Maths – Stonebridge School

Math Curriculum

At Stonebridge, every child deserves to be a confident, fluent, and resilient mathematician. We believe mathematics is not only a subject to be studied but a vital life skill essential for future success.

Through the Maths Mastery approach with Ark Curriculum Plus, we ensure that pupils develop a deep, connected understanding of mathematical concepts and can confidently apply their knowledge in school, at home, and in the wider world. Our teachers are committed to delivering a consistent, research-informed curriculum that promotes reasoning, problem-solving, and fluency through the use of concrete, pictorial, and abstract representations.

We provide high-quality professional development and resources to ensure teaching is engaging, inclusive, and ambitious for all learners.

Pupils at Stonebridge will:

  • Develop fluency with number facts, procedures, and strategies.

  • Apply knowledge to solve problems in varied contexts.

  • Reason mathematically and explain their thinking with clarity.

  • Build confidence, resilience, and enjoyment of mathematics.

  • Recognise the importance of mathematics in everyday life and future careers.

INTENT

We follow the mastery approach, delivered through Ark Curriculum Plus, characterised by:

  • Small-step, carefully sequenced learning.

  • Development of mathematical thinking and reasoning.

  • Fluency and factual recall.

  • Use of representations to expose mathematical structures.

  • Ensuring all children can succeed, regardless of starting point.

IMPLEMENTATION

All children receive a daily maths lesson, although mathematical skills also run through many other areas of the curriculum.
    • Each lesson focuses on one clear learning objective, which all children are expected to master. Extension activities enable children who grasp the objective rapidly to extend their learning by exploring it in greater depth.

    • Lessons incorporate the Maths Mastery approach, enabling pupils to acquire a deep, long-term, and secure understanding of mathematics.

    • Lesson sequences include elements of:
      • Fluency – practising key skills and recall.
      • Reasoning – deepening understanding through explanation and justification.
      • Problem solving – applying skills to a variety of contexts.

    • Whole-class teaching is adopted and children work in mixed-ability groups, ensuring access and challenge for all.

    • All classrooms have mathematics displays with key questions, sentence stems, Star Words vocabulary, and an engaging Maths Meeting display to support learning and retrieval.

Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract (CPA) Approach

At Stonebridge, we use the CPA approach to secure conceptual understanding and progression from practical exploration to formal recording. Pupils are introduced to new concepts through hands-on resources, supported by visual representations, before moving to abstract notation.

This consistent progression ensures depth of understanding and allows all children to access the mathematics.

  • Every classroom has a range of practical apparatus to support children’s learning. Additional resources are stored centrally and are accessible to all.

  • Manipulatives are used in all lessons, from EYFS through Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, to secure conceptual understanding and support progression.

Find more details about mathematics teaching in our policy below.

Math Policy