The Guernsey Maths Curriculum at Key Stage 2

Here in Guernsey we are extremely lucky to have a fantastic maths curriculum, written by education professionals and developed with Guernsey teachers and maths tutors. The curriculum was developed over a number of years, led by the highly renowned educationalist, Mick Walters, and sets out a wide range of skills and knowledge for children aged 5 to 14, in years 1 to 9.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey Curriculum sets out what all children in Guernsey, Herm and Alderney, are entitled to. Whilst there may be some differences between schools on how the learning is delivered, the progression of skills and concepts will be the same across all schools. If your child is working with a specialist maths tutor in Guernsey, this learning will be finely tuned and individualised to your child's needs.

Teachers and maths tutors in Guernsey use best practice to help children develop their mathematical skills and understanding across four areas: Number; Shape, Space and Measure; Data Handling; and Using and Applying, which draws on each area to solve problems, investigate and present findings.

Prior Learning

During their time in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage One, your child will have developed a strong understanding of numbers up to 100, place value using tens and ones, and the foundations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using non standard methods and mental maths skills.

Years 3 and 4

There is a huge amount of mathematical development as your child grows through the junior department. It is completely normal for children to continue using physical equipment and pictorial aides such as bar models. Daily lessons of 50-60 minutes would be considered the norm, with additional mental maths sessions several times a week.

Number Year 3 & 4 covers numbers up to 1000, partitioning 4 digit numbers, estimating and rounding, factors and multiples, number bonds to 100, written methods for addition and subtraction, times tables up to 10x10, unit and simple fractions, decimal places, and simple ratio.

Shape, Space and Measure Year 3 & 4 covers classifying 2D and 3D shapes, nets and tessellation, symmetry, coordinates in all 4 quadrants, standard units of measure, converting between measures, perimeter and area, angles, and telling the time to 5 minute intervals.

Data Handling Year 3 & 4 covers making predictions, Venn and Carroll diagrams, deciding what data to collect, constructing bar charts and other representations, and interpreting data.

Years 5 & 6

As your child heads into the upper Juniors, teachers and maths tutors in Guernsey lay essential groundwork for GCSE maths studies. Most children would benefit from additional time with a maths tutor to grasp the concepts required by the end of Year 6.

Number Year 5 & 6 covers numbers up to 1,000,000, using place value to multiply and divide by 10/100/1000, factors and multiples, standard written algorithms, fractions including improper and mixed numbers – a topic our maths tutors in Guernsey are often asked to help with – equivalent fractions, ratios and percentages, decimals to 3 places, percentage increases and decreases, and simple linear algebraic equations.

Shape, Space and Measure Year 5 & 6 covers classifying 2D and 3D shapes, visualising and constructing nets, tessellation and transformation, standard units and scales, converting between metric and imperial units, perimeter and area formulae, using a protractor, and telling the time and solving time problems.

Data Handling Year 5 & 6 covers making hypotheses, deciding how to collect and record data, constructing the full range of data representations, interpreting results, and calculating mean, median, mode and range.

What does it all add up to?

At the end of year 6, children move on to one of the island's secondary schools. It is so important that all children leave primary school with a solid understanding of all areas of the Guernsey Maths Curriculum. If you have any concerns over your child's learning in maths, don't hesitate to give our expert Guernsey maths tutors a call.