Mathematics at Our School 

Mathematics introduces children to concepts, skills and thinking strategies that are essential in everyday life. It helps children make sense of the world around them. Mathematics offers children a powerful way of communicating and stimulates curiosity, fosters creativity and equips children with the skills they need in life beyond school. 

At Bursley Academy, our mathematics curriculum is underpinned by the White Rose Maths scheme. White Rose provides a carefully sequenced, ambitious framework aligned to the National Curriculum and built upon clear, explicit teaching. Our intent is to ensure that all pupils develop secure fluency, confidence and competence in mathematics, enabling them to reason mathematically, solve problems effectively and apply their knowledge across a wide range of contexts. 

We recognise that mathematical learning is cumulative. Some concepts must be mastered before others can be fully understood; for example, secure knowledge of place value underpins addition and subtraction, which in turn supports multiplication and division. For this reason, our curriculum prioritises number as the fundamental building block of mathematics in every year group. Only once this firm foundation is established do pupils progress to more complex concepts such as calculation, geometry, measures and statistics. This ensures learning is logical, progressive and accessible for all learners. 

Teaching at Bursley Academy follows the concrete–pictorial–abstract (CPA) approach, allowing pupils to develop deep and secure conceptual understanding. Children explore new learning using concrete apparatus, represent their thinking pictorially and ultimately apply their understanding abstractly using mathematical symbols. Hands-on, multisensory learning experiences in the classroom increases the depth of knowledge and engagement as mathematical content becomes increasingly abstract. Alongside the development of fluency, we place strong emphasis on reasoning and problem solving so that pupils can articulate their thinking, make connections and apply knowledge confidently in unfamiliar situations. 

Through the White Rose scheme, we have clearly identified the crucial knowledge and skills that form the foundation of mathematical understanding. Our curriculum is designed with regular opportunities for retrieval, recap and consolidation, ensuring learning is embedded in long-term memory. This approach supports all pupils, including those who require additional consolidation, while maintaining high expectations and challenge for every learner. 

While White Rose provides a clear rationale for sequencing, we ensure flexibility within our yearly structure to maintain breadth and balance. Additional time is allocated to units where necessary to ensure that knowledge and skills are securely embedded. Rigorous pre-knowledge assessments inform teacher planning by identifying areas requiring targeted support and focused teaching. Adaptive teaching approaches ensure that all pupils can access learning at an appropriate level, enabling every learner to make the progress they are capable of achieving. 

Ultimately, our mathematics curriculum at Bursley Academy is designed to develop resilient, articulate and enthusiastic mathematicians who possess the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed both in school and beyond.