Maths Curriculum

“Without mathematics, there’s nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.”

Shakuntala Devi

Intent

At Benhurst, we follow the White Rose Maths Curriculum, which allows our children to learn in small, carefully sequenced steps that build fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. This approach provides pupils with a solid foundation for understanding the world, developing logical thinking, and appreciating the beauty and power of mathematics. Our curriculum promotes a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject, enabling children to recognise and apply mathematical relationships and patterns in both number and space within their everyday lives.

At Benhurst, our children show resilience and perseverance in their mathematical learning. We use a range of teaching styles and strategies to meet the needs of all learners from Early Years through to Year 6. Our core aim is to develop pupils’ confidence, fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving skills, helping them to become competent and creative mathematicians.

Through the CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) approach, children are encouraged to explore mathematical concepts using manipulatives and visual representations before moving to abstract reasoning. They are supported to explain their thinking clearly, use accurate mathematical vocabulary, and make connections between ideas. The White Rose Maths curriculum encourages collaborative learning, allowing pupils to work respectfully and compassionately with their peers, while also fostering ambition and independence.

Our curriculum supports depth of understanding rather than acceleration through content, providing opportunities for all learners to be challenged appropriately. Daily intervention and support ensure that every child can achieve success, while additional tasks and challenges deepen understanding for those ready to move further in their learning.

Implementation

At Benhurst, our Mathematics Curriculum is designed to ensure that every child becomes confidently numerate as they progress through school. Lessons are structured in small, coherent steps that take into account children’s cognitive development, with knowledge and skills building cumulatively over time. We place a strong emphasis on the accurate use of mathematical vocabulary to support logical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving.

We have adopted a Mastery Approach through White Rose Maths, ensuring that all pupils develop a deep, secure, and adaptable understanding of mathematical concepts. This approach is built around five key principles of mastery:

1. Coherence – lessons progress in small, connected steps that gradually unfold the concept.
2. Representation and Structure – the use of concrete and pictorial models supports conceptual understanding before moving to abstract reasoning.
3. Mathematical Thinking – pupils are encouraged to discuss, reason, and make connections between ideas.
4. Fluency – pupils develop accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility when working with numbers and procedures.
5. Variation – teachers use conceptual and procedural variation to deepen understanding and reveal underlying structures.

At Benhurst, we believe every child can succeed in mathematics. All pupils are exposed to the full curriculum, moving through topics together at a consistent pace, ensuring that understanding is developed in depth. Teachers use ongoing assessment and questioning to identify misconceptions and adapt teaching responsively.

Lesson Structure

Each maths lesson typically begins with a hinge question or retrieval task designed to stimulate learning and check prior understanding. This quick formative assessment enables teachers to identify gaps in knowledge and adapt the pace or focus of the lesson accordingly.

Lessons follow the “I do, We do, You do” model to ensure clarity, scaffolding, and gradual release of responsibility:

• I do: The teacher explicitly models the concept, demonstrating clear examples and verbalising the thought process involved in solving problems.
• We do: The class works collaboratively with guided support from the teacher, discussing strategies, reasoning, and representations.
• You do: Pupils move on to independent practice, applying their understanding to a variety of tasks designed to promote mastery, fluency, and reasoning.

Throughout the lesson, pupils use concrete, pictorial, and abstract (CPA) approaches to secure understanding. Teachers use precise questioning and feedback to challenge thinking, address misconceptions, and deepen conceptual understanding.

The White Rose Maths Scheme of Learning provides the foundation for all lesson sequencing and planning, ensuring full National Curriculum coverage and progression from Early Years to Year 6. Teachers enrich lessons with high-quality supplementary resources from NCETM, Third Space Learning, and other mastery-aligned materials to extend and support learning where needed.

Additional Mathematical Practice

• Each class has a dedicated daily maths session lasting approximately one hour, with an additional 30-minute fluency or arithmetic practice session weekly. These sessions reinforce number facts, arithmetic efficiency, and mental strategies.
• Daily multiplication practice supports pupils in meeting the National Curriculum expectations and prepares them for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check.
• Teachers and support staff provide targeted intervention and pre-teaching where necessary to ensure all children can access the lesson content and achieve success.

This structured and consistent approach ensures that mathematical understanding is built securely and progressively, allowing all pupils to develop confidence, fluency, and a deep conceptual grasp of the subject

Impact

At Benhurst, our pupils demonstrate enthusiasm, curiosity, and confidence in mathematics. They are able to apply their knowledge and skills to a wide range of problems and real-life contexts, showing persistence and creativity in their approach. Through the White Rose Maths Curriculum, pupils develop a deep, connected understanding of mathematical concepts and a strong belief in their own potential as mathematicians.

Our pupils are encouraged to think critically, reason effectively, and communicate their ideas clearly using precise mathematical language. This results in high standards of achievement across the school, with attainment and progress consistently above national expectations.

Our approach equips pupils not only for success in secondary education but also with the lifelong mathematical skills and confidence they need to interpret and engage with the world around them.

Year Group Overview

Documents