“Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computing, or algorithms: it is about understanding.”
Statistics
At Boldon school we have an excellent opportunity for our talented Mathematicians to choose Statistics and Further Maths as one of their GCSE options. This is a unique opportunity to achieve a GCSE grade as well as a Level 2 certificate in further maths within the same option subject. This course is essential for students on the higher pathway who want to support or extend their GCSE mathematics, or those who wish to study A level mathematics in the future.
Students will begin the course studying about how the data handling cycle works, how to take appropriate samples from a population. This leads onto different methods to calculate averages and spread and eventually many graphical representations of data. Throughout the year their is ample opportunity to explore different ICT skills and critically analyse statistics that are regularly portrayed in the media (especially relevant since the pandemic).
We aim to study all the content by spring in year 10, spend time completing exam preparation and sit the final examination in the summer term. Once the examination is complete students will spend the rest of the term beginning the level 2 further mathematics curriculum.
Further maths
The further maths content is an excellent course for students who would like to extend their GCSE maths knowledge and prepare for A level mathematics in the future. Some topics, such as trigonometry, will be studied in depth. This will be more challenging problems to GCSE maths but will be using the same skills needed for the higher pathway. In addition to GCSE curriculum, this course goes deep into complex algebraic problems, matrix manipulation and the beginning of calculus (differentiation), vital skills to prepare for A level maths.
Students who have chose this subject in the past have achieved a higher GCSE qualification as a result. As well as standing out on a CV, statistical skills are an important part of many jobs. Most careers have a need to represent, analyse and interpret data.
“Statistics and Further maths has helped me improve my maths GCSE ability and has prepared me to study A level maths at sixth form”.
Former Year 11 student.
| Year 10 | Year 11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Half term 1 | Further Statistical Diagrams, including discussion about misleading statistical diagrams and how sometimes the media and companies use statistics to mislead their audience. | Algebra Unit: Complex algebraic skills, including function notation, expanding brackets, factorising, factor theorem and proofs. |
| Half term 2 | Economic and social statistics. This content is how to calculate and interpret index numbers, weighted index numbers and chain base numbers. This leads into crude and standardised rates. | Coordinate Geometry Unit: Covers a wide range of straight line graphs and equations of a circle. Leads into the beginning of differentiation. |
| Half term 3 | Probability, sample space diagrams, mutually exclusive events, independent events, tree diagrams. | Calculus and Matrix Transformations: Multiplication of matrices, the identity matrices and transformations. |
| Half term 4 | Revision | Geometry: Hugely supports the GCSE knowledge of trigonometry including sine rule, cosine rule and use of trigonometric functions. |
| Half term 5 | Prep for GCSE examination | Revision |
| Half term 6 | Begin Further Maths course Number Unit: Knowledge and use of numbers and the number system including fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, proportion and order of operations. | Prep for examination |
Year 10
Half term 1
Further Statistical Diagrams, including discussion about misleading statistical diagrams and how sometimes the media and companies use statistics to mislead their audience.
Half term 2
Economic and social statistics. This content is how to calculate and interpret index numbers, weighted index numbers and chain base numbers. This leads into crude and standardised rates.
Half term 3
Probability, sample space diagrams, mutually exclusive events, independent events, tree diagrams.
Half term 4
Revision
Half term 5
Prep for GCSE examination
Half term 6
Begin Further Maths course
Number Unit: Knowledge and use of numbers and the number
system including fractions, decimals, percentages,
ratio, proportion and order of operations.
Year 11
Half term 1
Algebra Unit: Complex algebraic skills, including function notation, expanding brackets, factorising, factor theorem and proofs.
Half term 2
Coordinate Geometry Unit: Covers a wide range of straight line graphs and equations of a circle. Leads into the beginning of differentiation.
Half term 3
Calculus and Matrix Transformations: Multiplication of matrices, the identity matrices and transformations.
Half term 4
Geometry: Hugely supports the GCSE knowledge of trigonometry including sine rule, cosine rule and use of trigonometric functions.
Half term 5
Revision
Half term 6
Prep for examination