Maths Intent

Mathematics is a creative and highly interconnected discipline that has evolved over centuries to solve some of history’s most complex problems. It is essential to everyday life, fundamental to science, technology and engineering, and crucial for developing financial literacy and accessing most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education provides pupils with a strong foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

At Peakirk cum Glinton CE Primary School, we want all pupils to experience the beauty, power and enjoyment of mathematics and to develop a confident, ‘can do’ attitude towards the subject. We believe that all children can succeed in mathematics when taught well, in line with the 2014 National Curriculum, which states:

• Most pupils will move through the programmes of study at broadly the same pace.
• Pupils who grasp concepts rapidly should be challenged through rich and sophisticated problems before moving on to new content.
• Pupils who are not yet fluent with earlier material should consolidate their understanding through additional practice before progressing.

Our approach is underpinned by the NCETM’s Five Big Ideas for teaching for mastery: Mathematical Thinking, Representation and Structure, Coherence, Variation, and Fluency. These principles ensure that:

• Children make chains of reasoning by connecting ideas across all areas of mathematics.
• Concepts are explored using concrete, pictorial and abstract representations, helping pupils to spot patterns, specialise and generalise as they solve problems.
• Learning is broken down into small, connected steps to secure coherent progression through each topic.

Teachers focus relentlessly on fluency, particularly number sense and times tables, to develop rapid recall and confident application. We foster positive attitudes and create an environment where making ‘marvellous mistakes’ and addressing misconceptions are valued as essential parts of learning. The whole class is taught mathematics together, with no acceleration to new content. Instead, all pupils are supported and challenged to master each concept through careful scaffolding, targeted questioning and timely intervention. Pupils with EHCPs receive bespoke support aligned to their individual learning targets.

In our lessons, reasoning and problem solving are integral. Teacher and pupil interactions explore not just what the answer is, but how it was reached, why a method works, and whether there might be a more efficient strategy. Precise mathematical language is modelled and expected, often structured in full sentences to ensure clarity and rigour. We value mathematical talk, and children are given regular opportunities to discuss, question and evaluate their understanding with peers and adults.

We ensure sufficient time is spent on each key concept so that learning is deeply embedded before moving on. Through purposeful practice, practical activities, games, problem solving and open and closed tasks, children apply their understanding in a range of contexts, including opportunities to use and apply mathematics across other subjects.

At Peakirk cum Glinton, our goal is for every child to leave our school as a confident, fluent and resilient mathematician, ready to use mathematics to understand and change the world.