Curriculum and Learning and Teaching

Intent

At St Joseph’s, our intent is to provide a high-quality mathematics education that enables all children to develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, fluency in key skills, and confidence in problem-solving. Rooted in our Catholic ethos, we believe that mathematics reveals the beauty, order, and logic of God’s creation. We aim to nurture pupils who are curious, resilient, and reflective learners, able to make connections between mathematical ideas and the world around them. Our curriculum is designed to be inclusive and ambitious, ensuring that every child is supported and challenged to achieve their full potential.

Implementation

We follow the Power Maths programme, a mastery-based scheme that aligns with the National Curriculum and supports a consistent and progressive approach to teaching mathematics from Early Years through to Year 6. Power Maths is built on the Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract (CPA) approach, which allows children to explore and understand mathematical concepts through hands-on resources, visual representations, and abstract thinking. Each lesson is carefully structured to include opportunities for fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving, ensuring that pupils develop a secure and adaptable understanding of mathematics. Teachers use ongoing assessment to identify gaps in learning and provide timely interventions or additional challenges. Regular staff training and collaborative planning ensure high-quality teaching and a shared vision for mathematics across the school.

Impact

The impact of our mathematics curriculum is evident in the confidence, enthusiasm, and achievement of our pupils. Children at St Joseph’s develop a strong number sense and are able to apply their mathematical knowledge in a variety of contexts, both within and beyond the classroom. They are encouraged to articulate their thinking, justify their reasoning, and approach challenges with perseverance and a growth mindset. Our pupils make good progress from their starting points, and outcomes in national assessments reflect the strength of our approach. More importantly, our children leave us with a positive attitude towards mathematics and a firm foundation for future learning. Through regular monitoring and reflection, we ensure that our curriculum continues to meet the needs of all learners and supports our mission to enable each child to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and love for learning.

Further Information on the programmes of learning at St Joseph’s can be found below:

Mastering Number

From the beginning of Reception to the end of Year 3, children engage in short, daily sessions, designed to build a strong number sense and fluency in mathematics, through a whole-class, evidenced-based approach. In Reception, this is the main Maths teaching, whereas in KS1 and Year 3, this session is taught in addition to the main Maths lesson.  It involves a progressive structure of visual representations and manipulatives to help children develop an intuitive understanding of numbers, composed of concepts like subitising (instantly recognising small quantities) and a flexible understanding of number relationships. The programme's goal is to ensure all children leave Key Stage 1 with a firm foundation in early mathematics, boosting their confidence and long-term success in the subject. Mastering Number in Year 3 allows the flexible understanding of number relationships to continue and be applied to more complex concepts. 

Power Maths 

As children progress into Year 1 and beyond, they engage in a daily Power Maths lesson which comes from a whole-class mastery programme created in partnership with White Rose Maths and recommended by the DfE. It provides consistency within maths teaching throughout the school, and is designed to spark curiosity and excitement and help nurture confidence in maths. Each unit is broken down into a series of well-sequenced small steps that support children to make connections between mathematical concepts, become fluent in the fundamental skills and explore mathematical ideas in different ways.