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The Mathematics Faculty would like to take this

opportunity to inform you of some of the resources

available to students studying maths at QE.

Parents are often asking for advice on where to

find online revision resources. We are fortunate

to be able to offer our students access to three

digital resources..

The first resource is new this year and is available online through the web and

also through an app on Apple and Android platforms through the relevant app

store.

PiXL maths contains a list of all the topics that are to be covered in GCSE

Mathematics and allows students to track their progress towards 100% mastery of

each of them.

Students can take short online tests that are automatically marked and feedback

on the strengths and weaknesses are displayed. Links to ‘Therapy’ videos allow

students to watch and gain added assistance with problem topics. They can then

take the test again, with similar but different questions and see how much they

have improved.

Students are being given information in lessons on how to create an account and how to access the resource. They

should also have a reminder of their login details in their folders.

The login details are given below so that you know how

students should log in to the app.

The school ID is QE1246

The userid is the student’s surname and first initial.

The password has been chosen by the student. This should

be recorded in the student’s folder.

http://mathsapp.pixl.org.uk/

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MathsWatch is a resource we have invested in to assist

students outside of lessons. MathsWatch is a collection of

over 200 instructional videos taking the viewer through

worked examples and giving detailed explanations of how to tackle each

topic on the GCSE syllabus. Alongside each video is a worksheet which can

be printed and attempted after watching the video giving the student plenty of

practice of problem areas.

This resource ends up being not only invaluable for revision periods but

also when students are addressing the targets for improvement their

teachers set them throughout the course. The printed and completed

worksheet can be placed in the student’s folder as evidence that they

have attempted to meet the set target.

All students have been given their login details but so that you are aware

they are also included here.

Centre ID is qedorset

Username is the student’s school login eg 13SurnameForename

Password is qemathswatch

Year 11 students must ensure they have

MathsWatch GCSE selected

Year 9 and 10 students must ensure they have

MathsWatch GCSE New 2015 Specs selected

https://www.mathswatchvle.com/

https://www.doddlelearn.co.uk/app

Students have been given their

own login details for DODDLE.

There are sections for all the

different subjects they study at

QE.

In particular there is a Maths

section, where there are

quizzes, interactive activities and

lots more.

Teachers can also allocate

activities to students. These

may be set as homeworks.

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It is really important that students have the correct equipment with them in every

lesson. Without their own pieces of equipment they will struggle to participate in

every lesson as well as miss out on the practice required to use it efficiently and

effectively before needing to do so in an examination. We therefore require students to bring the

following equipment to every maths lesson.

Writing equipment : Pens and pencils. Students are required to write in black ink in an exam and

complete graphs and diagrams in pencil, an eraser is therefore a useful addition for these cases.

Students would benefit from having more than one pen and pencil and also pens in other colours to

assist in note taking, annotation and peer marking exercises.

Mathematical equipment : Ruler—a 30cm ruler is ideal.

Compasses, Protractor—These items are often available in

a Geometry set

Scientific Calculator—This is vital. Without their own

scientific calculator students will be severely disadvantaged when it comes to the

examination. Students need practice using the functions of a calculator and without

this training they will find using one in an exam very tricky. Most modern calculators

have lots of functions that make calculating certain things extremely easy. These

calculators are permitted in exams and so without one they will be at a disadvantage

compared with students across the country who do have one. A

mobile phone calculator is not permitted for use in an exam or in a lesson. The

QR code here is a link to Amazon for the model that is recommended. The

LRC at QE sells them for £7 and also sells Geometry Sets for £1.50.

Ringbinder—All students have been issued with a ringbinder in their house colours to safely

keep all of their classwork, homework and assessments. Students are given resources that help them

achieve their targets and keep track of their progress throughout the course. It is important that this

folder is brought to every lesson and taken home. This allows you to be able to see the work that students are

completing in mathematics.

The media is constantly

bombarded us all with

loads of information and sometimes we let it wash over us and we

don’t realise the significance or magnitude of what is being explained.

The BBC produce a daily infographic which contains a numerical fact

that can help put the news stories of the day into context. The

infographic is published on social media and

the QR code below contains a link to Twitter

where you can see the new facts and also any

of the previous ones.

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There are currently two

Mathematics based

competitions running .

Participation in either will earn students house points. These competitions are also

national competitions and additional prizes can be one when entering. This is a brilliant

way to become more engaged in maths and also improve problem solving techniques.

For more information about either of the competitions, students should see their

maths teacher

The University of Southampton Cipher Challenge

Each week the university publishes two codes which students are asked to decipher

and submit on the university website. Points are given to successful teams or

individuals based on the speed that they gave been able to decipher the text. The

number of points available reduce over the week. As the competition continues the

codes become more and more tricky. Winning teams of the national competition are

invited to receive their prizes at Bletchley Park—the home of wartime code breaking.

There are also spot prizes available to randomly chosen teams who have submitted

solutions.

For more information visit http://www.cipher.maths.soton.ac.uk/

Mathematician Video Competition

The Exeter Mathematics School/ University of Exeter/Kings College

London

This competition is open to teams of Year 10 and Year 11 students. The object is to

produce a video about one of the following people and the mathematics that they

are known for.

The video should include a clear explanation of the

mathematics involved; information about how the

mathematics is used and its impact; other facts about the

person, what is impressive or interesting?

Every Tuesday. 15:30—16:30. Open to all Year 10 students.

Any students who are interested in taking part in activities connected to

Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

See Miss Lucas or Mr Cunningham