The philosophy of the Mathematics Department at Cranbrook School is that the teaching of Mathematics should always be relevant, attainable and enjoyable. It is realised that the purist sort of Mathematics gives the sharpest and most perceptive students a buzz, but it is also remembered that the most seemingly straightforward aspects of Mathematics is seen as a sense of real achievement for the less able students too. To this aim, the Mathematics Department provides a positive learning environment with high quality teaching, so enabling each student, whatever their ability, to strive for and fulfil their Mathematical potential. As a Department we are committed to this philosophy that during their five years with us, each student should:
• have a positive experience in learning and improving their Mathematical skills;
• enjoy the subject;
• be able to apply Mathematics to other subjects, such as Science, Technology and Geography;
• understand and appreciate the wider applications of Mathematics in the world of work;
• have the confidence to experiment and learn from their mistakes, and persevere when problems arise;
• feel supported and encouraged if they find Mathematics to be a difficult subject.
The Mathematics Department is a successful and supportive team of six fully qualified Mathematics teachers. The Department is housed in a suite of dedicated Mathematics teaching rooms. All these rooms are equipped with digital projectors and interactive SmartBoards. The use of SmartBoards has already proven to be a very effective resource in the teaching of Mathematics, enabling up-to-date educational software to be brought directly into the classroom. The Mathematics department also makes full use of the school's ICT facilities (3 teaching rooms each equipped with 30 workstations and SmartBoards) for delivering and testing key elements of the curriculum.
The UKMT Mathematics Challenge is an annual national competition which is strongly supported by the school. Many of our students gain certificates of achievement with the best students usually being invited to continue to the next round of the competition. Years 9, 10 & 11 enter the Intermediate Challenge and the Sixth Form Mathematicians try out their skills in the Senior Challenge. Year 9 also get the opportunity to team up with Year 8 pupils from one of our local feeder schools in UKMT's popular Team Challenge event. The challenges are designed to stimulate interest in Mathematics by setting intriguing and absorbing questions requiring the students to think around and outside their normal school Mathematics.
The students at Cranbrook see Mathematics as a very important subject and they take it very seriously as their significantly good and consistent examination results, at all the Key Stages, testify.
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