Maths at Royston St John Baptist
Mathematics
We have a real passion for Maths at Royston St John Baptist CE Primary School!
Maths lessons follow the same structure in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Each session begins with individuals completing a ‘Fast 5’ activity. Fast 5 is a series of five arithmetic questions that cover aspects of the curriculum that the class have already been taught. One of our school’s key drivers is to embed understanding over time and the continuity and repetition of the daily Fast 5 tasks enables children to develop a deeper understanding of arithmetic and ensures that they commit what they are taught into their long-term memory. Children are given a specific amount of time to complete the questions and then the class work together to discuss the answer to each question. Teachers then model how questions should be answered to the class to address any misconceptions that have arisen. It ensures that children commit their understanding to their long-term memory and allows them to apply them to wider contexts.
Our Maths lessons allow children to build confidence in their skills and fully develop the methods that they have been taught. The use of concrete, pictorial and finally abstract methods of finding an answer are tailored to individual needs which allows them to build confidence in moving towards working with abstract methods as they move up school.
Children are presented with a variety of question types in their Maths lessons and they build fluency in their work over time and are encouraged to apply their understanding to reasoning and problem solving using the skills they have been taught. This challenge is a key driver in school and we aim to provide children with the skills, fluency and confidence to allow them to express their understanding succinctly through reasoning and problem solving activities.
We use working walls in class ensure that long-term learning is front and centre in our classrooms. Working walls are not static displays in our Maths lessons. They are used by teachers to demonstrate the approach required for that day’s lesson and also as a reminder of how to approach previous learning. They provide a map that the children in class can follow; using their own knowledge and the structure the working wall provides ensures that children have the confidence to tackle the challenging work they are set in each unit of work they cover.
Coherence, through continuity of approach, is fundamental to children attaining a broad and deep understanding of mathematics and this is reflected in how concepts are built on year-by-year throughout school. We strive to develop mathematicians who have the confidence to rise to the challenges they are set. Children are encouraged to use their understanding to explore a variety of approaches to answer a question. This sense of curiosity and the drive that comes along with it ensures that children at Royston St John Baptist CE Primary School are able to express their understanding of how they have come to an answer.
A sound understanding of times tables and the ability to quickly and accurately recall them are fundamental to a child’s ability to confidently access mathematics. As a result of this, times tables are prioritised in school and each child in KS1 and Ks2 has access to ‘Times Table Rock Stars’ both in school and at home through the app. Children have multiple opportunities throughout the school week to access 15 minute sessions of Times Table Rock Stars activities and success is celebrated in weekly assemblies and on our Rock Stars display in the school hall. As with other areas of the curriculum, this frequent repetition of activities ensures that children embed their times table facts in their long-term memory.
Mr Crookes is our Maths Leader. If you require any assistance with how we approach Maths at Royston St John Baptist CE Primary School please speak to a member of staff.