Mathematics
Learning mathematics s at The Agricultural and Rural Centre is fun. Why? Because our pupils get to access our Nature Curriculum for mathematics, learning about the wonderful mathematical world through working with our animals and on the land. Nature is an unstoppable force, and a beautiful one at that. Everywhere you look, the natural world is laced with stunning patterns that can be described with mathematics. From bees to blood vessels, ferns to fangs, mathematics can explain how such beauty emerges.
Key Stage 3
Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 receive four 60 minute lessons per week, and pupils in a class ratio of between 1:1 and 1:4. All year groups receive regular homework set by the teacher, in line with Agricultural and Rural Centre policy. Pupils access their work through our Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum system and progress is tracked by the key teacher and subject leader. Some pupils receive additional support and intervention through 1:1 with our teaching assistant’s and during our focus learning at 2.45pm.
All pupils are baseline assessed during the 6 week CARS programme and further assessment is given at the end of each module and half term. This ensures lessons are delivered at a level that is challenging for the pupils.
At the end of each half term pupils are given a post-test on the content they have covered that half term which will shows how much progress they have made and if any 1:1 intervention is required. All pupils in Key Stage 3 are given a summative test at the end of the Centre year to track their progress over the whole year.
Key Stage 4
Pupils in Years 10 & 11 also receive four 60 minute lessons a week with homework set once or twice a week. Pupils are currently preparing for qualifications, including the OCR Entry Level mathematics certificate, AQA Functional Skills and OCR GCSE Mathematics (exam only).
Pupils are carefully matched into groups depending on SARP results and progress is tracked and monitored by both key teacher and subject leader to provide additional support and intervention. As with Key Stage 3, all pupils are baseline assessed through the SARP programme and then given a progress assessment pre-test at the end of each half term to assess progress which ensure lessons are delivered at a level that is challenging for the pupils.
Key Stage four pupils are also taught at our hub which ensures focus learning through the use of technology, we use BKSB and MyMaths to support this.
