of maths applications in both Statistics and Mechanics.  

An A level in Maths provides you with the essential skills to reason and problem solve in a variety of contexts and provides a framework with which the students can access the sciences, engineering and all careers requiring a high degree of numeracy and logical thinking.  

The UCAS subject page HERE is a helpful way of viewing the different degrees and careers related to maths.

Content

A level students follow the OCR Mathematics A course. There are 5 taught lessons per week split between two teachers. The expectation is that students will also carry out 4/5 hours of private study work. This will take the form of some assessed assignments, textbook exercises and individual study to consolidate understanding as the course progresses. Students will be assigned online access to any relevant textbooks and to the integral Maths website.  

The basic outline for the year is as below: 

Year 12

Autumn Term 1: 

  • Working through the algebra skills from GCSE and extending them into A level topics such as surds, inequalities and simultaneous equations amongst other algebra related skills.
  •  Co-ordinate Geometry
  • Extending further the skills from GCSE and putting them together to solve complex problems involving circles and straight lines

Autumn Term 2: 

  • Polynomials and revision for November interim assessment 
  • Beginning work on Statistics 
  • Revision of collecting and interpreting data, looking at measures of spread 
  • Graphs and transformations 
  • Differentiation
  • Binomial distribution 

Spring Term 1:

  • Probability
  • Hypothesis testing 
  • Integration 

Spring Term 2:

  • Using the large data set and exploring exam questions 
  • Exponentials and logarithms
  • Trigonometry 
  • Exploring exam questions 

Summer Term 1:

  • Mechanics
  • Kinematics
  • Forces and Newtons Law
  • Exploring exam questions

Summer Term 2:

  • Variable acceleration 
  • Vectors 
  • Introduce year 2 calculus skills 

Year 13

Autumn Term 1:

  • Trigonometry 
  • Trigonometric functions 
  • Sequences and Series 
  • Algebra 
  • Trigonometric identities

Autumn Term 2:

  • Further differentiation 
  • Functions 
  • Statistics
    • Probability 
    • Statistical distributions and hypothesis testing
  • Revision for mocks 

Spring Term 1:

  • Integration 
  • Further differentiation

Summer Term 2:

  • Mechanics 
  • Kinematics and forces 
  • Friction 
  • Moments 
  • Projectiles
  • Parametric equations 
  • Differential equations 

Summer Term:

  • Vectors
  • Numerical methods
  • Proof
  • Revision for exams
  • Exams

Assessment

Year 12 will begin with a baseline assessment. Any students who fails to reach a minimum of 40% will be monitored closely.  

At the end of each topic there will be an assessed homework and an in-class assessment. The students will also be expected to get a minimum of 40%, if this is not attained then they will be asked to resit.  

Following the first official assessment week, any students who fail to achieve the required benchmark will be expected to work closely with members of the maths team during their non-contact time; a great deal of support is offered to the students.

Sixth Form​