How the maths department works.
This page sets out what we expect from students, what students and parents can expect from teachers, and how the year flows in practice — homework, assessment, feedback, integrity, equipment, communication, and absences.
Homework and independent practice
Homework is set regularly, with rough targets that grow with the year group: Year 7 around 20–30 minutes per night, Year 8 around 30 minutes, Year 9 around 40 minutes, Year 10 around 60 minutes, Year 11 around 75 minutes, and DP students 90 minutes or more.
We use Dr Frost Maths and printed packs for independent practice. Late-work policy: students get a one-week grace period; beyond that the work is still expected to be completed, but a short written note from a parent should accompany any missed deadline.
Assessment and feedback
Students are assessed against the four MYP criteria (A–D). The breakdown of what each criterion looks like, with sample work, is on the assessment-criteria page.
Redo/retake policy: students may redo a Criterion A summative once, within two weeks of receiving it, if they request it. This is conditional on having completed all in-class work for the unit.
Feedback turnaround: written feedback within 10 school days; verbal feedback in the next lesson where possible.
Academic integrity
Collaboration is encouraged when discussing approaches; copying another student's work, or submitting it as your own, is not. The distinction we draw is between explaining how a method works and handing over the finished solution.
AI tools: brainstorming, clarifying a concept, or checking understanding is allowed. Submitting AI-generated work as your own is not.
Calculators in exams: handheld calculators only. Mobile phones are never permitted as calculators in any assessment. For IB DP students, see the calculators page for what is and is not allowed in external exams.
For the DP Mathematics Exploration, the academic-honesty form must be signed before submission.
Equipment requirements
Each student should bring the following to every maths lesson. Items marked "required" are non-negotiable; the others make day-to-day work much easier.
- Scientific calculator (TI-30X Plus MathPrint) — required from Year 7
- Graphing calculator (TI-Nspire CX II non-CAS) — required for DP, recommended for Year 11
- 30-cm ruler, protractor, compass
- Pencil + sharpener + eraser for diagrams; pen for working
- Squared exercise book (5 mm grid) as issued by the department, or A4 graph paper pad
- Headphones for in-class video / Desmos exploration days
Communication with teachers
Email is the primary channel for contacting maths teachers. Expect a reply within two school days; teachers may not see messages sent late in the evening or at weekends until the next working day.
For who teaches what, see the teachers page. Urgent matters during the school day should go via reception or Pamoja so that the message reaches the teacher quickly.
Attendance and missed work
When a student is absent, the catch-up routine is the same every time: check the unit page on this site (/curriculum/y{n}/{slug}) for the objectives covered that day, complete the corresponding work in the exercise book, and check in with the teacher on the day they return.
For longer absences (illness, family travel, school trips), please email the teacher in advance so we can flag any upcoming assessment and agree a plan.