Mathematics Department Profile

The department consists of Mr. Tomison, Mr. McKenzie, Mrs. McCarthy, Mrs. Caudrey and Miss Hope.

Teaching Approaches
A variety of approaches are taken, and all pupils will become familiar with the following approaches;

• Introduction to lesson – mental problems/starter problems/explanation of purpose of lesson/resume of previous workTeacher led discussion- with praise used effectively to build confidence
• Chance given for pupil response/feedback                            

       -sometimes with pupil whiteboard to involve all pupils        -sometimes with Interactive Voting System(individual handsets)

• Prepared presentations – for some or most of a lesson(Powerpoint, Boardworks, MathsAlive)
• Teacher led games/activities – from internet or commercially produced softwareSkills practice from text or worksheets
• Mental or Aural questions led by teacherNon-calculator practice
• Individual work on TI-83 plus calculators
• Board games - in groups
• Homework review – discussing problems & highlighting good work
• Groupwork exercises – various

Study Clubs
These have become quite established over the last ten years and are used by pupils from S1 to S6. 

Purpose:  catch up with classwork, complete homework, revise for tests, go over tests etc.  We often encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own progress by specifically inviting them along to the clubs and providing a specific programme.  Easter Study clubs have proved quite popular in recent years.

Revision resources - see maths revision poster

Maths Competitions
Each year we enter pupils for the full range of UKMC competitions. (S1 to S6)

We encourage the pupils to take part in the Scottish Mathematical Challenge – a series of sets of problems done over a 6 month period.   

We always enter a S3/4 team in the Perth & Kinross Maths Competition, and a S1/2 team in the UKMC Team Challenge.

We annually run a Primary Enterprising Maths Competition for all Primary 7 pupikls in our feeder Primaries.