Case studies

Managing Year 7 mathematics catch-up

How the Key Stage 3 National Pilot links into our school's own priorities

Charles McCarthy, head of mathematics, describes how, with support from local consultants and the LEA, his school has successfully organised a Year 7 catch-up programme.

All Saints Catholic School and Technology College in Dagenham is a mixed 11-18 comprehensive with 1200 pupil on roll, located in a challenging area of East London. In September 2000, 32% of the Year 7 intake had not reached Level 4 at Key Stage 2. These pupils formed the cohort for the catch-up programme. The objectives of the Key Stage 3 Pilot made sense for us in the mathematics faculty as they explicitly linked with the school's own priorities and aims, as stated in our school development plan, of: 

• building on pupils' prior learning from Key Stage 2;
• raising attainment at Key Stage 3; and
• using a variety of teaching strategies.