Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Primary School

“So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good”

Genesis 1:21

Aims:

The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including the varied and regular practice of increasingly complex problems over time.

  • Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, understanding relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.

  • Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

Our Intent:

At Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Primary School, our aim is to ensure that every child develops a deep, lasting understanding of mathematics and becomes a confident, fluent, and independent problem solver. We follow the Ark Curriculum – Mathematics Mastery, which is grounded in the belief that every child can succeed in maths, given the right teaching and support.

Our maths curriculum is designed to provide all pupils with full access to powerful mathematical knowledge, regardless of their starting points or background. We want our children to develop not just the skills to succeed in the classroom, but also the ability to apply mathematical thinking to everyday life. Through carefully sequenced and well-structured lessons, we nurture resilience, curiosity, and a love of learning mathematics.

Our vision is that every child:

· Thinks mathematically and independently.

· Speaks confidently using mathematical vocabulary.

· Enjoys exploring patterns, making connections, and solving problems.

· Leaves primary school with strong foundations for future mathematical success.

Our Guiding Principles:

The teaching of mathematics at Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Primary School is underpinned by six key principles from the Ark Mathematics Mastery approach, adapted to meet the needs of our pupils and school community:

1. Success for All

We have high expectations for every pupil. Our inclusive approach means that all children move through the curriculum at broadly the same pace, with scaffolding in place for those who need support and opportunities for depth and challenge for those ready to go further. No child is left behind.

2. Deep Understanding

We place a strong emphasis on developing deep conceptual understanding, rather than rote learning of procedures. Children are taught to represent mathematical ideas in multiple ways and to explain their reasoning using precise mathematical language.

3. Mathematical Thinking

Thinking skills are embedded in every lesson. Children are encouraged to notice patterns, make connections, and think logically. They are taught to reason mathematically, justify their answers, and evaluate the efficiency of different strategies.

4. Language and Communication

We believe that mathematical understanding is strengthened through talk. Teachers explicitly teach key mathematical vocabulary and sentence structures, and pupils are expected to use these to articulate their thinking clearly and confidently.

5. Coherence and Consistency

The curriculum is carefully sequenced so that each lesson builds on prior knowledge and lays the foundations for future learning. Concepts are broken down into small, connected steps to ensure that learning is coherent and secure. Consistent use of visual models and representations supports this.

6. Fluency with Flexibility

Fluency is developed through understanding, not memorisation alone. Pupils are taught efficient methods but are also encouraged to use mental strategies, number facts, and flexible thinking to solve problems. Regular practice helps embed knowledge, but always with a focus on meaning.

Please find below some information that you may find useful. If you require any further information, please contact the school office.

maths implementation overview.pdf

 

Maths Implementation on a page

Documents

Mathematics Curriculum Map Spring 2024