Maths
What are we aiming for?
Our maths curriculum equips all children with the numeracy skills they need for everyday life and prepares them for the next stage of their education. We aim for every child to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics and to approach the subject with curiosity, confidence, and resilience. We believe all children can succeed in maths and work to build positive attitudes that encourage them to enjoy learning and rise to challenges. Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to reach their full potential, make connections across mathematical concepts, and apply their knowledge in meaningful ways. We place a strong emphasis on using accurate mathematical vocabulary and applying skills across the wider curriculum, particularly in science and design and technology. At its heart, our maths teaching seeks to foster a genuine love for the subject.
How do we achieve this?
At Forsbrook, we follow a teaching-for-mastery approach underpinned by the NCETM’s Five Big Ideas. Lessons are carefully sequenced to build concepts progressively, ensuring all pupils can access the learning. Concrete and pictorial representations are used to reveal mathematical structure and embed concepts, allowing pupils to see the maths and explain it using correct mathematical vocabulary and STEM sentences. Pupils are encouraged to reason, discuss, and articulate their thinking, developing both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency.
We use the DfE-approved Power Maths programme alongside the Mastering Number programmes from Reception through Key Stage 2 to develop strong number sense, fluency in arithmetic facts, and confidence with multiplicative relationships. Weekly arithmetic quizzes reinforce key knowledge, while targeted, ongoing interventions provide support to help all pupils keep up with the curriculum. Challenge is embedded in daily lessons and extended through initiatives such as the Primary Maths Challenge, enterprise projects, and in-school competitions.
Forsbrook is actively involved with the local Maths Hub to drive pedagogy, ensuring that teachers are equipped and confident to deliver high-quality maths teaching. This engagement supports sustained professional development and ongoing improvements in the teaching-for-mastery approach across the school.
What difference is this making for our pupils?
Our approach enables children to build a secure understanding of mathematical concepts and apply their learning with confidence. Pupils are becoming fluent in number facts and operations, supported by a consistent teaching-for-mastery approach. In Key Stage 2, pupils develop a deeper understanding of multiplicative relationships, enhancing their ability to reason, solve problems, and approach more complex content with assurance.
Children are growing in resilience and independence, regularly applying their mathematical knowledge across subjects and in real-life contexts. Regular assessment and proactive support ensure misconceptions are addressed early, helping all pupils keep up with learning. As a result, children at Forsbrook are confident, capable mathematicians who enjoy the subject, can articulate their thinking clearly, and are well-prepared for the next stage of their education.