Mathematics

Maths

At St. Mary’s we are proud of our successes and maths is just one of our many strengths. We maintain high expectations in the teaching and learning of the mathematics curriculum and our pupil achievement in maths is outstanding.

Mathematics is a tool for everyday life. Our aim at St. Mary’s is to develop the skill of numeracy in our children so that they are efficient and confident in their approach to mathematics in a wide range of contexts.

The maths curriculum at St. Mary’s is defined by the following objectives:

to promote enjoyment of learning through practical activity, exploration and discussion
to promote confidence and competence with numbers and the number system
to develop the ability to solve problems through decision-making and reasoning in a range of contexts
to develop a practical understanding of the ways in which information is gathered and presented
to explore features of shape and space, and develop measuring skills in a range of contexts
to understand the importance of mathematics in everyday life
to enable children to select and use a range of mathematical tools effectively
to equip children with the mathematical language needed to explain their methods and reasoning

Maths Curriculum Maps

To take a closer look at how we implement our maths curriculum for each year group please click on the relevant curriculum map below:

⇒ Year 1

⇒ Year 2

⇒ Year 3

⇒ Year 4

⇒ Year 5

⇒ Year 6

Maths at the Early Years Foundation Stage

We teach mathematics in our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in accordance with the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (2014). At this stage the educational programme in mathematics involve providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures. The subject is recognised as one of the Early Learning Goals and St. Mary’s ensures that the content specified for number, shape, space and measures is effectively taught. This is achieved through the use of varied activities that allow the children to enjoy, explore, practise and talk confidently about mathematics. At St Mary’s children at this stage are developing their mathematical thinking and early vocabulary through the following:

observation
communication
listening
reading
recording
manipulating
comparing/classifying
estimating/measuring
prediction
choosing/testing
drawing conclusions

Calculations

Children are encouraged to use the following processes in deciding what approach they will take to a calculation:

Can I do it in my head using a mental strategy?
Could I use some jottings or drawings to help me?
Should I use a written method to work it out?

At St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School we believe that our pupils require a consistent and smooth progression of learning in calculations across the school. As such the school has devised a calculations policy to provide clear guidance on how the four number operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) are to be taught.

Want to see how we teach it?

An overview of the mental and written methods taught across the school is available to download by clicking the link below:

⇒ Calculations Overview

Further information

For further information about Mathematics at St. Mary’s please read our school policy:

⇒ Policy for Mathematics

For further information about calculations at St. Mary’s please read our school policy:

⇒ Policy for Calculations

GOV.UK provides documents from the Department for Education relating to the National Curriculum’s statutory programmes of study for Mathematics. Please click the link below to explore: