Maths Virtual Communities - Developing the Teaching of Level 3 Mathematical Studies - Autumn 2022

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by acoobca

Teaching Level 3 Mathematical Studies through virtual communities, focusing on practical classroom development for exam preparation. Presents an introduction to the Core Maths qualification, including its background, adoption timeline, and the structure of AQA Level 3 Mathematical Studies. Covers curriculum starters and sequencing of topics, then deep-dives into estimation and Fermi-style approaches, including finance contexts, resource webpages, and suggested online materials to support learning beyond the specification.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Introduction of the Core Maths qualification

Timeline of introduction

AQA Level 3 Mathematical Studies content

Paper 1

Where to start?

Fermi Estimation

Sequencing of topics

Other starting places

Websites for topic resources produced by teachers

Estimation

Maths of the back of an envelope

Developing estimation

|
| | | --- | --- | | Maths Virtual Communities: Developing the Teaching of Level 3 Mathematical Studies | | | Nikki Cooper Autumn 2022 | | 1 | Welcome | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | 2 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Introduction
• I’ve been a teacher for 14 years, teaching in 3 schools. • My current school is an 11-18 comprehensive. • I’ve been teaching core maths for 3 years – so 1 exam sitting. • Second in department, Key Stage 3 lead, teaching and learning across curriculum. • I’m currently the Head of Department for Maths. | | | | --- | --- | --- | | 3 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | 3 | Contents | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Today’s session will cover:
• the introduction to the Level 3 Core Maths qualification
• the content, scheme of work and assessment for Level 3 Mathematical Studies
• resources available to support teaching and learning
• encompassing development beyond the specification which complements students’ exam preparations. | | | | 4 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Introduction of the Core Maths qualification | | | | --- | --- | --- | | 2010: Nuffield Foundation – Is the UK an outlier?
Participation in upper secondary mathematics education | | | |
AdvancedMaths AnyMaths
Australia (NSW) Canada (BC) Czech Republic
Estonia Finland France
Germany
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Japan
Korea Netherlands NewZealand
Russia
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Taiwan
USA (Mass)
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Percentage of students in secondary educat ion or training | | | | 5 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | 5 | STEM learning | | | | --- | --- | --- | | 6 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Timeline of introduction | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | September 2014
180 ‘early adopter’ sixth forms and colleges offer Core Maths.
September 2015
Core Maths is available to all schools and colleges – approximately 200 more centres offer Core Maths.
June 2016 | | | | | Approximately 3000 students from 200 centres take the first Core Maths exams. | | | | | 7 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | 7 | AQA Level 3 Mathematical Studies content | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Paper 1
• Data, estimation, personal finance. | | | | 8 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Where to start? | | | | --- | --- | --- | | 9 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | 9 | Level 3 Mathematical Studies 1 year Route Map | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Please see page 4 in Resource booklet | | | | 10 | Copyright © 2022 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. | | | Fermi Estimation

Subject content: Online resources: E2. 1 ØFermi estimation-making fast, rough estimates using quantities which are either difficult or impossible to measure directly Ø How should mathematics be taught to non-mathematicians? -Tim Gower's Blog
Ø Classic Fermi Questions – Mathsforum
Ø Fermi Maths Problems – Kidsjig
Ø Estimation - Maths Is Fun
Ø How many piano tuners are there in Chicago?– TES
Ø Fermi Problems -TES
Ø Making estimations from limited data (Username: mei-criticalmaths Password: Critical1)
Ø Fermi Estimates (Username: mei-criticalmaths Password: Critical1)
Ø Horse Manure - Core Maths
Ø Skin Area - Core Maths
Ø Estimation, Assumptions and Predictions – Core Maths F 1. 1 Øsubstituting numerical values into financial expressions (including bank accounts) Ø Income Tax - Nuffield Foundation
Ø Savings Growth - Nuffield Foundation
Ø Savings Facts and Formulae - Nuffield Foundation
Ø Growth and Decay - Nuffield Foundations F 1.4 Øfinding approximate solutions to problems in financial contexts | | | | --- | --

FAQs

What does the session cover for Level 3 Mathematical Studies teaching?

It covers the Level 3 Core Maths qualification, the content/scheme of work and assessment for Level 3 Mathematical Studies, resources to support teaching and learning, and development beyond the specification.

What is the timeline for introducing Core Maths?

Core Maths started with early adopter centres offering it in September 2014, expanded to all schools and colleges by September 2015, and the first exams were taken by about 3,000 students from 200 centres in June 2016.

How is estimation taught in this presentation?

Estimation is introduced using Fermi estimation—making fast, rough estimates from quantities that may be difficult to measure—and linked to financial contexts such as substitutions into financial expressions, income tax, savings growth, and growth/decay problems.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by acoobca