The Lower School at Sevenoaks LS_book_single_pages | Page 18

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The Lower School Mathematics syllabus
aims to enable all pupils to experience
the enjoyment and sense of achievement
that comes from a fluent and confident
understanding of Mathematics. Developing
fluency and problem-solving skills lies at the
heart of what we intend for our Lower School
students; key topics such as operations
with fractions, linear graphs, angle theories
and creating and solving equations lay the
foundations for the Middle School.
Alongside the topics in the programme of
study, lesson time will be devoted both
to practising Core Skills through a series
of specially designed worksheets and to
developing problem-solving techniques using
the UKMT Mathematics Challenge resources.
Group work and collaborative work are
actively encouraged, and pupils are regularly
asked to describe, explain and justify their
reasoning and line of inquiry. Activities such as
‘Odd one out’, ‘Always, sometimes or never
true’ and matching card sorts are used to
facilitate discussion and prompt discovery.
During Year 7 all students are taught by
form, where differentiated work supports
and extends them as appropriate. In Year 8
students are assigned to the teaching class
appropriate for continuing their development
through suitable practice and discussion.
MyMaths tasks and Nrich puzzles will often
be set as homework to consolidate and
extend the learning that takes places within
the classroom. For the most able students we
hold extension sessions designed specifically
to support pupils in preparation for UKMT
problems that require extended solutions. All
students sit the UKMT Junior Mathematics
Challenge with many qualifying for the follow-
on rounds; the Junior Kangaroo and the
Junior Olympiad.
Through practice, discussion and
differentiated work we hope to enable
all students to develop the appropriate
mathematical tools to build on their
knowledge year on year, to develop the
qualities of perseverance and independent
thinking and the ability to collaborate,
question and be creative.
the lower SCHOOL | AT SEVENOAKS