Mathematics

Mathematics is a popular choice for girls in the Sixth Form at the Royal High School. About 30% of students in the Lower Sixth (Y12) choose it each year. You might be choosing Maths because you know employers love mathematicians. They value highly numerate candidates with the ability to think logically. Perhaps you will choose it because it is a requirement for your university course. Maths is recommended or essential for a long list of careers: Engineering, Economics, Operations research, Accountancy, Environmental Science, Finance, Insurance, Software Design, Social Planning, Medicinal Trials, Archaeology, to mention just a few. Or perhaps you will do Maths just because you love its logic and beauty and enjoy the satisfaction of the certainty of your solution. Whatever your reason, you will be taught by a highly qualified mathematician in a successful department. The tablet PCs are used by teachers in all lessons and using your own tablet PC, you will be able to investigate concepts and get a clearer picture of the reasoning behind some of the ideas.  

AS/A2 option

We follow the Edexcel course for AS and A2 Maths.

AS Mathematics consists of three modules. The two compulsory "Core Modules" consist of Pure Mathematics and one of Statistics. Six lessons per fortnight are devoted to the Core Modules and three to the Statistics. AS examinations take place in the Summer Term of the Lower Sixth. 

Those girls who choose to carry on from AS level to A2 level study another three modules in the Upper Sixth. Again two are compulsory "Core Modules" and the third will be a module of Mechanics. The lesson allocation is the same as in the Lower Sixth.

Click here to see the AS and A2 specification

Further Mathematics A2

 If you want to take a degree in maths or with a high mathematical content (e.g. engineering) then you might want to take Further Mathematics. You will have 15 lessons of maths per fortnight and will do the full A2 maths in a year. In the Upper Sixth you will cover the further maths material. This is a qualification that is much coveted by both universities and employers.  

IB Diploma

The International Baccalaureate Diploma offers Maths at 3 different levels.

Mathematics Higher Level

This is an exciting and demanding specification which delves into some really interesting topics. It takes the concepts to a high level and an optional topic must be chosen from:

• statistics and probability
• sets, relations and groups
• series and differential equations
• discrete mathematics.

You will have to produce a portfolio of an investigation and a mathematical modelling which you have worked on independently.

Mathematics Standard Level

This covers many of the topics which are covered at A2 level. There is no Mechanics in the syllabus but there is quite a bit of Statistics. You will be required to produce a portfolio of 2 pieces of work where you have worked independently on an aspect of the syllabus which interests you.  This gives you a chance to develop good mathematical writing.

Mathematical Studies Standard Level.

The Standard Level maths is a good option for you if you feel that maths is not your forte but you were comfortable in your GCSE maths lessons. Many topics will already have been covered in GCSE but you will take them to a slightly higher level. You will have to produce a project where you analyse data you have collected yourself.

You can find information related to that on this page at our other websites (links open a new tab/browser window):