Maths
Maths is a core curriculum element at ICHK, with students receiving an exemplary education.
Much of what we describe as understanding or skill in mathematics is the ability to recognise patterns, and this is exactly what mathematicians are good at. To that end, themes have been developed in Years 7 to 9 to support students’ understanding of mathematical concepts. They are as follows:
Visualisation: The ICHK Mathematics department embraces the philosophy of “Seeing as Understanding”. This approach recognizes the power of visual aids in enhancing comprehension and fostering a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. By incorporating visualisation into mathematics instructions, students can grasp abstract ideas more effectively, improving their understanding and retention of mathematical concepts.
Communication: The ICHK Mathematics department is dedicated to empowering students to explore the critical question of “Why?” The aim is to strengthen foundational skills and honing students’ ability to articulate their understanding. By emphasising communication skills, students not only master the use of appropriate mathematical language (notation, symbols, terminology) but also learn to express their reasoning and logic clearly, engaging with mathematical concepts on a deeper level.
Relationships: The ICHK Mathematics department prioritises building relationships that enable students to make sense of the world around them. The aim is to explore the relationships within mathematics and those that connect to other learning areas. The students can then develop a holistic understanding of how mathematical concepts interrelate with various disciplines, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of knowledge.
The three themes - Visualisation, Communication and Relationships (VCR) - constitute the foundation of our work as Year 7 students embark on their first unit, “Working Mathematically,” in which they learn how to develop a growth mindset in Mathematics, understanding that with hard work, everyone can thrive in this subject.
The curriculum provides opportunities for students to:
Develop confidence in an increasing range of methods and techniques
Work on sequences of tasks that involve using the same mathematics in increasingly difficult or unfamiliar contexts, or increasingly demanding mathematics in similar contexts
Work on open and closed tasks in a variety of real and abstract contexts that allow them to select the mathematics to use
Work on problems that arise in other subjects and in contexts beyond the school
Work on tasks that bring together different aspects of concepts, processes and mathematical content
Work collaboratively as well as independently in a range of contexts
Become familiar with a range of resources, including ICT, so that they can select appropriately.
This foundational work ensures that students are well equipped with the skills needed in IGCSE and IBDP.
At IGCSE, there are two levels of the Mathematics course: the core curriculum and the extended curriculum. Mathematics is a compulsory subject in the IB Diploma Programme, with three courses available, depending on the depth with which students want to study the subject.
For much more detailed information see our Year 10-11 Curriculum Brochure and our Year 12-13 Curriculum Brochure.
We celebrate Pi Day every year, bringing fun maths challenges to all students, and maths is a feature of our pioneering Deep Learning programme, with a number of maths specific units on offer. Students also participate in a number of mathematics competitions, including the Junior and Senior Mathematics Team Challenge and the North East Asian Mathematics Competition, enabling them to apply their learning, enjoy a competitive environment and build friendships with peers from other schools.
The dynamic and active learning environment of our maths department has been recognised by the Scientific Committee of the Hang Lung Mathematics Awards, after a research report by one of our students was identified as comparable to a project of a university undergraduate.