Mathematics Overview
The staff of the mathematics department has a focus on promoting the pursuit of mathematical excellence at a level that is appropriate for individual students.
Currently we have 13 mathematics staff with Mr Brian Ferguson as the Head of Department and Mr John Hackett as the assistant to the Head of Department.
Lower school classes are streamed to accommodate a range of student ability. With the Curriculum Framework being implemented the use of streamed classes provides a supportive and learning focused environment for students to develop mathematically. It also provides an element of competition, which encourages the pursuit of excellence.
The Learning Improvement Programme supplements the mainstream courses offered for those students in lower school who experience difficulty with areas of mathematics. There is significant movement between the LIP classes and mainstream classes dependant on student achievement.
Mathematics extension classes operate before school for selected and invited lower school students. This provides an opportunity for talented young mathematicians to develop and extend themselves in a manner not always possible in an ordinary class. Ms Lorea Bell continues to provide an exciting and innovative programme for these students.
The full range of upper school mathematics subjects is offered, and in most cases there are multiple classes of each subject.
Graphing calculators (Casio CFX 9850 Plus) are used extensively by students in upper school classes and pathway 1 and 2 classes in year 10. Year 10 students in these pathways are encouraged to provide their own calculators, especially since they must have them in year 11.
We have access to two small computer minilabs and integrate the use of computers into many topics we cover. This is particularly evident in our Mathematics in Practice and Modelling with Mathematics classes.