Mathematics is important in everyday life. It is integral to all aspects of life and with this in mind at Byker Primary we endeavour to ensure that children develop a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards mathematics that will stay with them beyond their time at our school. The school is developing a mastery approach to Mathematics, following the NCETM progression framework to support teachers in delivering this approach.

Mathematics equips pupils with the uniquely powerful set of tools to understand and change the world. These tools include logical reasoning, problem solving skills and the ability to think in abstract ways. Mathematics is important in everyday life. It is integral to all aspects of life and with this in mind at Byker Primary we endeavour to ensure that children develop a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards mathematics that will stay with them beyond their time at our school. Mathematical skills and knowledge should be delivered, explored and revisited through conscious decision making and awareness of learning and progress needs and abilities. Children should develop resilience and self-confidence in applying their learning skills.

he school’s curriculum concepts (influence, belonging and choice) are woven through Mathematics to provide a wider context for learning through an interconnected narrative. Mathematics equips all pupils with the uniquely powerful set of tools to understand and change the world (the concept of influence). These set of tools include logical reasoning, problem solving skills and the ability to think in abstract ways (the concept of choice). Pupils learn the concept of ‘belonging’ by exposure to where Mathematics can take them in society within the wider world.

Our Mathematics curriculum is diligently sequenced to ensure that knowledge gained is cumulative; this aids apt progression as well as frequently providing pupils with the opportunity to draw on knowledge from previous year groups through our bespoke spaced retrieval strategies. Through this, our pupils understand the importance of the knowledge they gain through their Mathematics lessons while at Byker and how it can be transferred to all areas of the curriculum. Providing pupils with these opportunities to put it into practice what they have learnt, we aim to ensure they are not only secondary school ready but can apply what they’ve learnt from primary school to their future career paths.

Subject Aims

Mathematics is important in everyday life. It is integral to all aspects of life and with this in mind, at Byker Primary, we endeavour to ensure that children develop a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards Mathematics that will stay with them throughout their lives. It is vital that a positive attitude towards Mathematics is encouraged amongst all of our pupils in order to foster confidence and achievement in a skill that is essential in our society.

We aim to provide pupils with a Mathematics curriculum and high-quality teaching to produce individuals who are numerate, creative, independent, inquisitive, enquiring and confident. We also aim to provide a stimulating environment through the use of real-life contexts and adequate resources so that pupils can develop their Mathematical skills to the full.

Subject Content

Our pupils should:

• Have a well-developed sense of the size of a number and where it fits into the number system.

• Know by heart, age appropriate number facts such as number bonds, multiplication tables, doubles and halves.

• Use what they know by heart, to figure out numbers mentally.

• Calculate accurately and efficiently, both mentally and in writing and paper, drawing on a range of calculation strategies.

• Recognise when it is appropriate to use a calculator and be able to do so effectively.

• Make sense of number problems, including non-routine/’real’ problems and identify the operations needed to solve them.

• Explain their methods and reasoning, using correct mathematical terms.

• Judge whether their answers are reasonable and have strategies for checking them where necessary.

• Suggest suitable units for measuring and make sensible estimates of measurements.

• Explain and make predictions from the numbers in graphs, diagrams, charts and tables.

• Develop spatial awareness and an understanding of the properties of 2d and 3d shapes.

Focused on the key concepts of belonging, choice and influence, and supported by the study of significant people and rich stories, the school’s Mathematics curriculum is designed to help pupils develop their sense of self, their aspirations for the future and thereby authentic, individual outcomes. Children are fascinated by people and their stories; the study of significant people brings the key concepts to life.

Key Stage Two students study a significant Mathematical profession and discover the story of how the particular Mathematician attained their career. EYFS and Key Stage One staff enhance children's Mathematical thinking and introduce foundational key concepts such as numbers, shapes, patterns, and measurement through the use of books with Mathematical concepts woven into the pictures and storylines.