Maths

 

Maths at Southgate

 

At Southgate, we use a teaching and learning approach that aims for pupils to develop a deep understanding of maths rather than being able to memorise key procedures or to learn by rote

Our aim  and expectation is for all pupils to have acquired the fundamental facts and concepts of maths for their year or key stage and are ready to move confidently on to their next stage of mathematical development.

By teaching in this way, a child can use their knowledge of the mathematical concept to solve unfamiliar word problems, and undertake complex reasoning, using the appropriate mathematical vocabulary.

Our teaching method will allow for deep conceptual understanding from pupils, whilst using the following  ‘5 big ideas’:

• Coherence
• Representation and Structure
• Mathematical Thinking
• Fluency
• Variation

At Southgate, we also ensure that all children learn through a CPA (concrete, pictorial and abstract) approach. The CPA approach is a system of learning that uses physical and visual aids to build a child’s understanding of abstract topics.

Pupils are introduced to a new mathematical concept through the use of concrete resources (e.g. fruit, Dienes blocks etc). When they are comfortable solving problems with physical aids, they are given problems with pictures – usually pictorial representations of the concrete objects they were using.

Then they are asked to solve problems where they only have the abstract i.e. numbers or other symbols. Building these steps across a lesson can help pupils better understand the relationship between numbers and the real world, and therefore helps secure their understanding of the mathematical concept they are learning.

All children, in every single year group will learn in this way. Using concrete materials makes you a mathematician. Using pictures to demonstrate your understanding, makes you a mathematician and being able to apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired, makes you a mathematician.

As a school we are on a mathematical journey. We began this journey in 2019/2020 using a widely recognised scheme, White Rose Maths.However, to best meet the needs of our children, we have decided to adopt the GLF Maths Scheme, which is supported by the NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics). This is being trialled in Years 5 and 6 in 2020/21, with the whole school using the scheme from September 2021.