Mathematics
Staff​
Head of Department
Miss Mary Bogan
Subject Teachers
Mrs Bronagh Mullan (Head of Numeracy),
Mr Colm Maguire,
Mrs Stephanie O’Neill,
Mr Brian Regan.
Subject Information
Mathematical Skills are viewed most highly by employers. Mathematics can be used as a tool to solve problems in many different work situations and most employers would be keen for their workforce to be as numerate as possible.
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Departmental Aims
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To develop a positive attitude to Mathematics in the school focusing on the students’ confidence, enjoyment and perseverance. To develop a classroom ethos distinguished by enthusiastic and challenging teaching in a supportive climate.
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To stress the importance of Mathematics in everyday life and develop an understanding of the part which Mathematics plays in the world around them.
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To develop within students, the ability to think mathematically - precisely, logically and creatively. To encourage students to think for themselves and to apply their knowledge to a range of problems in a variety of contexts.
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To develop an ability to understand mathematical ideas and to communicate them in a variety of modes. To encourage students to ask questions and to express their reasoning and thoughts.
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To develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to apply a range of mathematical concepts to situations which may arise in their own lives.
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To use a variety of motivating experiences in the classroom, taking account of differences in abilities and in the ways in which students learn most effectively.
Key Stage 3
Our aim is for the students to develop a powerful set of tools that can be used to reason, problem solve and think in abstract ways.
The Northern Ireland curriculum aims to empower young people to achieve their potential and to make informed decisions throughout their lives
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To develop the young person as an individual
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To develop the young person as a contributor to society
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To develop the young person as a contributor to the economy and environment
GCSE
All students will study CCEA GCSE Mathematics.
Year 11 students sit M3 or M4 (in exceptional cases M2)
Year 12 students will sit M7 or M8 (in exceptional cases M6)
GCSE Further Mathematics
Two groups will also study GCSE Further Mathematics.
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GCSE Further Mathematics takes the study of Mathematics beyond the content of GCSE Higher Tier. It introduces some of the mechanics and statistics topics that students encounter in GCE Mathematics and acts as a ‘stepping stone’ between GCSE and GCE.
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Year 11 students sit Paper 1
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Year 12 students sit Papers 2 and 3
A-Level
GCE A level Mathematics builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding that students have developed in their previous study of mathematics up to GCSE level. A study of GCSE Further Mathematics is beneficial but is not a requirement.
AS Level
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Students will follow the CCEA course for an AS award. Students sit examinations in 2 modules in June of Year 13 (AS1 and AS2)
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A-Level
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Students follow the CCEA course for an A2 Award. Students sit examinations in 2 modules in June of Year 14 (A21 and A22)
Careers
Mathematicians generally define their work as solving theoretical and practical problems concerned with engineering, economics, marketing, physical sciences, computing and statistics.
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As a result, they are much in demand, particularly in actuarial work and in finance. There is also a substantial and increasing demand for mathematicians to work in the science and electronics-based industries and engineering.
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