St. Peter's Vision
We aim to provide all students with a rewarding and enjoyable experience of mathematics. Our intention is for our pupils to develop skills in fluency, reasoning, problem solving, creativity, collaboration and self-evaluation, so they leave St Peter’s as confident, numerate, resilient and skilled mathematicians; who understand that mathematics is a fundamental part of everyday life and the world we live in. This will be accomplished through our commitment to a well-designed and creative curriculum and excellent teaching, with high expectations, so that all children are motivated and inspired to achieve their full mathematical potential.
In line with the National Curriculum Objectives for Mathematics, it is our intent to ensure that pupils:
Implementation
How is Maths taught at St. Peter's?
Feedback and Assessment
Leadership and Professional Development
Curriculum Impact
Maths in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Within EYFS at St. Peter's School the White Rose Maths (WHM) scheme is also followed. This offers the EYFS team clear guidance as to what content needs to be covered. The skills are broken down into smaller steps, which build across the year. The progression of skills ensures that the children are working up to achieving the Early Learning Goals. Using WRM in the Early Years also ensures that there is consistency and progression across the school from Nursery to Year 6.
The White Rose Maths scheme has a strong focus on deepening the children's understanding and building number sense to 10. This is achieved through adult-led teaching of the skills/concepts and is supported and consolidated during continuous provision activities. However, at St. Peter's we feel it is vital that our children are also given the opportunity to develop their understanding of shape, space and measure (SSM) and the children are provided with many practical opportunities throughout the year to do this.
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Year 4 Multiplication Times Table Check (MTC)
The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a statutory key stage two assessment, which tests year 4 pupils' knowledge of the multiplication tables within 12 × 12. It was introduced in the 2019/2020 academic year. The MTC is in the format of an online test with 25 questions and children are given six seconds to answer each of the questions within the time limit.
It is compulsory for pupils to sit the MTC at the end of year 4. The test measures multiplication learning from year 2 to year 4, since by the end of year 4, children should know all the multiplication facts within the 1 to 12 times tables. All eligible year 4 pupils must take the test in June within a three-week window.
The MTC aims to check how well children know their times tables. This is important since knowing the multiplication tables gives children the foundational knowledge they need to progress in maths through the years. Instant recall of times tables facts is needed when completing trickier calculations involving division, ratio, proportion, and fractions. .Without that knowledge, pupils might struggle to master these more complex maths concepts. Plus, once children know their times tables, they won’t need to spend time doing simple calculations. Instead, they’ll recall these facts immediately and then spend time working out the trickier calculations with multi-digit numbers.
The MTC is also a great way to check for pupils that are struggling with their times tables, so that additional support can be provided. Without this knowledge, children will struggle to calculate maths problems in later school years.
The MTC is a digital test. It is delivered on-screen, via either a computer or tablet. The children will complete sample tests before the date of their actual test. This will familiarise them with the system and help ease any nerves that they may have.
When completing the actual test, there are three practice questions. Once completed they move on to the real test.
The MTC is 25 questions long and children have six seconds to answer each question. There is a three-second pause between questions so that they don't get overwhelmed. There will be an emphasis on 6, 7, 8, 9 and the 12 times tables as these tables are deemed to be more difficult.
The short time given to answer the question is because the test is measuring what pupils can easily recall. They should be able to remember their multiplication factors quickly and shouldn't be trying to work them out.
At the end of the test, pupils will have a score out of 25 which is reported to the school at a later date.
There is no pass-or-fail threshold for this test, but St. Peter's would like all our pupils to be achieving a score above 20/25. Pupils with lower marks will then be given additional support to help improve their multiplication skills in Year 5.
Please regularly ask your child times tables facts in and out of order. Start with the 2 times tables, then move to 10 and 5 (Year 2), 3, 4 and 8 times tables (Year 3) and 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12 times tables (Year 4).
Regularly accessing their Times Table Rock Stars account will also provide a fun and rewarding way to learn the facts.
The website address is: https://ttrockstars.com
The Maths Frame Times Table Check resource 'mimics' the actual test that the children will experience in June. This is a very useful website to access as the test is approaching since it will give the children confidence in the digital format of the test and enable them to get used to the timing. This can be accessed at the following website: https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/477/Multiplication-Tables-Check
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How can I help my child to consolidate the key mathematical concepts from Early Years and KS1?
Why not encourage them to watch the Number Blocks videos. This is a fun way for them to recap some of the key concepts. A list of the videos and an overview of what each episode covers can be found by opening the document below. (Please note you will have to login to the BBC iplayer to watch the videos.)
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KES Year 4 and 5 Borcherd's Shield Annual Maths Competitions
Each year St. Peter's send two teams of four able mathematicians from Years 4 and 5 to KES to test their maths skills against other children from schools across the West Midlands.
The competition consists of approximately 8 heats, with up to 10 schools competing in a heat. During the afternoon the children take part in two mathematical activities. The first challenge is a crossnumber where the children have to work as a team to solve some tricky clues to complete a mathematical crossword. Following this, they take part in an energetic relay race which involves solving maths problems then running across the school hall to deliver their answer. The scores from each round are totalled and the top three teams receive bronze, silver and gold medals. The winning teams from each heat are then invited back to compete in the final.
St. Peter's teams are always up for the challenge and have enjoyed much success in the past, which is testament to the depth of mathematical knowledge and speed of fluency that our children possess. Last year's results are shown below:
Year 5 Team 2022-23 - Heat: Gold Medal. Final: Runners Up
(Paul Akinrinde, Uriyal Cruz, Toby Kay, Joshua Smith)
Year 4 Team 2022-23 - Heat: Gold Medal. Final: Third
(Vangelis Anastasakis, Oliver Skipwith, Adrian Tai, Arron Tai)