Maths
Mathematics at St John’s
Intent
At St John’s, we believe that all children can succeed in mathematics. Our curriculum is designed to develop deep, secure understanding through a mastery approach, where learning is carefully structured in small, progressive steps. We aim for all pupils to become fluent, confident mathematicians who can reason, make connections and apply their knowledge in a range of contexts.
Fluency is at the heart of our curriculum. We prioritise the development of automaticity in key number facts alongside conceptual understanding, ensuring that children have the foundations needed to access more complex mathematics. Rooted in our school values of resilience, joy and confidence, we foster a growth mindset where challenge is embraced and mistakes are seen as an important part of learning.
Implementation
Our mathematics curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced to build knowledge over time. In Nursery, children begin their mathematical journey through Master the Curriculum. From Reception to Year 5, Mastering Number supports the development of fluency and number sense, forming a key part of daily practice. In Years 1–6, we use White Rose Maths to provide a structured and progressive framework for learning.
Teaching focuses on small steps to ensure that all pupils develop a deep and secure understanding before moving on. A key feature of our lessons is the use of precise mathematical language and stem sentences, enabling pupils to articulate their thinking clearly. Teachers prioritise reasoning, discussion and exploration so that children can explain, justify and deepen their understanding.
Assessment is ongoing and responsive. Teachers use targeted questioning and low-stakes quizzes to check understanding in lessons, alongside more formal assessments at key points in the year. This ensures that misconceptions are identified and addressed promptly, and that all pupils keep up with the curriculum.
Homework is set online through Atom Learning. Parents are encouraged to support their child by regularly practising key number facts and developing fluency at home.
Impact
As a result of our approach, pupils at St John’s develop strong mathematical understanding and confidence. They are able to recall key facts with automaticity, apply their knowledge fluently and reason mathematically using precise language.
Children demonstrate resilience when faced with challenge and are willing to take risks in their learning. They can explain their thinking, justify their methods and make connections across different areas of mathematics.
Outcomes in mathematics show that pupils make good progress from their starting points and are well prepared for the next stage of their education.
What You Will See in Our Classrooms
Positive attitudes, with children showing resilience, confidence and enjoyment in mathematics
Pupils using precise mathematical language and speaking in full sentences
Teachers modelling and using stem sentences to support understanding
Children practising and recalling key facts with increasing automaticity
Carefully sequenced learning broken down into small, manageable steps
Opportunities for pupils to reason, explain and justify their thinking
The use of representations and structures to support conceptual understanding
Teachers using targeted questioning to check and deepen understanding
A calm, purposeful environment where all children are engaged in learning
Challenge for all through depth of thinking rather than acceleration