Latest News

Additional Maths Enrichment

The Mathematics department has been offering Higher Prior Attaining Year 10 students the opportunity to gain an OCR Level 3 FSMQ qualification for the second year running. The main aim of the enrichment is to hopefully increase the STEM retention rate and better equip the students for their transition into post-GCSE Mathematics. This free-standing course provides useful UCAS points regardless of the grade achieved and serves the hereafter mentioned additional purposes.

For those students who will go on to study AS and A Level Mathematics, this qualification introduces the subject at that level, with the possibility of subsequent, accelerated progress into AS and A Level Further Mathematics. For the others who will not continue with Mathematics beyond Year 11, the qualification provides a worthwhile and enriching course in its on right by providing a broad, coherent and satisfying course of study. It encourages students to develop more confidence in, and a positive attitude towards Mathematics following on from GCSE (9–1) Mathematics qualifications. It consolidates and develops GCSE level mathematical skill and encourages students to recognise the importance of Mathematics in their own lives and to society. It also provides a strong mathematical foundation for students who go on to study Mathematics at a higher level, those students who go on to study other subjects which make use of Mathematics or those students progressing to vocational qualifications or directly into employment.

The Year 10 students have shown such resilience and take much pride in understanding the AS Mathematics content. 

“I enjoy the course as it allows me to enhance my prior knowledge and to challenge myself further” - Eshal Year 10.

“The course is exciting knowing we are also learning A-level topics. It makes me feel better about doing Maths in A-levels” - Gabrielle Year 10.

Royal Holloway, University of London Trip

On Thursday, 12^th of December, More Able Year 10 students and two members of staff visited the Mathematics department at Royal Holloway, University of London for a taster session on what graduate and post-graduate level studies could entail. The students took part in lectures and workshops to increase their motivation as well as equip them with key information to make informed decisions regarding their future career plans.

The students’ feedback was positive:

“We were given insight about different mathematical pathways we could take and various occupations they could lead to. As a student who holds great interest in maths, with the possibility of pursuing it in the future, I found the information quite beneficial” – Sneha, Year 10

“The maths puzzles that we completed with the PHD students were challenging and fun” - Qasim, Year 10.

“The trip made me more certain concerning my future career choice”- Umayya, Year 10 who now proudly wears her “I love Maths” badge as pictured below.