The Guernsey Maths Curriculum at Key Stage 3

As your child moves into the Secondary sector of Guernsey's education system, they will join one of four high schools: St Sampson's, Les Beaucamps, La Mare de Carteret or Guernsey Grammar School. From September 2025, La Mare and the Grammar will be consolidated into one school called Les Varendes High School. Other options for secondary education in Guernsey are found in the private sector at The Ladies College, Elizabeth College and Blanchelande College.

You'll see from the curriculum outlined below that the level of maths expected is a significant step up from what is taught in Guernsey primary schools. Our Guernsey maths tutors frequently work with children on the key stage 3 curriculum.

Most of Guernsey's high schools stream children in key curriculum areas, including maths, usually based on initial assessments undertaken in the first few weeks at their new school. The Bailiwick of Guernsey maths curriculum only dictates content and entitlement for children up to Year 9; following GCSE study and curriculum will depend on which exam board your child's school or maths tutor uses.

Strands of learning across the curriculum

Explaining and justifying strategies and solutions using mathematical language, using maths in real world contexts, choosing and using appropriate maths to investigate a range of problems, exploring numbers through practical and visual resources, using known facts to check work, and using appropriate methods of calculation – mental, written or calculator.

Number KS3

Includes understanding and interpreting standard form, estimation and rounding, highest common factors and prime factors, written methods across all 4 operations, fractions, decimals and percentages, multipliers for percentage change, and calculating proportion and ratio – areas our Guernsey maths tutors commonly support students with.

Shape and Space KS3

Covers plans and elevations, congruence and similarity, tessellation, reflection and rotation, enlargement and translation, unit conversion, area/perimeter/volume/surface area formulae, angles and bearings, trigonometry, and constructions and loci.

Data Handling KS3

Covers formulating and explaining hypotheses, data collection and recording, scatter graphs and other charts, averages (mean, median, mode, range), and probability expressed as fractions, decimals and percentages.

Algebra KS3

This is an area in which our Guernsey maths tutors have significant experience, as a number of skills formerly only taught at GCSE – such as quadratic equations – are now included at Key Stage 3. Covers number patterns, the nth term for linear sequences, simplifying and factorising expressions, solving linear and quadratic equations, and plotting straight line, quadratic and cubic graphs.

Once your child has mastered this curriculum, they will be ready to begin their GCSE maths studies with a secure foundation in all the principles needed to succeed. If you have concerns about any aspect of your child's maths learning, one of our specialist maths tutors in Guernsey can help your child reach their potential!