We teach Maths at all academic levels up to Oxbridge entrance, with pupils carefully set according to their mathematic ability.
We believe that an appreciation of Mathematics is intrinsically important in its own right as well as in terms of its application. It also has a central role to play in relation to all other subjects.
Our eleven full-time teachers teach Maths at all academic levels up to Oxbridge entrance.
In the Foundation Year, Remove and Hundred (Years 9, 10 and 11), the syllabi are aimed towards the IGCSE examinations.
All sets prepare for the Edexcel IGCSE Mathematics qualification while the top one or two sets will also follow the AQA L2 Further Maths course. In a typical year approximately 70% of our candidates will achieve 7- 9 grades.
In the Sixth Form, Malvern College offers the opportunity to study either A level or the International Baccalaureate. The Edexcel A level syllabus incorporates a core component consisting of two thirds pure maths and the remainder equally split between mechanics and statistics. Further Maths A Level is offered with pupils completing the majority of the A Level Maths course in the Lower Sixth as well as a few topics from the Further Maths course.
The department introduced a ‘Maths in Context’ course which aims to support those studying A levels who have not chosen to study A level Maths but who may benefit from some maths content; for example Business Studies or Sciences.
All International Baccalaureate candidates study Mathematics at either Higher or Standard Level, in either Analysis and Approaches (AA) or Applications and Interpretations (AI). The former is very traditional pure mathematics focussed, whilst the latter is more contemporary with an emphasis on statistics and using mathematics in the world today.
There are several opportunities for extension and support within the department. Pupils are entered for the Mathematics Challenges and several are invited each year to undertake the first round of the Mathematics Olympiad, an extremely difficult examination. There are regular trips to extension days at Warwick University, three weekly support groups (clinics) to assist pupils who need help with their studies and Lower Sixth pupils help as LTA’s (Learning & Teaching Assistants) in some Lower School classes. Both of these initiatives add significant value to the work of the department.
