Maths A Level Course Outline
Advanced Level 3
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Study Maths
Maths is a stimulating and rewarding course that is highly regarded by universities and employers. You will learn very sophisticated mathematical skills and techniques. Additionally, studying maths will greatly improve your logic, reasoning, and problem-solving skills such as breaking a complex problem into smaller parts and then taking a methodical approach making sure nothing is missed, leading to a correct solution. These are all life skills that can have profound positive effects for you.
Having these skills:
- Is linked with higher wages
- Will enable you to make sense of charts and information reported in the media and draw your own conclusions
- Will give you financial capability – For example be able to select the cheapest loan, choose the most appropriate savings and insurance products and budget effectively.
- Allow you to make decisions in situations where some quantities are unknown or variable.
The General entry requirements for A Level courses are six GCSEs grades 9-4 and above, including English Language.
Grade 4 English - 7 in Maths - 7 in the subject
You will study Pure Maths such as Algebra, Calculus, and Trigonometry as well as Applied Maths, such as Mechanics and statistics.
In Mechanics you will learn how to model real life situations dealing with forces and motion, turning them into mathematical problems that can then be solved using Pure Maths. This is something engineers and scientists do in their day to day work.
In Statistics, you will also learn to model real life situation dealing with data, probability, as well as measuring and mitigating risk. These are techniques used by actuaries, economists, bankers and insurance companies.
You will sit 3 exams at the end of the 2 year course.
These will be:
- Paper 1: Pure Maths
- Paper 2: Pure Maths
- Paper 3: Stats and Mechanics
During the year you will have weekly homework, as well as half-termly “Tracker tests”. For these assessments, you will receive a variety of feedback including written, and verbal during lessons.
There is a huge wealth of careers and degree choices that either require or would benefit from studying maths including:
- Maths and Actuarials
- Engineering
- Computing
- Medicine
- Science
- Finance and Economics
"My experience so far in St Charles has been very good all the teachers are kind and understanding. However, A level maths has been especially great I have learnt a lot due to the good teaching and have improved a fair amount since the beginning."
"From meeting new personalities to getting adapted to a new country, it was supposed to be difficult but the positive environment at St Charles helped me a lot. The teachers are always eager to help and everyday feels like a new adventure."
"Maths has helped to improve my problem-solving skills and allowed me to look at questions in a more logical approach."
"The teachers are encouraging and are willing to put in effort and time to ensure that every student reaches their full potential. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience."
"Maths is a wonderful course to take. It is important to study maths regularly as we use it on a daily basis. With the help of my teachers, I am confident and prepared to seek a career path where I can use what I’ve learned from them."
"Mr Amin has helped me improve my mathematical ability as he is good with explaining methods to students. He also supports students outside of lessons, which is useful. Maths has helped me realise that if you practice, there is no such thing as impossible."
"‘I enjoy Maths as I find it fun and challenging."
"The teachers are very helpful and passionate about Maths."
Here in the Maths department, we have some distinctive features that we are very proud of:
Using big whiteboards to work in groups which students find useful and fun
Every student participates in the UKMT Senior Maths challenge
We have links with universities and employers where we take students to go experience life at uni or in the workplace.
Extensive support program – Weekly workshops led by staff. We also select some of our most successful A2 students to be paid to run workshops and mentor other students.
The Maths Society - Students with a passion for maths are given the opportunity here to explore mathematics outside of the curriculum. They will attend lectures and seminars as well as receive support in applying to the UKs most prestigious universities for maths related degrees.
Our maths team here at St Charles consists of Head of Maths, Sam Amin, and Maths teachers, Jessy John, Avinash Belliyappa. Each of our teachers have Maths degrees and many years of teaching experience.
Our Maths staff are passionate about Maths and about young people learning it. They are always willing to offer support outside of class on top of our extensive programme of support workshops.
Contact:
Head of Maths, Sam Amin, e: sam@stcharles.ac.uk
