Examining Board – AQA
The Mathematics faculty at Rainford College offers a wide range of courses at AS and A level. Mathematics is a popular subject and students achieve a very high level of success.
A Level results in Mathematics are above national average.
The recent OFSTED report stated that the provision in Mathematics is excellent and the quality of teaching and learning and achievement at A Level is very good.
The following courses are available at AS and A Level:
Students who are interested in a career in engineering or who are taking A-Level Physics, should consider following a course containing some Mechanics modules. The Statistics or the Mathematics (with statistics modules) options would be beneficial to most students in their chosen careers/degree courses. Statistics is an extremely useful subject which plays an important part in many curriculum areas. Students who have taken GCSE Mathematics at Intermediate Level but who want to take a Maths based A-level should consider taking the Statistics option. Students who are very good at Math should consider taking Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Most of these students continue to study all four subjects in Year 13 and obtain 4 good A-levels.
Single Maths Options:
The following courses can be taken as a single A-Level option (i.e. leading to one Maths based A-Level):
- Mathematics (with Statistics)
- Mathematics (with Mechanics)
- Statistics
Double Maths Options:
The following course is available as a double A-Level option: (i.e. leading to two Maths based A-Levels):
- Mathematics together with Further Mathematics
This course consists of modules in Pure Mathematics, Statistics and a choice of Mechanics or Decision Mathematics.
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
All assessment is by examination. There is no coursework element to any of the Mathematics or Statistics AS/A2 level modules offered at Rainford College. Each module is assessed by an examination of 1 hour 30 minutes. It is possible for students to resit individual examinations. This should be done in consultation with the Head of Mathematics.
METHODS OF STUDY
There will be a variety of teaching strategies used throughout the Mathematics courses. Often students will experience teacher led learning with opportunities for them to develop ideas, concepts and skills further through their own research and independent study. The use of ICT as a tool to enhance learning also used to deliver is all the Mathematics-based courses and several software packages are available for use by students. Staff use the available interactive whiteboards and the departmental laptops are used by students during their lessons. Homework is an essential part of this course and will be set twice a week for each Mathematics-based course.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Mathematics is, inherently, a sequential subject. There is a progression of material through all levels at which the subject is studied. The criteria therefore build on the knowledge, understanding and skills established at GCSE. Thus candidates embarking on AS/A2 Level study in Mathematics subjects are expected to have at least Grade B in GCSE Mathematics.