At Holy Cross Catholic High School, we value the importance of all pupils being numerate. Our mathematics department are all experienced subject specialists who deliver a curriculum which is designed to support pupils to become confident with all aspects of numeracy. In addition to the department, the Lead Teacher of Mathematics supports whole school initiatives such as numeracy intervention and interdisciplinary learning by ensuring that maths is delivered by using common approaches, wherever possible, in crossover subjects. As a result, all staff are supported to ensure consistency of mathematical vocabulary across subject areas and provide scaffolds to support pupils of all abilities with numeracy. Thus, pupils are exposed to numeracy across the curriculum at regular intervals and can see the value in applying these skills to the world around them.
Numeracy Strategy Website 2026Interdisciplinary Learning in Maths
Interdisciplinary learning is an integral part of our whole school curriculum model allowing us to ensure that pupils can draw upon common strands of knowledge and skills across subject areas. Maths is a subject which crosses over with many other subject disciplines and to enhance and embed pupils’ mathematical knowledge, we prioritise common approaches wherever possible and explicitly make pupils aware when they are utilising maths in another subject area. Some examples of where we utilise interdisciplinary learning related to maths are:
- Maths in Science starter activities
- Regular collaboration between the maths and science departments to ensure common approaches, acknowledge key differences and consider when content should be sequenced. Both curriculums have been carefully designed with this in mind
- Working party focused on how graphs are utilised in maths, PE, science and geography
- Maths teachers contribute to GCSE Product Design teaching to support the maths based questions
Axiom Maths
Our Maths Excellence Co-ordinator, Miss Wane, identifies pupils with high prior attainment in mathematics who may be at risk of not achieving their highest potential particularly those who are Pupil Premium. Pupils who are identified participate in Maths Circles in Years 7 and 8 as a rolling programme which will eventually take place over the five years of secondary school. This project is supported by Axiom Maths and seeks to: foster a community of pupils who identify as mathematicians; remove barriers for participation and achievement in mathematics; develop relationships with parents to ensure they are invested in their child’s mathematical potential and develop mathematical excellence.
Thomas Martland Trophy
The Thomas Martland Trophy is an annual maths competition, which has been running for over 30 years. It is aimed at Year 5 pupils in our feeder primary schools. This competition is supported by the Martland family in remembrance of their son, Thomas, who sadly passed away whilst at Holy Cross.
Maths Doctor
Maths Doctor is a group provided to pupils during a Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime in the maths department. The group provides homework support and help with maths issues across school for pupils. Pupils can also access this support to complete any missed learning due to absence. The group provides a quiet and purposeful environment for pupils to access maths support in a low-stakes environment.
UK Mathematics Trust Challenge
The UKMT challenge takes place for KS3 and KS4 pupils. This is a national problem-solving competition designed to stretch pupils beyond the standard curriculum mathematics they will encounter. The activities emphasise logical reasoning, pattern spotting and mathematical thinking. By design, the competitions are designed to stretch the most able mathematicians and pupils in A1 classes compete on an annual basis.
Partnership with Lancaster University School of Mathematics
Pupils across KS3 and KS4 have the opportunity to visit LUSOM to raise aspirations and offer pupils to experience higher level maths.
Our partnership with LUSOM strengthens the existing provision for higher attaining pupils in maths by giving them access to specialist mathematics teaching, advanced problem-solving enrichment and a peer group that matches their pace and ambition. It also provides structured pathways into the UKMT Olympiads and top tier university routes for those who wish to further their study of maths at Higher Education level. Our work with LUSOM raises aspiration, deepens mathematical identity and prevents pupils from plateauing by immersing them in a high challenge environment designed specifically for exceptional mathematical talent. Since 2023, we have had a number of former pupils proceed to study full time at LUSOM for their A Levels.
Mastery Maths Hubs (NCETM and Abacus)
Maths hubs act as a strategic engine for school improvement by giving staff access to specialist training, mastery programmes, collaborate networks and subject knowledge development.
A number of the maths department have engaged with the Mastery Maths Hub programmes as part of their Professional Learning and we are proud that our Second in Maths leads a group for the NCETM Maths Hub entitled ‘Developing Fluency with Multiplicative Reasoning at KS3’.
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