At Rowena Academy, we believe that Mathematics is a fundamental life skill that equips learners for today and prepares them for their future. Our intention is to engender a passion for Mathematics and to strive to progress children’s mathematical thinking to develop independent, resilient mathematicians. We intend to inspire our children to enjoy, be enthusiastic and feel confident about Mathematics.

Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas. The National Curriculum programmes of study are, by necessity, organised into apparently distinct domains, but pupils should make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge to Science and other subjects.

At Rowena Academy, we deliver engaging daily lessons, building children’s knowledge and skills. At each stage of learning, children should be able to demonstrate a deep, conceptual understanding of the topic and be able to build on this over time. The deepest levels of learning are what we are aiming for by teaching Mathematics using a mastery approach. In conjunction with our calculations policy, we aim for our learners to transfer a progression of key basic Mathematical facts and knowledge to their long-term memory, to enhance their ability to recall and apply them. Through the mathematical journey, we interweave fluency, reasoning and problem solving to develop a mastery level of skills within our Mathematics curriculum year on year.

Through adopting a mastery approach for the teaching of mathematics, this allows all pupils to move through the programmes of study at broadly the same pace. Underpinning this, is the belief that all pupils can achieve in maths. It will maximise the potential of every pupil’s ability and academic achievement. It will develop their confidence and competence.

Our main aims for all pupils are:

Our intent is that pupils who grasp concepts rapidly should be challenged. They will be offered rich and sophisticated problems before any acceleration through new content. Those who are not sufficiently fluent with earlier material should consolidate their understanding. This is done through the Same Day Intervention (SDI) approach. This model forms part of our overall approach to maths which reflects our key aims.

Mathematical skills are embedded within maths lessons. They are developed throughout the school consistently over time. We are committed to ensuring that mathematics mastery places emphasis on building essential knowledge and skills in mathematics year on year. We ensure pupils have access to a range of physical, manipulative and pictorial resources to help them apply their learning. Pupils have an understanding of how maths is essential to many aspects of everyday life.

Implementation

Mathematics is a key aspect of the curriculum and along with reading, writing, speaking and listening, including oracy, it makes a significant contribution to the development of pupils as thinkers and learners. A high-quality Mathematics education provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of Mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

At Rowena Academy, we aim to do two things; encourage and develop a lifelong love of maths; and to teach pupils to be confident, fluent mathematicians who can reason and problem solve successfully as skilled and competent adults.

Maths is taught progressively and sequentially across the academy and begins the moment they begin in Nursery.

In the Foundation Stage, we know that pupils should be taught through practical ‘hands on’ learning experiences. There is a focus on mastery of early number. Frequent and varied learning opportunities right across the setting allow pupils to develop an understanding of relationships and pattern. They begin to reason about number, and problem solve through practical activities.

In Key Stage 1 we use a way of teaching maths called Same Day Intervention (SDI).

SDI works perfectly to meet the needs of our pupils. By teaching using the SDI strategy, there are opportunities;

This helps children with, and gives them confidence with, all areas of maths. They become efficient, accurate mathematicians.