Over the two years, you will study Pure Maths, Statistics and Mechanics. The Pure Maths extends the GCSE work on algebra, co-ordinate geometry, vectors and trigonometry and introduces you to exponential and logarithmic functions and calculus.
Mechanics and Statistics both involve the modelling of real-world situations using appropriate techniques; Mechanics relating to the physical world and Statistics to the presentation and handling of data.
A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including a grade 6 in GCSE Maths.
If you have a grade 6 in GCSE Maths you will also need two grade 6 GCSEs in science (either in separate sciences or 66 in double science). We recognise that students with a grade 6 in Maths often find the transition to A Level study challenging so you will be timetabled into additional classes for extra support.
While not a requirement, we find that students who have completed and done well in one of the various Level 2 additional/further/extended Maths qualifications find it really helps them to get a head start on their A Level Maths studies.
| Assessment | Assessment Length |
|---|---|
| Exam (Paper 1: Pure Mathematics) | 2 hours |
| Exam (Paper 2: Pure Mathematics) | 2 hours |
| Exam (Paper 3: Applied Mathematics – Statistics and Mechanics) | 2 hours |
Assessments take place at the end of the second year.
We require you to complete some work before starting the course: Download the course preparation leaflet below. You will be tested on this in your second lesson, so make sure you spend time making sure you are confident on these skills.
Algebra, quadratics and trigonometry are three key topics from GCSE which you will need to be fluent with for A-level. Brushing up on these will be excellent preparation. In addition to the
course preparation work, getting a copy of the CGP 'Head Start to A-level Maths' book (ISBN 9781782947929) and working through it before starting the A level course will mean that you will hit the ground running!
You will be learning new techniques and applying them to problems. Some problems will be textbook-style whilst others may be of a more practical nature. Graphical ideas will be explored using the a graphical calculator. You will be encouraged to see how Maths informs and describes real-world situations and you will become aware of both its power and its limitations in achieving these aims.
There are typically over 600 students in Maths across the two year groups, including about 150 who are also doing some form of Further Maths. Staff in the Department are well-qualified, enthusiastic, hard-working, caring and sympathetic to students when they have difficulties with mathematical problems.
Individual members of the department will support their students and encourage them to succeed. We also run lunchtime support sessions most days and students often comment on how much extra maths support there is available.
In addition to these, we supply a wealth of resources on our Teams pages. These include directed notes, videos, exemplar exam questions and exercise sheets. We provide all students with booklets which contain notes and examples on the entirety of the course.
We also organise trips to lectures in London (Maths Fest and Maths Inspiration), as well as the opportunity to compete in the UK Senior Maths Challenge and other competitions.
Please be aware that the department requires that students buy the Casio CG100 graphical calculator. This is available to purchase for £75 from the College (normally the calculator retails at £140).
Maths is known as a facilitating subject with many applications as well as providing a basis for further study in its own right. It will be a requirement for a variety of university courses, ranging from sciences and engineering to economics and aspects of computing. It will also be an advantage for many other university courses which have components of Maths or Statistics within them, for example, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Architecture and Design Technology. Research shows that those workers with qualifications in Maths earn more than those without. With the increasing use of data analysis in many fields of work the opportunities for mathematically competent and confident employees will grow.
“Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.” ~ William Paul Thurston