Oundle School
Mathematics
Head of Department: Mr R. Atkins
The Mathematics Department occupies the ground floor of the Sir Peter Scott Building and contains 9 classrooms fully equipped with networked computers and overhead LCD projectors, and one of which has a class suite of computers for pupils' use. There is a new Mathematics Library and Sixth Form work area. All pupils study Mathematics up to GCSE and then around 75 take the subject at A-level, about 25 of whom study Further Mathematics A-level as well. Special preparation is given for those who are going on to read Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Engineering or related subjects at Oxbridge.
A large number of pupils are entered for the national Mathematics competitions run by the UK Mathematics Trust at Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels and several qualify to compete in the subsequent Olympiad rounds. The British Mathematical Olympiad is currently run from Oundle, and the Department is used for the final training and selection camp for the UK Mathematics Team which competes in the annual International Mathematical Olympiad. The national UKMT Mentoring Scheme is also run from Oundle.
The annual conference for Technology in Secondary Mathematics takes place at Oundle, where the Autograph suite of programs for Mathematics teaching have been developed.
The department is staffed by:
Mr P. Aronoff BSc
Mr. R. Atkins BSc
Mr. A. Butterworth BSc
Mr E.J. Clark BA
Mr P.P. Couzens BSc ARCS
Mr M.H. Glazier BSC
Mr K. Hayward-Bradley MA
Mr A.R. Hunt BA
Dr D.B. Meisner BA MSc PhD
Mrs P C Pawley BA
Mr D.P. Raftery BSc
Mr N.D. Turnbull BA
Mr D.A. Turner BSc
Course content
GCSE
In 2003 Oundle was the first UK school to change to the Edexcel IGCSE (International GCSE) course. This offers a better general education in Mathematics and a more helpful foundation for A-Level work, and avoids the obligation to spend weeks tackling coursework whose mathematical content is unsatisfactory. The new text books for this course have been written by two members of the Oundle Maths Department. All pupils take this exam in the Fifth Year. In the past, some sets have been accelerated and taken GCSE early, but now we prefer to ensure that syllabus work for the higher sets is richly interspersed with other material designed to broaden interest, understanding and experience, and to introduce and foster the techniques of problem-solving.
AS and A2
We follow the Edexcel A-level syllabus. “Single Maths” sets take 3 modules in the Lower Sixth and 3 in the Upper Sixth. “Further Maths” is taught in two blocks in the Lower Sixth and comprises 7/8 modules – 4 in Pure Maths, 2 in Statistics and 2 in Mechanics to achieve an A-level in Maths and make a start on Further Maths modules. A further 5/6 modules are taken in the Upper Sixth including 2 in Further Pure Maths and 2 in Mechanics, giving a good foundation to anyone wanting to read Engineering (or similar) at Oxbridge.