A brief description of the course followed in Years 7 and 8. In each of Years 7 and 8 all pupils receive four Maths periods, and two pieces of homework, per week. In Year 7, what is taught and how it is taught is determined not only by the National Curriculum appropriate to that age group, but by awareness of the fact that their first year in the 'big school' can be very daunting for such young children, and by recognition also of the very different mathematical backgrounds from which our pupils come.
Much emphasis is given to strengthening basic techniques and developing confidence.
There is ample opportunity for gaps in what should have been learnt previously to be plugged, and for those with a less satisfactory mathematical start in life to catch up. And to ensure that the more able pupils are not held back by this deliberately gentle introduction to their mathematical life at Dauntsey's, there will be frequent opportunities of forays into NC Level 6 and even beyond, particularly in the form of investigative work. In Year 8, pupils are divided into sets by ability, each set progressing through the National Curriculum at a pace appropriate to that ability. Set changes may take place from time to time to reflect the progress of each pupil. By the end of Year 8, all but the very weakest will have completed NC Level 6, and the top set will have covered some of Level 7.