Phoenix Primary and Secondary School

At Phoenix we aim to provide all our students with a rich Numeracy curriculum that encourages communication, independence and functional learning. This allows us to confidently reinforce our schools ideas and values with our Rights Respecting School’s pledges.

2014 national curriculum

Mathematics is taught daily across all key stages. Our schemes of work take in account of the new changes in the national curriculum for mathematics for both primary and secondary. The starting point for the mathematics curriculum is taken from the QCA Guidelines 2001, EQUALS and the work by Les Staves. At Key Stage 4 and 5 the pupils follow a scheme of work based on the Equals Moving On: functional skills. At foundation level the pupils follow a scheme of work based on the Early Learning Goals.

The four areas are subdivided into strands and given an appropriate coverage for all four strands throughout each term..

Number: Number and Place Value, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division,  Fractions, Vocabulary, Algebra

Measure:  Time, Money, Temperature, Length, Weight, Capacity

Geometry:  Properties of Shape, Position and Direction

Statistics: Statistics

We recognise the strengths and areas of development of each pupil and use a variety of strategies to meet their individual needs to ensure they make progress throughout the school.

We have been working on the following:

• Recognising changes in pattern, quantity and space that occur in their lives, both in the immediate environment and in the wider world.
• Developed awareness to anticipate and predict changes.
• Used awareness and developing understanding of pattern, space, shape and number.
• Developed problem-solving skills that contribute to making choices, taking decisions and gaining control over their immediate environment.
• Extending mathematical skills, experiences and understanding that enable them to visualise, compare and estimate.
• Began to think about the strategies they use and explain them to others.
• They begin to grasp mathematical language, using it to talk about their methods and explain their reasoning when solving problems through the use of PECS.
• Developed a set of thinking tools to help them increase their knowledge and understanding of the world.
• Incorporated maths functionally throughout the day in real life situations.
• Use ICT to solve problems and/or present their work.

Phoenix School Maths Homework and Parental Involvement

Our students are provided with a maths homework booklet during every term time holiday to revise and challenge their numeracy skills at home. The homework booklets’ are user friendly and also meets the communications needs of our students. At Phoenix school we hold an annual maths Faye, where all teachers and specialist create a stall of maths activities that can be implemented at home. This gives us the opportunity to develop a strong rapport with parents about the use of numeracy at home and in the wider world.   

Cross-curricular links.

Mathematics plays a curial part in other core and foundation subjects, it sits well with subjects such as DT, ICT and science. Mathematics benefits a range of events around the school such as drama installations and enterprise fortnight. Where possible our students are always encouraged to use their numeracy skills in real life situations.