GCSE Mathematics - Haringeymath's Blog

Faculty of Maths, Science and SportsGCSE MathematicsCourse HandbookHaringey Sixth Form CentreWhite Hart Lane, Tottenham, London N17 8HRTel: 0208 376 6000Fax: 0208 376 5900www.haringey6.ac.ukHaringeymath.wordpress.com

Contents.1.Contents PagePage 12.WelcomePage 23.Staff names, roles and contact detailsPage 34.Aims and objectives of coursePage 45.Course structurePages 56.CalendarPage 6-77.Assessment structurePages 88.ProgressionPage 99.Study skills advicePage 1010.Study CentresPage 1111Health and SafetyPage 1212.ExpectationsPage 1313.Equipment and resourcesPage 14

WelcomeWelcome to Haringey Sixth Form Centre and the Faculty of Maths, Science & Sports.We hope that your experience here will be a positive and enjoyable one.This handbook is provided to give you the information that you need to start your courseand will also be useful throughout the time that you are studying here at the Centre. YourPersonal Tutor will spend time during induction helping you to find out everything you needto know and part of this time will be spent looking through the handbook.There are many people who are available to help you through your studies, their namesand roles have been included in the handbook so that if the answers to your questions arenot here you always have another way of finding them out.You will also find important dates and deadlines for you to note and include in your StudentDiary. It is essential that you stick closely to all course deadlines if you are to succeed andachieve your goals.As with all organisations there are rules and procedures to follow. We hope that these havebeen made clear, but if you are not sure about any of them please refer to the relevant sections in the handbook or ask your Personal Tutor.Finally, in this handbook, you will find various sources of information and advice which aredesigned to help you achieve the best possible results and provide progression to careersand higher education. But, above all, this handbook is designed to help you to enjoy yourtime at Haringey Sixth Form Centre.

Staff Names and RolesStaffHead of Faculty-Mike O’BrienProgramme Manager Maths-Daniel OladejoProgramme Manager Sports-Kevin BrowneLearning MentorMichael DebrahTeachersBiology-Anne BedfordLaura NichollsChemistry-Zabed AhmedMichelle Blenheim-AningPhysics-Mike O’BrienMaths-Daniel OladejoMarios AmericanosGaetano FarrugiaSports-Carlos MunozJennifer Maysmor-GeeKevin BrownTechniciansScience-Anjna VaraJulie Nicholson

Aims and ObjectivesThis course has the following aims; it should:enable you to acquire knowledge and skills with confidence, satisfaction and enjoymentgive you experience of mathematical activity and develop resourcefulness in solvingproblems.enable you to apply mathematics and recognise its significance to other disciplinesprovide you with a foundation for further study of mathematics

Course StructureThis course follows the Edexcel Higher (modular) Syllabus [2MB01]There are 3 units that you will study and you will sit exams in each of the units.Unit 1: Statistics and ProbabilityThis unit involves the study of data and will explore topics such as:Collecting and displaying data, averages, scatter graphs and correlation and probabilty,relative frequencyUnit 2: Number, Algebra and Geometry 1This unit involves the study of topics such as:Integers, decimals and fractions, percentages, ratio and scale, patterns and sequences,algebra and it’s manipulation, lines, angles and polygons.Unit 3: Number, Algebra and Geometry 2This unit continues from the work studied in Unit 2 and includes topics such as:Standard form, solving linear equations, straight line graphs, transformations and Pythagoras theorem.These units are examined by 3 papers:Unit 1 is worth 30% of the final marks and is a calculator paperUnit 2 is worth 30% of the final marks and is a non-calculator paperUnit 3 is worth 40% of the final marks and is a calculator paperUnit 1 and 2 will be examined in March 2012Unit 3 will be examined in June 2012

GCSE Schemes of WorkWeekActivitiesGCSE TimetablesWeeksCommencingSeptember 3rdBasic algebra revision and Surds (C1)1.For all GCSE schemes of work, please visit r 10thQuadratics, Surds Test, Equations & Formulae Test, Indices2Alternatively, click the following links:3September 17thQuadratics,IndicesTestof WorkNumberScheme4September 24th5October 1st6October 8thAlgebra Scheme of WorkQuadratics Test, Factor/Remainder TheoremData Handling Scheme of WorkCurve Sketching, Factor/Remainder Theorem TestShape & Space Scheme of WorkCurve Sketching, Binomial Expansions7October 15thGraph Transformations Test, Binomial Expansions TestOctober 22ndHALF TERMMaths GCSEWednesdayThursdayThursdayFridayGroupCOctober 29thInequalities(C1), Data Presentation(S1)8S5S5S5S5Room5thInequalities Test, Co-ordinate Geometry(C1), Data 600TimeMARIOSTOMTest(C1), DataMARIOSTOMCo-ordinate SKWEEDAY10November 12th11November 19thTeacherCo-ordinate Geometry(C1), Data Presentation Test (S1)MathsGCSENovember 26th MondayCo-ordinateWednesdayGeometry(C1), Probability(S1)12FridayGroup DDecember 3rd13S4C1 Review, TimeDecember 10thC1 Mock Paper, Probability(S1)14MARIOSGAETANODecember 17thProbability Test(S1)15AMERICANOSFARRUGIATeacherDecember 20thMaths GCSEGroup ERoomTimeTeacherMaths GCSEGroup AETANOFARRUGIACHRISTMAS LOLADEJO

