Maths

At Gad’s Hill Lower School, our One Curriculum provides a rich, challenging, and carefully planned journey from Early Years to Lower Shell. It begins in EYFS, where children work towards their Good Level of Development (GLD) through purposeful play, early exploration, and strong foundations in mathematical language, number, and curiosity. 

As children move through the school, their mathematical understanding grows year on year. Lessons are carefully sequenced to build knowledge, fluency, and confidence. Our teachers tailor learning to meet individual needs, ensuring every child is supported and challenged appropriately. Through active learning, creative thinking, and resilience, children develop vital life skills—with maths playing a central role. 

We use evidence-based research and a blend concrete, pictorial and abstract representations that help bring mathematical concepts to life. Maths at Gad’s Hill develops problem-solving, logical thinking, and a belief that every child can succeed. We celebrate the subject through national events such as NSPCC’s Number Day and Maths Week England. 

Beyond the classroom, enrichment opportunities and real-life learning experiences help our curriculum truly come alive. We aim to inspire every child to love learning, challenge themselves, and take pride in their mathematical progress ready for their journey into the Upper School. 

Mathematics is a subject which lends itself naturally to all others.  At Gad’s Hill the mathematics course develops numerous core skills which can be applied to all other academic subjects and ultimately to various different career paths. Skills in number, data handling, algebraic manipulation, ratio, proportion and probability and Statistics are all covered in depth in the curriculum.  

The study of, and interest in, Mathematics develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills for life. It can be as simple as using logic to solve a sudoku puzzle for fun or having the skills to competently analyse spreadsheets of economic data for a large global company. 

At Gad’s we believe that a deep understanding of mathematics will therefore give you a firm grounding on the journey to leading a successful life in the modern world and so this is our goal.   

A recent study showed that the top three jobs in terms of income and job satisfaction were careers suited for those with academic strengths in Mathematics. These included scientists and employment in the world of Finance and Medicine. Other career paths include Computer Science; Engineering; the Military and Education.  

At Gad’s Mathematics is taught in various ways with an emphasis on skill mastery and knowledge recall. There is collaborative work, investigative work, using the Mathswatch online platform, presentations of problems and solutions by students to their classmates and practical work with quick fire problems, puzzles, games and discussions.  

Pupils have the opportunity to sit the UK Maths challenges each year and advance to further stages if successful in the initial challenge. We usually get some pupils progressing each year onto the next stage.  

Many of our pupils each year choose to take GCSE Statistics and Further Maths as an after school taught option and enjoy the challenge that this brings. Results are highly successful. 

Building confidence in each and every pupil is a further goal of the department. Progression to taking A Level Maths is also a popular option each year, partly as a result of this.  

In short, we aim to equip all of our students with the knowledge and skills to become accomplished mathematicians who are able to reason and interpret across a range of topics. We try and do this while maintaining a sense of enjoyment and linking, wherever possible, to real world situations in which the skill or method could be used and careers in which this skill will be valuable. 

At Gad’s Hill Lower School, our One Curriculum provides a rich, challenging, and carefully planned journey from Early Years to Lower Shell. It begins in EYFS, where children work towards their Good Level of Development (GLD) through purposeful play, early exploration, and strong foundations in mathematical language, number, and curiosity. 

As children move through the school, their mathematical understanding grows year on year. Lessons are carefully sequenced to build knowledge, fluency, and confidence. Our teachers tailor learning to meet individual needs, ensuring every child is supported and challenged appropriately. Through active learning, creative thinking, and resilience, children develop vital life skills—with maths playing a central role. 

We use evidence-based research and a blend concrete, pictorial and abstract representations that help bring mathematical concepts to life. Maths at Gad’s Hill develops problem-solving, logical thinking, and a belief that every child can succeed. We celebrate the subject through national events such as NSPCC’s Number Day and Maths Week England. 

Beyond the classroom, enrichment opportunities and real-life learning experiences help our curriculum truly come alive. We aim to inspire every child to love learning, challenge themselves, and take pride in their mathematical progress ready for their journey into the Upper School. 

Mathematics is a subject which lends itself naturally to all others.  At Gad’s Hill the mathematics course develops numerous core skills which can be applied to all other academic subjects and ultimately to various different career paths. Skills in number, data handling, algebraic manipulation, ratio, proportion and probability and Statistics are all covered in depth in the curriculum.  

The study of, and interest in, Mathematics develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills for life. It can be as simple as using logic to solve a sudoku puzzle for fun or having the skills to competently analyse spreadsheets of economic data for a large global company. 

At Gad’s we believe that a deep understanding of mathematics will therefore give you a firm grounding on the journey to leading a successful life in the modern world and so this is our goal.   

A recent study showed that the top three jobs in terms of income and job satisfaction were careers suited for those with academic strengths in Mathematics. These included scientists and employment in the world of Finance and Medicine. Other career paths include Computer Science; Engineering; the Military and Education.  

At Gad’s Mathematics is taught in various ways with an emphasis on skill mastery and knowledge recall. There is collaborative work, investigative work, using the Mathswatch online platform, presentations of problems and solutions by students to their classmates and practical work with quick fire problems, puzzles, games and discussions.  

Pupils have the opportunity to sit the UK Maths challenges each year and advance to further stages if successful in the initial challenge. We usually get some pupils progressing each year onto the next stage.  

Many of our pupils each year choose to take GCSE Statistics and Further Maths as an after school taught option and enjoy the challenge that this brings. Results are highly successful. 

Building confidence in each and every pupil is a further goal of the department. Progression to taking A Level Maths is also a popular option each year, partly as a result of this.  

In short, we aim to equip all of our students with the knowledge and skills to become accomplished mathematicians who are able to reason and interpret across a range of topics. We try and do this while maintaining a sense of enjoyment and linking, wherever possible, to real world situations in which the skill or method could be used and careers in which this skill will be valuable.