Mathematics
Welcome to Mathematics at St. Catherine’s. We want you to enjoy your lessons and achieve highly. We will make sure that you have all the Mathematical skills you will need for your other studies. We hope that you will have fun with all the puzzles and problem-solving that we do and that as you grow up you will begin to share an appreciation of the power and the beauty of the language of Mathematics.
Here are some of our favourite mathematical quotations:
- There are things which seem incredible to most men who have not studied Mathematics. Aristotle
- Go down deep enough into anything and you will find Mathematics. Dean Schlicter
- The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God. Euclid
- I had a feeling once about Mathematics- that I saw it all. Depth beyond depth was revealed to me – the Byss and Abyss. But it was after dinner and I let it go. Winston Churchill.
Staff List
Mr Alasdair Wright - Head of Mathematics
email: alasdair.wright@stcatherines.info
Has enjoyed teaching for 20 years in variety of schools and countries. Apart from enjoying Mathematics, he is a keen football fan, and enjoys enlightening his classes with a weekly round-up of the weekend’s action!
Mrs Laura Hill - Second in Department
email: laura.hill@stcatherines.info
Joined the Maths department in 2010. She has a particular interest in different learning styles and brain types, and how these affect teaching and learning. Laura enjoys Maths puzzles and often spends evenings doing sudokus, kakuros, futoshikis and other number puzzles as well as playing many a board game.
Miss Katy Brooke
email: katy.brooke@stcatherines.info
Katy graduated from Agnes Scott College in 2018 with a double major in Mathematics and Economics. After starting at St Catherine's as an Economics teacher, she is now teaching more within the Maths Department.
Mrs Andrea Fuller
email: andrea.fuller@stcatherines.info
Spent ten years working as a project manager for a satellite communication company and at Roehampton University. Joined St. Catherine’s in 2009 and was instantly welcomed into the special community of the school. Particularly enjoys seeing the girls' confidence and enjoyment in Mathematics grow.
Mr Philip Friend
email: philip.friend@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine's in 1998. Enjoys communicating a love of Mathematics when in the classroom, especially making the trickier topics "click" with students; there is no greater buzz than when a student finally cries "I've got it!" and their confidence begins to flourish. Outside school, his main passion is cooking, and he is proud (and suprised!) to have made the final on BBC1's Britain's Best Home Cook (2018), cooking dishes for one of his idols, Mary Berry. Other hobbies include theatre and crime fiction.
Mrs Nabila Gordon
email: nabila.gordon@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine's in 2016. Mrs Gordon studied Statistics and Economics at University and has previously worked in both the Aerospace and Financial sectors. She relishes bringing her experience into the classroom when teaching, especially when answering the “when are we ever going to use this?” questions. She loves seeing the girls’ curiosity grow as they begin to see Mathematics as a way of thinking and a tool to problem-solve. Outside school she enjoys visiting art galleries, travelling with her family and playing tennis.
Mrs Sheila Kelsall
email: sheila.kelsall@stcatherines.info
Formerly Head of Mathematics and currently the School Administrator. Favourite topic in Mathematics is Fibonacci. Loves to show students how different topics link together, especially with pictures and diagrams. Enjoys going on school trips, particularly Lasham, Somerset and the annual ski trip. Outside school, she is a moderately keen but believes herself to be a spectacularly unaccomplished gardener! Favourite pastimes are long expeditions in the Surrey Hills with the Kelsall pack and long summer camping trips in Europe.
Mr Son Nguyen
email: son.nguyen@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine's in 2017. A formidable mathematician and an enthusiastic chess player, he has made a terrific impact within the department, not least with his contribution to the students' mathematical enrichment.
Dr Jennifer Taylor
email: jennifer.taylor@stcatherines.info
Read Maths and Philosophy at Oxford as she has always been fascinated by the connection between the two subjects. She was determined she would never become a teacher as her mother, aunt and grandfather were all teachers, so after graduation she joined Unilever to work in finance. Despite the temptation of free ice cream, Dr Taylor decided she missed the academic life and returned to study for a PhD, also tutoring undergraduates in Philosophical Logic and Metaphysics. Somewhat to her surprise she discovered that she loved the teaching more than the research, so she decided to retrain as a teacher. Dr Taylor joined St. Catherine’s in 2011.
Mrs Caroline Willis
email: caroline.willis@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine’s in 2011 after starting her teaching career in the Midlands. Has a particular passion for all things ‘Statistics’ and thoroughly enjoys a good game of Mathematical Bingo in her classes. Her main aim in the classroom is increase the girls’ confidence in their mathematics and transfer to them her love of the subject. Outside of school, she is a mum to 2 children and enjoys playing netball.
Curriculum - AS/A Level & Further
Examination Board: Edexcel
AS Level SpecificationA Level SpecificationFurther Maths Specification
Why study Mathematics?
