Maths

Our Vision

At Birchills Church of England Community Academy we believe that every child can achieve highly in mathematics. Through a carefully sequenced, year-group mastery curriculum, we ensure pupils develop secure number sense, deep conceptual understanding and fluent recall. Teaching is underpinned by the NCETM Five Big Ideas and strengthened through the Mastering Number programme, enabling pupils to reason clearly, solve problems confidently and use precise mathematical language.

We place equity and high expectations at the heart of our provision. All pupils access the same ambitious curriculum, with support and challenge provided through representation, structured talk and depth of learning rather than acceleration. Our pupils leave Birchills Church of England Community Academy as confident, articulate and resilient mathematicians who can make connections, explain their thinking and apply their learning successfully to new contexts.

A Mastery Approach

At Birchills Church of England Community Academy, we teach mathematics through a year-group mastery approach so that all children develop secure number sense, fluency and confidence. Learning is carefully sequenced in small steps, using practical resources, visual models and precise mathematical language. All pupils are supported and challenged to reason, solve problems and explain their thinking, ensuring strong foundations for future learning.

Our Mastery approach is underpinned by the Five Big Ideas of Mastery which is outlined below.

Coherence
Learning is carefully sequenced so that each new concept builds on prior knowledge. This helps children make connections, apply their learning and explain their thinking with confidence.

Representation and Structure
We use concrete resources, pictorial models and abstract symbols to help pupils see the mathematics. These representations reveal mathematical structure and support children in developing strong mental images and understanding.

Mathematical Thinking
Children are encouraged to think mathematically in every lesson by spotting patterns, making connections, reasoning and explaining their ideas using accurate mathematical language.

Fluency
Fluency is about more than speed. Pupils develop secure knowledge of key facts and procedures, alongside the flexibility to choose efficient strategies and solve problems confidently.

Variation
Teachers carefully vary examples and tasks to draw attention to key mathematical ideas. This helps pupils notice what stays the same and what changes, deepening understanding.

Through this approach, children become confident, capable mathematicians who are well prepared for the next stage of their learning.