At Queen’s Hill Primary School, the belief that we are all mathematicians is promoted throughout the school. Our pupils of all ages will work towards acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject whilst fostering a positive attitude towards mathematics and a passion for the subject through the application of the White Rose Maths Mastery approach.
Mathematics is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. Therefore, at Queen’s Hill, it is taught as a highly interconnected discipline, which is threaded through different areas of the curriculum, as well as being an essential foundation for understanding the world.
The progression within the White Rose approach allows for a secure and deep understanding of mathematical concepts, taught through manageable steps. Mistakes and misconceptions are an essential part of learning, along with challenge, which is provided through rich and sophisticated problem solving opportunities.
We aim for all pupils to:
- become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics so that they develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
- be able to solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of problems with increasing sophistication, including in unfamiliar contexts and to model real-life scenarios.
- reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry and develop and present a justification, argument or proof using mathematical language.
- have an appreciation of number and number operations, which enables mental calculations and written procedures to be performed efficiently, fluently and accurately to be successful in mathematics.
We encourage a deeper understanding of mathematics through termly whole-school investigations. This enables pupils to solve problems, reason, think logically and work systematically providing opportunities for pupils to work with initiative, both independently and in cooperation with others.
At Queen’s Hill we have fostered a love for mathematics in our pupils, which has produced some extremely able mathematicians. In order to celebrate their achievements we organise STEM trips and enter pupils into regular regional and national mathematical competitions and challenges.
Subject in Action
Year 4 – Maths Investigation
This week in year 4 we completed the maths school fair necklace investigation. We had to use systematic recording in order to find all the combinations of symmetrical necklaces you could make using four red and four yellow beads. The children used coloured counters and recorded their ideas as they progressed until they found all … Read more
Year 3 Stone Age Day
On Thursday, Year 3 kicked off their history Stone Age topic with an action-packed experience day. They spent the day working as historians, using different replica artefacts to help them learn about what life was like during the Stone Age and test different theories using the evidence we have. After meeting some Stone Age people, … Read more
Year 5 Maths Investigation
Year 5 completed the whole school maths investigation today. They explored how different many ways they were able to make a symmetrical Incan necklace, using 9 beads of only 2 colours.
Year 5 Maths
Year 5 have enjoyed learning about perimeter and area. They even got to go outside to explore the skill!
Year 1 Maths – Measure
Children in year 1 have been exploring measure this half term. They compared length and height, before measuring with cubes. They then measured in centimetres, carefully using a ruler. Some children even measured the length of the carpet! They have also explored mass using balance scales. They used the language of “heavier than” and “lighter … Read more
Year 5 Maths
Year 5 have been exploring fractions and decimals. Today, they looked at thousandths as decimals and showed fantastic grit and determination. They successfully used place value counters to help them and we are proud of their progress.
Year 5 Maths Investigation
Year 5 enjoyed completing the whole school maths investigation today. They showed great grit and determination and teamwork.
Year 1 – Comparing Cold Climates
In year 1, children have been learning about cold climates. They have learned about Antarctica in the South Pole and how penguins have adapted to live in the Antarctic conditions. They then compared this to the Sahara desert and looked at how camels have adapted to live in the hot desert. By using venn diagrams, … Read more
Poppies and Balancing
This week in Reception we have been learning about Remembrance day and the meaning of poppies. Children did a range of poppy themed activities including counting, playdough and art. We have also been concentrating on our balancing skills both inside and outside. Some children even made their own obstacle course to challenge themselves.