Maths

We believe passionately that all pupils can succeed in maths. While some pupils may take longer to grasp the concepts, with hard work all pupils can succeed.

Up to Year 6 we use the Inspire Maths Scheme that is based on the Singapore Maths method of teaching and its concrete-pictorial-abstract approach. The scheme has problem-solving at its heart and is designed to develop fluency and mastery, giving pupils the strategies (heuristics) to think logically and solve problems as well as create a deep understanding of number. The ability to think logically is the key transferable life skill that we strive to equip our pupils with. We are lucky to have an extremely strong team of dedicated and enthusiastic maths specialists.

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Nursery

Pre-Prep

Prep

Maths through art

The whole school adopted the Singapore maths approach to mastering maths and this includes the nursery.

We have a number and shape focus of the week, which allows us to gently build the children’s familiarity with maths concepts.

We build maths into all we do, and might make wiggly spiders to help us learn the number 8 whilst building dexterity, and encouraging creativity and language.

maths

We use Inspire Maths, a first-class maths programme which is based on the proven Singapore Method. Together with our rigorous approach, this high- quality, multi-sensory programme ensures that every child makes excellent progress.

Using the concrete – pictorial - abstract approach (a key technique within the Singapore Method) pupils explore the base 10 system. They use lots of different equipment to show different ways of representing the numbers to 20. Lots of work is done on the part – part – whole model, which enables children to see that numbers can be split into parts, and the commutative property of calculations.

By the end of the Pre-Prep, the basic heuristics are given for problem solving, which includes how to draw bar model diagrams: in fact, pupils of all ages are encouraged to “draw” the problem.

Barbara Langford, Director of Studies for the whole school, also spends a considerable amount of time at the Pre-Prep each week working with pupils directly and demonstrating best practice. Our teachers are adept at identifying early children who need extra support or different strategies to increase progress. Pupils continue the Inspire Maths programme into Year 3.

maths

Years 3 and 4
Continuing with the Inspire Maths Scheme, more work is done on problem-solving and the different models for multiplication, division and fractions. Pupils continue to work on “drawing” the problem so that mathematical reasoning and language is developed. Further opportunities to deepen understanding and obtain mastery through concrete apparatus are given.

Years 5 and 6
In Years 5 and 6 we dovetail the Inspire Maths Scheme with the ISEB 11+ Entrance syllabus. This gives pupils the deep understanding developed by the Singapore approach, whilst including a few different topics that may be examined on in the ISEB pre-tests and 11+ to local schools.

Years 7 and 8
We follow the ISEB Common Entrance syllabus. By Year 8, pupils can choose from Scholarship papers, level 3, level 2 or level 1 Common Entrance papers depending on which paper is most suitable to the requirements of the child’s future school.

Maths

The Maths Department is a fun and vibrant part of the school, and we are proud of our excellent Common Entrance and scholarship results in maths, not to mention the success we have in local and national maths competitions! Pupils leave Westbourne House with a positive attitude to maths learning and a strong foundation on which to build.

The four aims of the Maths Department are:

All pupils to fulfil their potential in maths
Pupils to be confident, independent learners ready to tackle any challenge
All pupils to have a strong foundation in numeracy and understanding of algebra from which to build in the future
Pupils to be enthusiastic learners, to enjoy their maths lessons and to have a positive attitude to maths.

Outside the classroom

We enter many local and national maths challenges including the Primary Maths Challenge in Years 5 and 6, and the Junior Maths Challenge in Years 7 and 8.

We put together teams, for pupils who we feel would benefit from the experience, which compete in team challenges against local schools.

Barbara Langford

Head of Maths

I have experience teaching pupils mathematics from Oxbridge Entrance to nursery. I have also written articles on maths learning for “Prep School” magazine and written an ISEB endorsed Common Entrance practice book called “Keeping up with the Joneses”.

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