Mathematics

Mathematics at St Filumena's Catholic Primary School

“Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.” – William Paul Thurston

At St. Filumena’s, we believe mathematics is more than just numbers — it’s a way of thinking. For the past five years, our teachers have been developing a mastery approach in partnership with the Painsley Maths Hub and national experts. We aim to give every child a deep, secure and adaptable understanding of maths by making thinking visible, encouraging rich discussion, and teaching concepts in small, carefully sequenced steps.

Lessons often begin with a discovery — a rich image that invites children to explore, question, and find the maths for themselves. This sparks curiosity, helps them connect with the learning in a meaningful way, and gives every child a way into the lesson.

We use the Power Maths scheme to support teaching, ensuring high-quality lesson design and progression. Our spiral curriculum means key concepts and knowledge are revisited over time, helping children build and retain deep understanding.

Throughout every lesson, children are encouraged to think deeply, talk confidently, and work collaboratively. Exceptional oracy is central: pupils explain, justify, and challenge each other’s thinking — developing the habits of real mathematicians. Concrete resources and visual models support this exploration before children move on to more abstract and independent work.

Journaling allows children to record their ideas using diagrams, language and mathematical notation, making their thought processes visible and allowing teachers to assess understanding effectively.

We challenge all learners. Teachers don’t just deliver lessons—they bring them to life, ensuring every child has the chance to succeed.

In the words of our pupils, “We like maths because it makes us think!” That’s exactly what we want: for children to become confident, curious and capable mathematicians, who see maths not as a subject, but as a powerful tool to understand the world.