Mathematics

Curriculum Intent

At Knightlow we understand that mathematics is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. Therefore, in teaching mathematics we are providing children with a foundation for understanding the world around them as well as fostering a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject. 

We intend to give every child the capability, confidence and resilience to reach their full potential by ensuring that they have the tools to calculate fluently, reason logically, problem solve and think in abstract ways. Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between different representations of mathematical ideas. It is also important that our children are able to apply their mathematical knowledge to science and other subjects. Given the foundational importance of many aspects of the mathematical curriculum, we strive to offer the chance for children to develop deep knowledge and apply this to a variety of worked examples. 

Curriculum Implementation 

At Knightlow, children study mathematics everyday covering a broad and balanced curriculum including elements of number, calculation, geometry, measures and statistics. As with all of our subjects, maths lessons have three main teaching purposes: knowledge, fluency and depth. In order to achieve this aim, we follow the Abacus scheme of learning which we have found to be an excellent resource in providing children with the deep knowledge that is necessary for mastery of the subject. Across our school, lessons begin with recall and retrieval; questions which recap prior learning. Research has shown that spaced retrieval practice is a successful tool in moving knowledge from working memory to long term memory, setting children up to succeed in their school life and beyond. The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), drawing on extensive research, emphasise the importance of fluency, variation, representation and mathematical thinking for achieving excellent progress and attainment and we ensure that these 'Big Ideas' are built into our curriculum and pedagogical approach here at Knightlow. 

At Knightlow, each class has its own Maths Ambassadors. Their role includes:

- Planning and leading activities relating to mathematics;

- Creating competition and sharing new ideas;

- Meeting the Maths Subject Leaders each term to represent their classes; 

- Celebrating individual achievements.

Last year they worked hard to create the first Knightlow Maths Matters newsletter. Check out the link above!