Warren Ruki & Thomas Fill-Benzie adding a practical dimension to mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics is a compulsory subject until the end of Year 11 and is one of the few subjects taught banded, with high-expectation groups extended and accelerated. Students with needs in numeracy are also targeted with extra support.

Homework
Students will receive homework on a daily basis except on assessment days; this is checked and feedback is given. Homework has a tremendous impact on student achievement and thus gets taken very seriously.

Assessment
Year 9 and 10 students study the units from the 3 strands of the New Zealand Mathematics Curriculum over their schooling. Assessment is aligned as closely to the structure of NCEA as possible. So a unit may be assessed as “Internal” (a project style assessment assessed during the year) or “External” (assessed at the end of the year in an examination).

Senior courses are entered in a combination of Unit Standards (best grade is achieved) and Achievement Standards (can also achieve with Merit and Excellence)

Structure

Year 9
Four Bands. Students are assessed in term 1 and placed appropriately in 1 of these 4 bands.

Year 10
Four Bands. Students are placed according to their final results in Year 9.

Year 11
Four courses to cater for the different needs of all students. The content and assessed standards in these courses is carefully selected to be give each student the chance to achieve well and be challenged.

Year 12
Three different courses to cater for the needs of all students - regular holiday workshops

Year 13
Mathematics with Statistics : Two courses
Mathematics with Calculus : Two courses

More information about each course can be found in the student handouts that all students receive at the beginning of their course.

Maths Publication
Maths Uncensored is a delightful read, put together entirely by students and aimed at introducing Maths at Springs to the community.