Maths

The Bolton St Catherine's Academy aim for maths is to ensure that all pupils:

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
• reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecting relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.
• can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

We believe that all children require a solid understanding of place value and the number system, which, together with the knowledge and recall of number facts and mental strategies, act as the foundation for mathematical development. Calculation development is vital to our teaching and learning strategy, being viewed as the tools for our children's future successes in applied application.

In KS1 and KS2, children work in class with a teacher differentiating the work to meet the pupils needs and set realistic, challenging goals as set out in the Busy Ant Maths Scheme. A whole school focus on the number system and calculation (following the visual calculation policy), including the basic skills, enables the children to be provided with a strong, stable understanding of mathematical principles from which using and applying can be developed.

We have produced a Calculation Policy which may help parents support their children at home. Basic skills provide the foundation in Maths.