Skip to content ↓

Maths

Northcroft School –Maths Curriculum

Aligned with Oak Academy Scheme • SEN “Depth not Breadth” • AQA Literature & Language Pathway

Intent

At Northcroft School, our intent is to ensure every learner develops mathematical confidence, fluency and curiosity within a supportive, nurturing environment. We recognise that many of our students join us with significant gaps in prior learning or negative experiences of Maths; therefore, our curriculum focuses on depth over breadth—building secure understanding of fundamental concepts before moving forward.

Mathematics at Northcroft is designed to:

  • Rebuild confidence and promote resilience through carefully scaffolded, step-by-step learning.

  • Provide real-life, functional numeracy skills that connect to independence, problem-solving, and employability.

  • Ensure clear progression through B² small-step assessment and the Oak National Academy 2025–2026 curriculum.

  • Support students’ social and emotional development through Thrive principles and Stable Futures enrichment, where mathematical skills are applied in outdoor, collaborative, and therapeutic contexts.

  • Prepare learners for a range of accredited outcomes including GCSE,s and Functional Skills pathways.

Implementation

Maths teaching is delivered through highly adapted Oak Academy sequences, tailored to meet the needs of each learner. Our approach prioritises fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving, supported by visuals, manipulatives, and practical applications.

Teaching strategies include:

  • Structured, small-step lessons with explicit vocabulary, worked examples, and clear success criteria.

  • Continuous formative assessment using B² and in-class review to identify misconceptions and celebrate progress.

  • Dedicated Maths interventions for learners with significant gaps or maths anxiety, delivered through 1:1 or small-group teaching.

  • Regular collaboration between the Maths Subject Specialist, SENDCo, and the wider teaching team to ensure consistency and inclusion.

  • Staff participation in the West Berkshire Maths Forum to strengthen subject knowledge, moderation, and local collaboration.

Mathematics is also embedded across the wider curriculum—for example, through Science, Food Technology, and Enterprise projects—ensuring that numeracy has a clear and meaningful context in daily life.

Impact

Our success is measured through progress in confidence, resilience, and independence as well as academic attainment. Evidence is gathered through:

  • B² tracking and progress data showing sustained improvement from each student’s starting point.

  • Pupil voice reflecting increased self-belief and enjoyment of Maths.

  • Lesson observations and book looks evidencing strong scaffolding and engagement.

  • Students demonstrating functional numeracy in cross-curricular and enrichment settings (e.g., budgeting, measurement, data handling).

Ultimately, our aim is for every student to leave Northcroft with the mathematical understanding and confidence to thrive in the next stage of their education, employment, or independent life.