Maths
The Mathematics Department at Loretto consists of four full time mathematics teachers, one part-time teacher and a support for learning teacher. The mathematics block has five inviting rooms, each well-resourced with and furnished with an interactive Smartboard as well as a standard whiteboard.
It is the aim of the department to present maths as an enjoyable, stimulating and useful subject which plays a large part in everyday life. With the use of varied teaching styles and resources, we provide the students with the tools to:
- Identify a problem
- Select an appropriate method to solve it
- Follow through with a solution
- Check the solution
- Interpret the results
- Communicate the results
At the same time, we prepare students to sit exams appropriate to their ability and to achieve their full potential in these exams.
Students in the Second Form follow a scheme of work based on key Stage 3 mathematics.
Students in Third, Fourth and Fifth Form follow the EDEXCEL Linear GCSE course at the appropriate level.
We offer Maths A-Level and Further Maths at AS and A-Level. In addition, students wishing to go to Cambridge or Warwick Universities also sit STEP papers.
Maths A-Level follows the Edexcel course which includes Algebra and Functions, Coordinate Geometry in the (x, y) plane, Sequences and Series, Trigonometry, Exponentials and Logarithms, Differentiation, Integration, Numerical Methods and Vectors. Other areas of study include Statistical Sampling, Data Presentation and Interpretation, Probability, Statistical Distributions and Hypothesis Testing, Mechanics, Quantities and Units in Mechanics, Kinematics, Forces and Newton’s Laws.
Further Maths includes Quadratic Equations including complex numbers, matrices and algebra.