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KS3 CURRICULUM

KS3 MATHS LEARNING JOURNEY

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to focus on what our students can achieve, supporting every learner to develop confidence and success in mathematics. We promote our core values of Respect, Aspiration and Resilience, encouraging students to take pride in their work, aim high and persevere when faced with challenge. Through this, we develop independent, motivated learners with a genuine desire to succeed.

Mastery Bands

We have organised the Key Stage 3 Curriculum into four mastery bands. These are:

  • Emerging
  • Developing
  • Securing
  • Mastering

These bands show the difference between superficial and deep learning. Some students may only scratch the surface of a topic, while others, through sustained effort, are able to explore ideas more deeply and develop a stronger understanding of both knowledge and skills.

Below is an overview of the skills within each of the four mastery bands:

Emerging: Students demonstrate limited and sometimes inconsistent knowledge. They are able to recall some concepts with partial understanding; however, application is often incorrect or incomplete. Key skills are still developing.
[Below expected level for Year 7/8]

Developing: Students demonstrate a sound understanding of key concepts and are increasingly able to apply their knowledge appropriately. There is some evidence of selecting suitable methods independently, although consistency is still developing.
[At expected level for Year 7]

Securing: Students can apply their knowledge confidently and accurately. They demonstrate the ability to analyse skills and concepts, allowing them to draw conclusions and make informed judgements independently.
[At expected level for Year 7/8]

Mastering: Students demonstrate a deep and connected understanding of knowledge, skills, and concepts. They are able to synthesise ideas across different areas and make well-informed evaluations. Skills are highly developed, and students can confidently transfer their understanding to unfamiliar contexts.
[Above expected level for Year 7/8]

Curriculum Contents

By the end of Key Stage 3, we believe every student should have built a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding across the following mathematical topics, delivered, and consolidated over a two-year curriculum:

Year 7 curriculum

Number

Students will learn to:

  • use the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) with whole numbers, negative numbers, and decimals up to two decimal places
  • order negative numbers and to use and understand coordinates in all four quadrants
  • work with simple fractions using the four operations, calculate fractions of amounts and solve related problems
  • recognise and use the equivalence of fractions, decimals and percentages
  • recognise and use factors, multiples, prime numbers, squares and square roots
  • understand and apply the order of operations, with and without a calculator

Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change

Students will learn to:

  • convert between standard units of time, switch between 12-hour and 24-hour clocks and interpret time on a calculator
  • convert between metric units of length, mass and capacity
  • understand and use ratio notation, simplify ratios, and divide quantities according to a given ratio
  • solve simple problems involving direct proportion

Algebra

Students will learn to:

  • recognise and work with terms, expressions and equations using correct vocabulary.
  • expand brackets and factorise expressions into a single bracket
  • combine like terms to simplify algebraic expressions
  • substitute values into expressions and formulae
  • form and solve linear equations with an unknown on one side

Geometry and Measures

Students will learn to:

  • use formulae to calculate perimeters and areas of rectangles, triangles and compound shapes, and solve related problems
  • use angle facts, including angles at a point, on a straight line, vertically opposite angles, and in triangles
  • identify, sketch and draw 2D shapes that have lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry
  • use formulae to calculate the volume and surface area of cubes and cuboids

Statistics

Students will learn to:

  • construct and interpret bar charts, pie charts and pictograms
  • use mean, median, mode and range to calculate and compare averages

Probability

Students will learn to:

  • recognise and use probability vocabulary, including the scale from impossible (0) to certain (1).
  • list all possible outcomes of a single event
  • use sample space diagrams to identify possible outcomes

Year 8 curriculum

In Year 8, students study the following topics:

Number

Students will learn to:

  • use estimation and approximation to evaluate calculations with whole numbers and decimals
  • round numbers and measures to a given number of decimal places and significant figures”
  • find fractions of quantities, order fractions, and perform the four operations with improper fractions and mixed numbers
  • use recurring decimal notation and convert fractions to recurring decimals
  • calculate percentages of amounts and determine percentage increase, decrease, and change
  • convert between standard form and ordinary numbers
  • convert between standard form and ordinary numbers
  • recognise and use multiples and factors, including HCF and LCM, and powers and roots

Ratio, Proportion and Rates of Change

Students will learn to:

  • use units of measurement to estimate and draw and interpret scale drawings
  • use and understand links between ratio, proportion and fractions in real-life contexts, such as value for money
  • compare and interpret ratios and use ratio in a range of contexts, including solving problems

Algebra

Students will learn to:

  • expand and simplify algebraic expressions, including multiplying out single and double brackets
  • solve linear equations with integer coefficients, including those with an unknown on both sides and involving brackets
  • represent and solve linear inequalities, including interpreting and drawing solutions on number lines
  • simplify, add and subtract algebraic fractions
  • apply index laws to simplify expressions involving positive and negative integer powers
  • interpret and generate sequences using term-to-term and position-to-term rules
  • find and use midpoints of line segments given coordinates
  • recognise and interpret equations and graphs of straight lines

Geometry and Measures

Students will learn to:

  • calculate the area of trapezia and parallelograms, convert between units of area, and find the surface area of prisms
  • use formulae to calculate the circumference and area of circles
  • solve geometrical problems involving angles in parallel lines, properties of quadrilaterals, and angles in polygons
  • describe and use bearings and loci
  • translate and reflect 2D shapes on a coordinate grid
  • calculate the volume of cuboids and prisms, convert between units of volume, and identify 3D shapes using faces, edges and vertices

Statistics

Students will learn to:

  • identify sources of data and determine appropriate sample sizes
  • construct and interpret stem-and-leaf diagrams, pie charts and line graphs
  • compare distributions and interpret time series graphs
  • justify and communicate the results of statistical enquiries

Probability

Students will learn to:

  • determine and record all possible outcomes of two or more events using sample space and Venn diagrams
  • identify and record mutually exclusive outcomes

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