Mathematics

Subject:  Mathematics

Key Contact: Patrick Unwin Patrick.Unwin@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk
Anthony Shaw Anthony.Shaw@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

Course Information

(Edexcel) A Level Maths is one of the most popular Level 3 courses nationally and is just as popular at The Gryphon School.  Mathematics A Level is a qualification for students who wish to study Mathematics to a higher level or to support other mathematically heavy courses such as Physics, Engineering or Economics and Social Sciences.  People who have studied mathematics are in the fortunate position of having an excellent choice of career. Whilst the number of young people studying A level Mathematics is increasing, there is still a huge demand from science, engineering and manufacturing employers.

Course Content

Year 12

• Half Term 1: Pure Maths – Coordinate Geometry of Lines and Circles, Algebra and Numbers including Indices, Surds, Equations and Inequalities. Mechanics – Constant acceleration graphs and formulae.
• Half Term 2: Pure Maths – Differentiation, Trigonometry and Binomial Expansion. Statistics – Data Analysis.
• Half Term 3: Pure Maths – Logarithms and Integration. Mechanics – Forces acting in equilibrium and in motion. Statistics – Probability Distributions.
• Half Term 4: Pure Maths – Applications of Differentiation and Exponential Models. Statistics – Hypothesis Testing and Sampling Techniques
• Half Term 5: Pure Maths – Vector Geometry, Algebraic Proof Further Differentiation Methods. Statistics – Conditional Probability and Set Notation.
• Half Term 6: Pure Maths – Further Trigonometry and Algebraic Fractions. Revision of Year 12 Content.

Year 13

• Half Term 1: Binomial Expansion, Graphs and Functions, Sequences and Series, Modelling with Trigonometry.
• Half Term 2: Applications of Further Differentiation, Parametric Functions, Moments, Correlation and the Normal Distribution.
• Half Term 3: Statics of Rigid Bodies, Revision of Probability, Numerical Methods and Integration.
• Half Term 4: Integration – Bedding in all the methods and learning how to select the right one. Variable Acceleration and Projectile Motion in 2D.
• Half Term 5: Vectors, Proof and Revision.

Assessment

In A Level Maths and Further Maths, after each topic is taught, students complete a homework assignment of A Level exam-style questions. After these are completed, students have a week to fill any gaps in their understanding before they are assessed. Assessments are made of 2 parts; the first assesses fluency while the second assesses problem solving.

Homework

All A Level Maths students complete 2 types of weekly homework sheets. Topic specific tasks are student-marked and retrieval sheets that cover all content taught to that point are teacher-marked and all are saved in a physical file.  Teachers to ensure students are completing homework and should check these files at least fortnightly. Students of concern will have homework marked by the class teacher.

Every lesson ends with specific textbook questions that need to be done by the students to practise what has been taught in the lesson.

Useful information, links and resources

• Students have access to an online Textbook at ActiveLearn.
• TL Maths provides some excellent videos on the whole course.
• Physics and Maths Tutor is a website with huge banks of questions on every topic as well as past papers.