Maths

Statement of Intent

Carrant Brook provides a relevant and challenging mathematics curriculum where pupils are actively
encouraged and given opportunities to develop an enjoyment and curiosity towards their learning.

Classrooms promote an environment where pupils feel confident to make mistakes, address misconceptions and build on prior knowledge to become successful mathematicians (We are confident, We are resilient).

Carrant Brook’s mathematics curriculum ensures that all pupils are given the opportunity to recall mental facts accurately and quickly, use effective written methods for different operations and independently problem solve.

Developing transferable life skills and making cross curricular links to the skills and knowledge learnt within the mathematics curriculum is a fundamental aspect of our long term planning, learning journey and lesson design.

Pupils work collaboratively to share their ideas, developing their logical thinking, mathematical
vocabulary for reasoning and make connections with real life contexts that encompass their mathematics
knowledge.

Maths Curriculum Overview Maths Vocabulary

Maths Magic

We have now launched an exciting new target system, Maths Magic, to help develop the understanding of maths at Carrant Brook. The system is designed to improve the mental recall of number facts, including the times tables, which will enable our pupils to meet the increased challenges of the New National Curriculum. The New Curriculum has a much greater focus on mental calculation and children are expected to be able to work out a range of mathematical problems without using a written method. The target booklets track progression in basic number skills using all operations – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The children will develop instant recall skills in all the objectives – they should not be taking time to work out the answer to each question, they need to know it instantly.

The Maths Magic system targets get progressively more challenging through the school. There are five stages in total:

Number Cruncher
Mathmagician’s Apprentice
Math-a-Magician
Wizard-in-Training
Maths Whizz

We will be carefully assessing the current knowledge and understanding of each pupil to make sure that they all start at the correct stage of the process. At each new stage your child will receive a new target booklet, which explains what s/he need to do in order to move forward. For example:

“As a Math-a-Magician, you also develop your understanding of doubling and halving. First you will practise doubling any 2 digit number, for example double 56 is 112. You might do this by partitioning into tens and units, for example double 50 is 100, and double 6 is 12, so altogether double 56 is 112. This should be done quickly and in your head.”

Children should practise rapid recall of facts on a frequent and regular basis, ideally for 10 minutes every day. The class teacher can then assess when children are ready to move on to the next target. There are many maths resources available to access online which will help to meet some of the targets. We are also in the process of developing a bank of resources to use at school.

We appreciate your support and hope that you enjoy working on the targets at home as much as we will in school!

Carrant Brook Junior School

Carrant Brook
Junior School

Maths

Statement of Intent

Maths Magic

Useful Websites

Mathletics

Maths Magic Stages

Maths Magic Booklets 2020