Mathematics Subject Leader

At Birchwood Junior School, students will master the key stage two mathematics curriculum over their four years with us, by becoming fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, developing a positive relationship with challenge and building the independence to tackle problem solving logically, effectively and efficiently. 

Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

With this, we not only develop mathematicians who have a discovery mindset for numbers and patterns, but empower our students to become independent, free thinkers who seek out challenge as a way to grow and prepare themselves for all the many successes their lives have in store. 

At Birchwood Junior School, the essential characteristics of a mathematician are

• To be fluent and efficient
• To be positive and curious about mathematics, recognising its value to their own lives
• To recognise that mathematics is accessible to all, even at the highest level
• To be resilient with a fearless approach to seek out challenge and false starts
• To be able to reason clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing using technical, mathematical language
• To be logical problem-solvers who have the skills to visualise, represent and then generalise using a range of strategies
• To be creative, independent and critical thinkers 

We ensure children experience the full national curriculum in a small steps approach where ALL students build a deep and sustained knowledge of key stage 2 mathematics. We believe that this knowledge provides the foundations children need to have the confidence and ability to flourish at secondary school and beyond. 

However, our curriculum goes much further, by recognising that our students only feel true empowerment as mathematicians, when they feel confident in approach to problem solving.

For this, we believe that they need a toolkit of problem solving skills to choose from, appropriate to the problem they are facing, and this toolkit is not innate, or something that some have, and some don't.

This is something we teach and offer to all of our students as a right. 

These skills thread throughout our entire mathematics curriculum, and children use our classrooms as safe spaces to practice these skills from the moment they begin in year 3, to the moment they have mastered them in year 6.

To find out more about our Mathematics Curriculum, please feel free to give us a call or pop in to school where our Maths lead can provide more information. 

You can also find out about how our students take ownership of the mathematics curriculum, as members of the Hive Project. Just click on the Hive Project link on our curriculum page.