Mathematics

close-up image of a maths activity involving blocks

Mathematics helps us to solve practical problems, to understand how the world around us works, and to develop our ability to use reason and logic.

More than this, studying Maths offers pupils the opportunity to experience huge satisfaction after persevering with a concept or problem, and the chance to start to see the inherent beauty in the subject. We aim to develop both understanding and interest in pupils of all ages, instilling good mathematical habits and encouraging pupils to see the vital applications of Maths in other contexts. Academic excellence is always our focus, and we are delighted that the boys continue to perform so well in the rigorous external examinations.

Staff

Naomi Steen

Head of Mathematics

MSci, PhD

Dr Steen is from Northern Ireland and is a graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast, where she also completed her PGCE. In recent years has largely worked in the Senior School; when teaching A Level Maths and Further Maths, she usually specialises in the Pure Maths components. In 2021 Dr Steen was appointed Head of Department. Outside the classroom, she is currently a VI Form tutor in Laidlaw South.

Liz Atkinson

Teacher of Mathematics

BSc, PGCE

Miss Atkinson studied at Leeds University and completed her PGCE at Reuben College, Oxford, before starting her teaching career at Merchiston. As well as teaching Mathematics, Miss Atkinson is a tutor in Rogerson House and helps with the Duke of Edinburgh award programme. In her spare time, she is a keen mountaineer.

Liz Duncan

Teacher of Mathematics, Exams Officer

Mrs Duncan gained a degree in Mathematics and Economics from St Andrews University before returning to Edinburgh to complete her PGCE. Since then she has taught in a number of schools around Scotland but is delighted to have returned to Edinburgh, where she was born, to teach at Merchiston. As well as teaching in the Maths department Mrs Duncan is also in charge of academic exams.

Carragh Nash

Teacher of Mathematics

BSc

Miss Nash is from Northern Ireland, where she studied at the University of Ulster before earning her PGCE at Queen's University, Belfast. Since joining Merchiston in 2020 she has taught Maths throughout the school, and in 2022 took on the role of Deputy House Parent. Outside the classroom, Miss Nash is a qualified personal trainer, which allows her to be involved in the health and fitness of the boys by running gym sessions.

Julian Vaughan

Part-time teacher of Mathematics

BSc

Mr Vaughan retired from the full time staff in 2012, but he still returns to teach Statistics in the VI Form, where his expertise and humour make him extremely popular with his pupils.

Facilities

Housed in the Napier Schools, in addition to its six classrooms the Department has a facility in the upstairs foyer; this allows for the extra teaching that takes place in small groups, as well as providing an area in which pupils and staff can relax. This was funded through a kind donation to the department from the parents of two Merchistonians, Ben and Douglas Quayle.

Curriculum

J4-I Form: Mathematics is taught in a differentiated way, according to each student’s level. Daily mental testing is carried out.

II & III Forms: Pupils continue to work through a KS3 curriculum, supported by CGP textbooks. There are normally two sets in each year group. All boys should possess a scientific calculator recommended by the school, but also spend time working without it.

IV Form: Pupils begin a three-year preparation for the Edexcel IGCSE qualification. As a core subject, all pupils will study Maths to the end of V Form, often with the same member of staff. Baseline testing is used in conjunction with knowledge of pupils’ abilities and attitudes to get the most accurate possible setting. Many pupils sit the UKMT Junior Mathematics Challenge, which is a national competition, designed to stimulate enquiring minds.

Shell and V Forms: Currently, all sets are entered for IGCSE, either at the Higher or Foundation Tier. There is no coursework component, and all boys sit two exams at the end of the course. Many students in these year groups take the Intermediate Mathematics Challenge.

Sixth Form

A level: We currently follow the OCR board; the scheme is linear, assessed by three written papers at the end of a two-year course. The subject content is divided into three areas: Pure Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics, with respective weightings of two thirds, one sixth and one sixth in the content and in the examinations.

Some students choose to additionally study Further Mathematics at A Level, which involves a further four papers (two Pure, one Statistics and one Mechanics). At Merchiston, students who take this pathway will study the A Level Maths content in the Lower Sixth, followed by the Further Maths content in the Upper Sixth.

SQA Higher: This course builds on the IGCSE. The syllabus focuses on Pure Mathematics, applied in a wide variety of contexts. During the Lower Sixth, students who ultimately sit the Higher qualification take the first year of the A level course, in preparation for Higher.

All Sixth Form students have the opportunity to sit the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge.

Activities

As well as classroom activities and competitions, this year a number of boys were involved in the electives run by members of the Maths Department, which gave pupils the opportunity to further develop their problem-solving skills, to work on an Excel project, to solve logic puzzles and to create mathematical art. Among the staff, meanwhile, the Great Friday Bake Off continues to go from strength to strength!

Achievements

As always, students participated in a number of competitions, and we were pleased with all their effort and successes.

Each year, around 700,000 pupils across the UK and beyond take part in the three UK Maths Trust Maths Challenges.

Last term, we were pleased to see almost sixty pupils from LVI and UVI participating in the first of these, the Senior Maths Challenge. A large number of boys were awarded Bronze or Silver certificates.

Particular congratulations to three pupils- Oliver Z, James S and Sam Y who were among the top 11% of entrants to be awarded a Gold Certificate. These students also qualified for the follow-up Senior Kangaroo competition, in which they performed very strongly, with James and Sam both being awarded Certificates of Merit. James was Best in School in the Maths Challenge, while Sam was Best in School in the Kangaroo.

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