The main subject teachers are all well qualified, experienced teachers who teach across the full age range and ability level.
Curriculum
A central curriculum based on the National Curriculum is followed in lower four and four. All year groups are set according to ability (from October half term in lower four). This allows topics to be taken a little further in top set while extra support is given to the lowest set.
All girls have a textbook for each year. Although this is central to the learning it is supplemented by worksheets, ICT, games and extension puzzles.
GCSE
The EdExcel IGCSE course is started in the upper four year. This allows sufficient time to complete the course thoroughly and spend time practising examination type questions in the upper five.
AS/A2
The OCR AS Mathematics and AS Further Mathematics are available in the lower sixth with both A2 levels being offered in upper sixth. Girls are able to choose to follow either Statistics or Mechanics along with the Core (Algebraic) modules.
Support
ICT: the curriculum for each year is supported by links to the My Maths website. This allows the girls to access a tutoring demonstration and gain extra practice on topics that they have learnt.
Workshops: one evening and two lunchtime workshops run for girls to receive help with preparations or with a question they have found difficult in class or on tests.
A workshop for examination classes also runs on Wednesday lunchtimes.
Numeracy booklets are available in lower four and four to give basic number practise to those whose skills need to be improved.
Extra tuition: in a few cases girls can be given a lesson per week from an outside tutor. This incurs an extra cost.
Extension Work
Each year group is entered for the UK Mathematical Challenges. These are a country wide competition where girls can gain bronze, silver or gold certificates. Those with an exceptional score move through to a second round.
A combined mathematics and geography field trip is undertaken in upper four, where the girls learn a more practical application of trigonometry and statistics.
Lower sixth girls attend a day of lectures at the University of London. The lectures show the importance of mathematics and give a taste of some of the work that is undertaken at university level.
Beginning in Spring 2009 the mathematics teachers will run a mathematics evening each term to be attended by pupils in top sets of selected year groups. For this evening the teacher will present an interactive lecture on a part of mathematics that they find particularly inspiring. This will usually be a topic outside of the school curriculum.
Teaching staff
Head of Mathematics: Mrs M McCuish
Miss L Bell
Mrs J Copeland
Ms M Daly
Mrs J Jones
Mrs H Rich
Mrs N Taylor