The Mathematics curriculum at Brookhaven ensures all students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed academically, function independently in everyday life, and progress positively into further education, training, or employment.
Mathematics Curriculum Intent
The intent of the Mathematics curriculum is to ensure all students develop the mathematical knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed academically, function independently in everyday life and progress positively into further education, training or employment. Using the White Rose Maths schemes of learning, teaching is carefully sequenced, structured and inclusive, enabling students to build secure understanding through small steps, repetition and clear mathematical representations.
The curriculum places a strong emphasis on reasoning, problem-solving and mathematical communication, while being responsive to the needs of learners with autism through consistent routines, visual supports, explicit teaching and opportunities to revisit and apply learning in meaningful contexts.
Mathematics provision at Brookhaven is tailored across both pathways — from GCSE preparation and academic rigour on the Vocational Pathway, to functional, practical mathematics that supports independence and employability on the Independence Pathway.
Vocational Pathway
Within the Vocational Pathway, Mathematics is designed to prepare students for GCSE qualifications. The White Rose Maths curriculum provides a coherent and progressive structure that develops fluency, conceptual understanding and the ability to apply mathematics across a range of contexts.
Students are supported to:
- Develop strong number sense, algebraic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Reason mathematically using clear methods, representations and precise language
- Build resilience, independence and confidence when tackling increasingly complex mathematical challenges
Learning is carefully scaffolded to support critical thinking and study skills, ensuring students are well prepared for examinations, further education and future career pathways, while also supporting their personal development as confident and engaged members of society.
Independence Pathway
Within the Independence Pathway, Mathematics focuses on developing functional and practical mathematical skills that can be applied confidently in real-life, workplace and vocational contexts. Using the White Rose Maths approach, learning is broken into manageable steps and taught through hands-on, practical activities that make mathematics purposeful and accessible.
Students are supported to:
- Apply mathematics to everyday situations such as money, time, measure and data
- Develop problem-solving skills relevant to employment, functional skills and vocational qualifications
- Build communication, teamwork and independence through collaborative and applied learning
The curriculum supports students in achieving Functional Skills or vocational qualifications while fostering confidence, resilience and the ability to use mathematics meaningfully beyond the classroom.