Secondary 

 

Mathematics in Secondary 

As students move to secondary, they start to discover what it is to be a mathematician. Mathematics at A.I.S. is designed to make students think. Through investigative and mental work, they begin the journey of discovery of the world of Mathematics and start to ask (and answer) their own questions.

 KS3

Students start to explore Maths and are introduced to Algebra and more formal methods for setting out their work, whilst at the same time investigating and coming up with their own rules.

                                           
Students follow the English National Curriculum and take “SATS” style papers at the end of Year 9.

                                           

  

  

KS4

Students work towards GCSE, following either Foundation or Higher tiers.
The four main areas covered are:

 

                    
 

Since 2008, there is no coursework in GCSE maths. Students are assessed at the end of Year 11 in two written exams – one with and one without a calculator.

 

6th Form

A level Maths is taken over two years. It has 6 modules; 4 pure and 2 applied.


                                             

 

Pure Maths looks at Algebra, graph sketching, trigonometry and calculus.

Applied Maths has various options for modules including Statistics (data handling and probability), Decision Maths (critical paths and most efficient routes) and Mechanics (Vectors, Kinematics and Moments)

 

                                            

 Further Maths A level is also available for the most able students and prepares students for future studies in Maths, Physics and Engineering.
This A level allows students to answer questions like:

What is the square root of -1?

How do you solve a differential equation?

 The students studying further Maths also gain a wider base of applied topics.

 Mrs K. Reed    Head of Mathematics   January 2009

 
Why don´t you try a couple of the Maths puzzles below?.....

Chicken Crossing

A man has to get a fox, a chicken, and a sack of corn across a river.
He has a rowboat, and it can only carry him and one other thing.
If the fox and the chicken are left together, the fox will eat the chicken.
If the chicken and the corn are left together, the chicken will eat the corn.

How does the man do it?

 

Lying about their age

Alex, Brook, Cody, Dusty, and Erin recently found out that all of their birthdays were on the same day, though they are different ages.

* Dusty said to Brook: "I'm nine years older than Erin."
* Erin said to Brook: "I'm seven years older than Alex."
* Alex said to Brook: "Your age is exactly 70% greater than mine."
* Brook said to Cody: "Erin is younger than you."
* Cody said to Dusty: "The difference between our ages is six years."
* Cody said to Alex: "I'm ten years older than you."
* Cody said to Alex: "Brook is younger than Dusty."
* Brook said to Cody: "The difference between your age and Dusty's is the same as the difference between Dusty's and Erin's."
Since I knew these people -- and how old they were, I knew that they were not telling the whole truth.
After thinking about it, I realized that when one of them spoke to someone older, everything they said was true, but when speaking to someone younger, everything they said was false.
How old is each person?

The Lazy Gardener

It takes two gardeners 8 days to mow a lawn. One is lazy and one is energetic. The energetic one would only take 12 days to mow it on his own.

How many days would the lazy gardener take to mow the lawn on his own?