Assessment StructureYour final GCSE grade is assessed by external exams and coursework but we will assessyour work in a variety of ways throughout the course. The aims of continuous assessmentare:to allow you to monitor your progress and understanding of each topicto allow your Maths teacher to monitor your progress and understandingto identity any problem areasFREQUENT TOPIC TESTSAt the end of each topic you will have a 20-30 minute test in one of your lessons. Thesetests will be mainly multiple choice on the basics of topics you have just covered, plus a little revision. They will show you if you are keeping up with new work and remind you ofbasic algebraic techniques. These tests will help you monitor your progress and see if youare putting in enough work outside the classroom.ASSIGNMENTSOver the year you will have to complete a number of assignments. These consist of around15 questions, many of which have been taken from previous exam papers.Assignments will be given to you every 2 weeks before you have covered the work in class.As the work is covered you will be able to attempt more of the questions. Each assignmentis expected to be around 4 hours work.Assignments will be uploaded on the Mathematics departments blog, located at:haringeymath.wordpress.comIt is your responsibility to download the assignments and print them off.YOUR SUBJECT TEACHER WILL NOT DO THIS FOR YOUThe deadline for assignments is given on the front sheet.These deadlines are NON-NEGOTIABLE. It is your responsibility to hand in your work onor before the deadline date.Non-completion of assignments to a good standard, and on time, will be taken as evidenceof a lack of commitment to this course. This will be treated very seriously and appropriateaction will be taken.Give yourself enough time to complete the assignments set and try to establish a weeklyroutine for doing maths in particular give yourself enough time to visit the MATHS WORKSHOPS (see timetable) for help well before the deadline date.

ProgressionAt this stage in your education, you will already have had to make many decisions about yourfuture career and for most of you, your choice of subjects is based upon where you intend togo, and what you intend to do, after leaving school.If you wish to continue studying maths beyond GCSE level, then you may wish to choose tostudy A Level Mathematics. You will need to achieve a grade A or B, however we may alsodecide to test your skills in algebra to determine your suitability for the Maths A Level course.For those intending to continue on to university, there are very few degree subjects for whicha maths A Level would not be useful. Many degree courses do not require specific A levelsubjects, but, of those that do, maths is by far the subject most commonly required. The reason for this is that maths equips you with numerous transferable skills. These skills—problemsolving, logical thinking, conceptual ability, communication, data handling and interpretation,and research—are useful in any job, and employers will recognise that you have them if youhave studied maths.Apart from these general transferable skills, maths also equips you with a set of tools that arevital in many jobs. It opens up opportunities in many areas such as: banking and finance, ITand computing or accountancy and engineering to name a few.

Study Skills AdviceYou will have to take responsibility for your own programme of study, however if you arehaving difficulty with the understanding of the topics, your teacher will refer you to get additional support by attending the Mathematics workshops and/or attending study sessionswith the faculty Learning Mentor.To ensure that you have a good grasp of a topic bear in mind the following strategies:ask your teacher during the lesson if you don’t understand or if you need a point clarified . don’t let the opportunity pass. visit the Maths workshops discuss your problems with your friends re-read your notes and work through examples done in class use your textbook give yourself plenty of time to do your assignments use the Mymaths resources (www.mymaths.co.uk) and the Haringey Mathematicsblog (Haringeymath.wordpress.com) for extra tutorials and interactive exercises.PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (well, almost!). It may be boring to do lots of examples ofthe same type of problem but rather like press-ups to build up your muscles, practising examples will build up your mental stamina and do wonders for your confidence. Simply understanding and just working through one single example will not be enough to embed difficult mathematical procedures and concepts in your mind.

Mathematics WorkshopWhat the Mathematics Workshop can provide to support youOpening TimesOpen from: 13:00 - 14:00 on Monday to ThursdayALL WORKSHOPS ARE IN S5The Mathematics workshops will be available for students to work individually or in smallgroups on assignments and research tasks.At all times a member of staff will be present to support you and help them with any questionsthat you may have about your work or about science or maths in general.The PC network has been set up with a range of useful software designed for use with specific courses or more generally for revision etc. The Centre VLE is also accessible on the network with a range of information and activities for students to use in relation to their courses.Recommended textbooks and other texts that will provide support for your studies will be keptwithin the book stock in the Study Centre for students to read and refer to whilst working in it.These are not to be taken out of the Centre or used at home. If you would like advice on howto borrow or obtain particular texts or sources of information then please ask a member ofstaff.Relevant web-sites and reading material such as the New Scientist magazine will be provided& regularly updated so that students and staff can research a particular topic or look for inspiration and ideas.