Numeracy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At The Prescot School, we recognise that strong numeracy skills are essential for success in mathematics, wider learning, future education and employment. Our mathematics curriculum is carefully designed to ensure that students develop confidence, fluency and accuracy with number from Year 7 through to Year 11.

A substantial amount of teaching time is dedicated to number topics within mathematics lessons. These skills are revisited regularly through CONNECT tasks at the start of lessons and are assessed through progress checks and summative assessments. Assessment outcomes are used to identify where reteaching may be required and to inform the numeracy content included in future CONNECT tasks.

When students join us in Year 7, their first half term focuses on revisiting and strengthening key numeracy skills from primary school. This allows us to identify and address any gaps in knowledge early, while also helping students build the confidence needed for secondary mathematics.

Our curriculum follows a spiral structure. This means that topics introduced in Year 7 are regularly revisited, checked and built upon throughout the year and in later year groups. This approach ensures that students secure the foundational numerical skills needed before moving on to more complex mathematical concepts and problem-solving.

Numeracy continues to be developed throughout Key Stages 3 and 4, including for our most able mathematicians. Students are given regular opportunities to apply their numeracy skills to increasingly challenging problems, including those required for the GCSE Higher paper. We understand the importance of this fluency in preparing students for post-16 education, training and the workplace.

Sparx Maths also plays an important role in supporting numeracy development. It identifies individual gaps in students’ knowledge and adapts homework accordingly, ensuring that students regularly revisit areas where they need further practice. Sparx also provides support videos to help students independently work through topics they may find challenging.

In addition, we provide small-group numeracy intervention sessions led by maths specialists. These sessions are designed to close gaps identified through recent assessments and usually take place weekly for at least a half term. Students complete an entry assessment through their summative assessment and an exit assessment at the end of the intervention programme so that progress can be carefully tracked. Where further support is needed, students receive an additional round of targeted intervention. We place a particular focus on supporting SEND students through these sessions.