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Staffing: The department is fully staffed with a very experienced team of committed Mathematicians. There are fourteen members of the department with additional input from special educational needs. In addition, Mathematics staff have the use of a technician and some administration support. As a Science College, we work very closely with the Science department and have strong links with our feeder primary schools.

Courses: Our core course has been written to deliver all levels of the National Curriculum and the Year 7 scheme of work has been updated in line with the new National Curriculum. The Key Stage 3 scheme is resourced by Essential Mathematics (Raynor) and Impact Heinemann Mathematics in year 7, Essential Mathematics (Raynor) and Maths Frameworking (Collins) in year 8 and in year 9 the Oxford: Revise Key Stage 3 Maths is widely used with some sets using Maths Frameworking (Collins). A wide variety of ‘in house’ materials are also used across the Key Stage 3 curriculum. At Key Stage 4 students follow the London Edexcel Modular Maths syllabus. New textbooks and ICT teaching resources have been purchased for the two tier GCSE. In addition, some students take GCSE Statistics within their Mathematics curriculum time. In all our courses we place a great emphasis on problem solving, practical and investigative activities. The use of information technology including interactive whiteboards and graphic calculators is an integral part of the schemes of work for all levels.

Sixth Form Courses: The courses run by the department are very popular in the sixth form. We have approximately 179 students following A or AS level mathematics (Edexcel Modular Syllabus) with 22 studying Further Maths. The Edexcel syllabus is followed for all Further Maths modules. All AS and A2 Mathematics courses are fully resourced by the Heinemann Modular Maths for A-level textbooks.

Organisation and Methods of Assessment: In the first term of year 7 pupils are taught in mixed ability classes. We offer a structure that allows a Special Needs group to be extracted from early in the first term. All students in Year 7 are assessed periodically in personal learning and thinking skills. In January pupils are set according to ability into 9 teaching groups and this continues for years 8 and 9. All groups follow a common, although differentiated scheme of work. The assessment of pupils forms an important aspect of the department’s work. Each pupil’s progress is closely monitored by regular assessment tests. Investigation and problem solving activities also form part of their continuous assessment. All pupils are formally assessed by written examinations at least twice a year. Pupils’ progress is recorded on department profiles using the school network. These assessment methods enable us to monitor individual pupil progress very closely and review the setting regularly.

Resources: The department is excellently resourced with texts and in addition we have produced our own units of work for years 7, 8 and 9 in line with the Numeracy Strategy. All full-time Mathematics teachers are based in their own classroom. All Mathematics rooms are equipped with electronic whiteboards and projectors. All staff have a PC laptop computer and regularly share current ICT resources. Most Mathematics lessons are delivered via the interactive whiteboard. There are a wide variety of ICT software packages available for staff and pupil use on the network including Autograph, Virtual Image and Boardworks. Cabri Geometry is available for staff use. Websites “www.Mymaths.co.uk” and “www.mathsnetalevel.com” are provided for all staff and student use. The school’s six computer rooms are supported by full time technicians and are able to be booked for mathematics groups. In addition, a class set of laptop computers are available for use in mathematics classes and internet access is available in all mathematics classrooms. Use is made of graphics calculators from years 8 to 13.

Extra-Curricular Activities: The department offers many clubs and workshops both during lunchtime and after school to support and extend pupils. There is a strong emphasis on revision classes in years 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 to ensure excellent preparation for examinations. In addition, pupils are encouraged to take part in problem solving competitions which this year included years 7, 8, 9, 10 12 and 13 being entered for U.K. Maths Challenge competitions. Team Challenge events are very successfully entered by teams from years 9/10. Trinity students won the Year 9/10 Redbridge Team Challenge in 2010 and 2011. Selected students in Year 9 are offered the opportunity to apply for places in the Royal Institutions. Mathematics Master classes held on Saturday mornings in London. Year 12 and 13 students are currently piloting a project to run Master Classes for Giffted and Talented year 8 students. The department are currently working with the Institute of Education on a Maths project aiming at delivering 'Real Maths'.