Studying Mathematics enables you to think logically and reason effectively. You learn the importance of independent thought and what constitutes proof. Everyone now will study both Statistics and Mechanics as part of the course
Mathematics is a much respected academic subject, combining well with both science and arts A levels, and valued by universities and employers alike.
AS & A-Level Course Content
AS: The course consist of Pure Mathematics topics and include algebra, co-ordinate geometry, sequences and series, calculus and numerical methods. Alongside this, you will study both Mechanics and Statistics.
A Level: The balance of the course remains the same, and the topics become more challenging.
AS & A-Level Assessment
- AS: 1 X 2 hour paper and 1 X 1¼ hour paper
- A Level: 3 X 2 hour papers
- Coursework Requirements: None
Further COURSE CONTENT:
Further Pure Modules, Statistics and Mechanics.
Further ASSESSMENT
- 4 X 1½ hour papers
- Coursework Requirements: None
Curriculum - IGCSE
Examination Board: EdexcelIGCSE Specification
Further Maths GCSE is also available as an option for our highest achieving students: Further Maths GCSE Specification
L5
- Trigonometry: Sine Cosine and Tangent
- Revision of basic algebra and equations
- Probability - tree diagrams, conditional probability
- Quadratic expressions and equations (to include formula)
- Upper and Lower bounds
- Areas and volumes of similar shapes
- Histograms
- Revision of linear simultaneous equations
- Simultaneous equations (linear v quadratic)
- Drawing graphs and solving simple equations graphically
- Circle Theorem (plus intersecting chords)
- Coordinate Geometry
- Functions
- Direct and inverse proportion
- Arc length and sector area
- Volumes and surface areas
- Graph Transformations
- Data handling revision
- FDP revision
- Vectors
- Transformations
- Loci problems
U5
- Calculus
- Harder indices
- Algebraic fractions and proofs
- Further graphs
- Further trigonometry
- Revision of functions & sets
- Extending the number system
- Quadratics – completing the square
- Inequalities (quadratic inequalities only)
- Congruent and Similar Shapes
- Problems in 3D
- Growth and decay
- Revision specific to individual groups as required and past paper practice
- Revision
- Past paper practice
Curriculum - KS3
Textbooks for KS3 (U3-U4) are the KS3 Maths Frameworking Pupil Books 2.1-3.3 online produced by Collins
Below is a list of the topics generally studied over the year, although there may be subtle changes from time-to-time.
U3
Term 1
- BIDMAS
- Directed numbers
- Long multiplication and division revision
- Basic algebra-simplifying expressions, brackets
- Sets and Venn Diagrams
- Fireworks” activity
- Indices, Prime Factors, HCF and LCM
- Data Handling:
- Angles (measuring, alternate, corresponding etc.)
- Interior and exterior angles
Term 2
- Working with Fractions
- Metric measures
- Equations (forming and solving with brackets and letters on both side)
- Areas and Volumes
- Percentages
- Rearranging formulae
- Problem solving + taught investigation
Term 3
- Ratio and Proportion
- Constructing triangles
- Probability (experimental, relative frequency, evaluating)
- Co-ordinates, straight lines graphs
L4
Term 1
- Expressions, formulae and equations
- Measures, Perimeter, Area and Volume
- Indices
- Averages
- Data handling skills then project
- Quadrilaterals and Polygons
- Percentage change
Term 2
- Sequences and number patterns, difference method
- Investigation
- Co-ordinates and straight line graphs
- Plotting and recognising non-linear graphs
- Pythagoras
- Circle revision plus arc length and sector area
- Transformations
- Intro to simultaneous equations
Term 3
- Ratio
- Approximation and estimation
- Constructions
- Expanding double brackets
U4
Term 1:
- Probability Trees
- Indices and surds
- Enlargements (inc. negative), Similar and congruent shapes
- Standard form
- Equations, linear and non-linear
- Area and perimeter of sectors review
- Pythagoras
- Volume and Surface area of solids (to include cones and spheres)
- Simultaneous equations
- Cumulative frequency and box plots
Term 2
- Inequalities, number lines and solving inequalities
- Revise y=mx+c
- Regional inequalities
- Circle Theorems
- Expanding brackets and simple factorising
- Full quadratic inequalities with curve sketching
- Percentage including reverse percentage and repeated percentage change
- Sequences especially for quadratic
Term 3
- Upper & lower bounds
- Further Algebra practice
- Graphs of real life situations
- Bearings
- Sets
Useful Websites
- www.mathsgenie.co.uk
Great for IGCSE and A Level revision, with lots of videos and sample tests
- corbettmaths.com
Loads of useful resources: Allows you to do 5-a-day on different topics, fun conundrums and revision cards.
- www.drfrostmaths.com
Useful video lessons to help you with every topic
- nrich.maths.org
Nrich have an enormous collection of resources, activities and games that get you to use your mathematical brains
- www.ukmt.org.uk
Home of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Maths challenges which all of our students will sit at some point. You can access past papers and access other mathematical activities.
