Maths at Robert Bakewell
At Robert Bakewell, we believe that mathematics is a cornerstone of every child's education. It equips children with the knowledge, confidence and problem-solving skills they need to understand the world around them. From recognising patterns and making sense of numbers to applying mathematical thinking in everyday life, we strive to develop confident, resilient mathematicians who enjoy the challenge of learning.
Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and is delivered through a mastery approach, ensuring that every child develops a deep and secure understanding of mathematical concepts before moving on to new learning. We use the highly regarded White Rose Maths schemes as the foundation for our planning, adapting lessons to meet the needs of our pupils and ensuring all children experience success.
Our teaching is underpinned by the key principles of mastery:
Developing fluency through intelligent practice and secure recall of key number facts.
Using variation to deepen conceptual understanding and expose mathematical structures.
Encouraging children to reason, explain and justify their thinking using precise mathematical language.
Representing concepts in a variety of ways using concrete, pictorial and abstract models.
Teaching in small, carefully sequenced steps so that learning is coherent, connected and accessible for all.
These principles enable children to build confidence, make connections across different areas of mathematics and develop the skills needed to solve increasingly complex problems.
Mastering Number
In Key Stage 1, all children take part in the Mastering Number programme, developed by the NCETM. This daily programme develops fluency and flexibility with number, helping children build a secure understanding of number sense, composition and calculation. By strengthening these fundamental concepts at an early stage, children are better prepared for more advanced mathematical learning.
In Key Stage 2, pupils continue to benefit from the Mastering Number programme through a focus on securing multiplication and division facts. This supports rapid recall, strengthens understanding of number relationships and enables children to tackle more complex calculations with confidence and accuracy.
Developing Fluency
We recognise that automatic recall of key number facts is essential for mathematical success. To support this:
NumBots is used throughout Key Stage 1 to help children develop fluency in addition and subtraction facts. Through regular practice in an engaging, game-based environment, children build the speed and confidence needed to free up working memory for more complex mathematical thinking.
Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) is used across Key Stage 2 to secure rapid recall of multiplication and division facts. Fluent knowledge of times tables underpins many areas of mathematics, including calculation, fractions, decimals, percentages and algebra, enabling children to solve problems more efficiently and confidently.
Celebrating Success
Mathematics has a high profile throughout our school. We celebrate children's achievements regularly in assemblies and classrooms, encouraging a positive attitude towards mathematics and recognising effort, resilience and success.
Our aim is for every child to leave Robert Bakewell as a confident, fluent and enthusiastic mathematician, equipped with the knowledge, reasoning skills and problem-solving strategies they need for the next stage of their education and beyond.