Case studies

Activities for able, gifted and talented pupils in mathematics

About the school

James Lewis-Coll, mathematics consultant in Telford and Wrekin LEA, describes the activities undertaken in Adams Grammar School to enrich the mathematics curriculum at Key Stage 3.

Adams Grammar is an 11 to 18 selective school. Years 7 to 11 are boys only and the sixth form coeducational. There are approximately 750 pupils on roll.

The school aims to develop academic excellence in tandem with the all-round development of the pupil. The mathematics department includes a Leading Mathematics Teacher and has drawn appropriately from the Key Stage 3 National Strategy guidance and resources for mathematics.

About 90% of the pupils start Year 7 at national curriculum level 5 in mathematics; the remainder are usually at level 4, and very occasionally a pupil starts at level 6. By the end of Year 9, 35% of the pupils are at level 8, nearly 60% are at level 7, and a handful are at level 6. At GCSE, about 20% obtain an A* grade, 40% obtain an A grade, and nearly all the rest obtain a B grade. Around a third of the pupils could, therefore, be described as particularly talented at mathematics – they progress at about one national curriculum level per year.

Able pupils are identified informally using professional judgement; this is assisted by the use of regular tests across the whole department (approx every 5 to 6 weeks throughout Key Stage 3).

The department strongly believes in enrichment of the core curriculum rather than acceleration. They feel this is more consistent with the way that pupils' mental faculties develop.