Mathematics

Iris, Penny, Kattie and Lauren who all gained GCSE A* grades after studying the course for only one year

At Farringtons, the Mathematics Department aims to encourage an enjoyment of Mathematics, to offer all pupils a learning programme to suit their needs and to provide a variety of opportunities within the Mathematics environment.

Students are set during their first year in the Senior School and every student is placed according to her needs and ability. We provide a caring environment with flexible setting so that students can build up confidence and are encouraged by their success.

All girls study Mathematics up to Year 11 and follow either the Higher or Foundation tier EDEXCEL GCSE course.

In the Sixth Form, Mathematics is a popular choice and girls are prepared for modules in Pure Mathematics, Mechanics, Decision Mathematcis and Statistics leading to Advanced or Advanced Subsidiary Levels of the EDEXCEL course.  We also offer Further Mathematics.

The Department offers extra curricular Mathematics to challenge and support pupils. Girls have gained Gold, Silver and Bronze Certificates in the UK Mathematics Challenge, and enjoy puzzles, games and activities at Maths Club.

The four members of staff in the department are experienced teachers and provide a high standard of teaching and support for the students.  We aim to prepare our students with the mathematics they need for life, for examinations, for other subjects, for high education, for careers and for pleasure. 

1) For life: the schemes of work cover the National Curriculum; wherever possible we apply skills to real life situations. 

Year 9 pupils apply their knowledge of trigonometry to calculate the
height of the School Chapel

Mrs Dolan explains how a clinometer is used to measure the angle of
elevation to the top of the Chapel

2) For examinations: we are very pleased with the grades our students have achieved at all levels

GCSE Improvements

A Level Improvements

Further Mathematics 100% A - C grades

Key Stage 3

3) For other subjects: as an example we have introduced a GCSE Statistics course to assist students in further studies in geography, Psychology, Biology, etc.

GCSE Statistics - 100% pass rate        100% pass rate grades A/B

4) For higher education: a high level of competence in mathematics is essential for engineering, architecture and many other areas,

5) For careers: finance, market research, business management, aeronautical design, to mention just a few from a long and varied list,

6) For pleasure: the perfect truth of algebraic proof, the beauty of symmetry in design, the satisfaction of answering a difficult question correctly, the challenge of using logical deduction to solve problems. There is a wealth of pleasure in mathematics.

We are aware of the importance of matching the skills taught to the ability of the pupil. The schemes of work ensure all students work at a brisk pace in all lessons.

We stimulate and stretch the more able mathematicians by: 

•  Four Year 9 students attended the Bromley Masterclass on Saturday mornings in the Autumn Term
• Two students spent a Masterclass Weekend at Kent College
• Participation in the United Kingdom Mathematics Challenges, this year the girls gained a large number of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.

Thirteen students at Farringtons entered the UK Senior Mathematical Challenge this month. Seven students were awarded certificates – Janice Jia gaining Gold, Nicole Wang, Fiona Chin and Chen Chen gaining silver, with Natasha Thind, Parmida Imani and Janet Leung gaining Bronze. Congratulations to all of those who took part.

• UK INTERMEDIATE MATHEMATICAL CHALLENGE 2007
  
  Forty students from Farringtons, across the year groups 9, 10 and 11, joined more than 202,000 students nationally in entering the UK Mathematical Challenge in February. We were pleased that fifteen of our students obtained certificates – one gold, seven silver and seven bronze.
  
  Pride of place belongs to Anushka Vinales of Year 9 who obtained the Gold Award and her score meant that she is invited to participate in the next round, in which she will be joined by students from twenty five countries across Europe. Well done Anushka!
  
  Those who gained Silver Awards were Li Zhang, Alix Bloomfield and Baljinder Samrai from Year 11, Lauren Mourgue, Iris Lee and Megan Roberts from Year 10 and Stephanie Hollingsworth from Year 9.
  
  Those gaining Bronze Awards were Emily Talbot and Natalie Chan from Year 11 and Penny Siu, Catherine Hayward, Jennifer Barcelos, Zoe Tsui and Anna Wheeler from Year 10.
  
  Congratulations to all those who took part, especially those who gained awards. We look forward to seeing the results from the Junior Challenge for Year 7 and 8, which will take place on Thursday 26th April.
• We also entered a team of four in the Team challenge, two Year 8 girls (Rina Akahane & Isobel Ritchie) and two Year 9 girls (Chantelle Coussey & Alice Weld)

• Encouraging a fast track group at GCSE so that they can start A-level work in Year 11.

We appreciate that for some students Mathematics can be a scary subject. To raise their confidence we have:
• Smaller classes
• Extensive use of video materials, games and computer software to consolidate skills
• A practical approach to new concepts wherever possible
• Extra help sessions at lunchtimes and after school
• Close cooperation with the Learning Support Coordinator

The individual student is at the centre of the planning and delivery of the mathematics curriculum at Farringtons.