Maths

Subject Leader: Miss Critchley

Miss Critchley leads maths across the school and works with staff to ensure the curriculum is ambitious, engaging and progressive for all pupils. As a school, we want children to understand maths on a deeper level; thinking critically, reasoning effectively and applying their knowledge across a range of contexts.

Vision / Intent

At Athelstan Community Primary School, maths sits at the heart of everything that we do. It is a fundamental life skill that enables pupils to reason, problem-solve and make sense of the world around them. We aim to develop confident, independent mathematicians who can think critically, communicate their ideas clearly and apply their knowledge across a range of contexts.

Our mathematics curriculum is built around a mastery approach, informed by the 5 Big Ideas. We utilise professional development materials from NCETM and the Mastering Number programme for EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, alongside high-quality resources from Oak National Academy to support consistency, clarity and depth in teaching. Learning is carefully sequenced in small, connected steps, enabling pupils to build secure and deep understanding over time. The use of concrete resources, pictorial representations and abstract methods support pupils in making connections and understanding mathematical structures.

Over time, pupils develop fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills. They build secure knowledge of number and learn to apply efficient strategies, while also explaining and justifying their thinking. Carefully designed tasks and structured variation enables pupils to notice patterns, make generalisations and deepen their understanding.

In our school, we recognise that language can be a barrier to learning maths. We address this through strong emphasis on oracy, encouraging pupils to discuss their ideas, use precise mathematical vocabulary and explain their reasoning. This supports all pupils in accessing the curriculum and developing confidence in their mathematical thinking.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will be able to calculate fluently, reason logically and solve problems across a range of contexts. They will be able to explain their thinking clearly, make connections in their learning and apply their mathematical understanding with confidence.

What does learning look like?

In maths, pupils will:

• Explain their reasoning using precise mathematical language
• Represent their thinking using concrete resources, pictorial models and abstract methods
• Make connections between concepts and identify patterns and relationships
• Reflect on their understanding and refine their approaches when solving problems
• Apply their knowledge to a range of contexts, including real-life situations

Key documents

Enrichment / Wider Opportunities 

Inter year group times table class challenges, outdoor learning opportunities, parent stay and play sessions.

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