Maths

Maths at Cockwood embraces the integral understanding of number and the importance of children’s ability to reason and problem solve in equal measure. In order to be successful in later life and future employment, pupils at Cockwood are encouraged to enjoy the challenge that real-life contextual maths has to offer; with the underpinning of quick recall of number facts essential to this.

A Mastery approach to learning is utilised, combining the key 5 elements of a coherent curriculum, a range of appropriate representations of mathematical structures, mathematical thinking, fluency and variation of concept and procedure. Oracy is also at the heart of the maths curriculum at Cockwood. Children are encouraged to explain their thinking both orally and in its written form, with the use of mathematical vocabulary explicit in this. Each classroom is also primed with stem sentences to help the children confidently formulate their explanations or answer a question in Maths.

Accessing prior knowledge of subject specific content is key to both children and staff equally, in that opportunities to make clear what the children know and where they need to be empowers them to become highly motivated learners. Building and adding to existing knowledge is able to happen once prior knowledge has been accessed, and next steps carefully planned. This is done through careful and thorough assessment at both the start and end of a unit, and frequent formative assessment. In order to create confident learners with positive attitudes in Maths, Cockwood school prides itself on enrichment such as Times Table Rockstars day, NSPCC Number Day, as well as engaging in wider mathematical opportunities across the Trust and at Exeter University.