The goal of mathematics is to enable students to:

• develop fluent knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts

• reason mathematically, make deductions and inferences, and draw conclusions

• comprehend, interpret and communicate mathematical information in a variety of forms appropriate to the information and context

• acquire, select and apply mathematical techniques to solve problems

Essentially, maths enables us to describe the World in a formal way.  

This then enables us to get machines to interact with it or create simulations that model the real World so we can test hypothesis and predictions safely and efficiently.

Why study maths? 

Answer: Transferable Skills

The need for transferable skills In recent years, higher education institutions and employers have consistently flagged the need for students to develop a range of transferable skills to enable them to respond with confidence to the demands of undergraduate study and the world of work. 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines skills, or competencies, as "the bundle of knowledge, attributes and capacities that can be learned and that enable individuals to successfully and consistently perform an activity or task and can be built upon and extended through learning."

Cognitive skills

• Non-routine problem solving – expert thinking, metacognition, creativity.

• Systems thinking – decision making and reasoning.

• Critical thinking – definitions of critical thinking are broad and usually involve general cognitive skills such as analysing, synthesising and reasoning skills.

• ICT literacy - access, manage, integrate, evaluate, construct and communicate3 .

Interpersonal skills

• Communication – active listening, oral communication, written communication, assertive communication and non-verbal communication.

• Relationship-building skills – teamwork, trust, intercultural sensitivity, service orientation, self-presentation, social influence, conflict resolution and negotiation.

• Collaborative problem solving – establishing and maintaining shared understanding, taking appropriate action, establishing and maintaining team organisation.

Intrapersonal skills

• Adaptability – ability and willingness to cope with the uncertain, handling work stress, adapting to different personalities, communication styles and cultures, and physical adaptability to various indoor and outdoor work environments.

• Self-management and self-development – ability to work remotely in virtual teams, work autonomously, be self-motivating and self-monitoring, willing and able to acquire new information and skills related to work.

At GCSE, you are examined by taking three 1.5 hour exams, worth 80 marks each (paper 1 is non-calculator) on the following topics:

• Algebra

• Geometry and measures

• Number

• Probability

• Ratio, proportion and rates of change

• Statistics

More information on these topics can be found by selecting the appropriate menu item above