Qualification: A-level

Exam Board: Pearson Edexcel

Entry Requirements: Grade 7 or above in GCSE Maths.

Watch our video about further maths

Extending the breadth and Depth of Maths Study

Further Mathematics demands a real love for the subject –and that shines through in both our staff and students. 

Our experienced, committed and passionate teaching team ensure that students who take this subject get to stretch and challenge themselves. That includes providing extensive support to students all year round, to ensure they achieve success.

A-level Further Mathematics is a fascinating subject to study. The course deals with developing logic and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of areas. As mathematics is such a vast subject, it is impossible to cover it all in one course. Further mathematics extends the breadth and depth of study; some of the concepts met in A-level mathematics are extended, whilst some topics not met on the standard A-level course are introduced.

The course

Further Maths is equivalent to two A-levels. It incorporates the entirety of the Maths A-level and the more challenging Further Maths A-level. Students will begin covering roughly the same content as the Maths A-level, but at a significantly faster pace, to allow for the increased amount of content.

In Year 12 we cover a lot of the Year 13 A-level Maths course, as well as the following topics:

• Complex numbers
• Matrices
• Proof
• Polar co-ordinates
• Hyperbolic functions
• Differential equations
• Conic sections
• Further mechanics

Beyond the classroom

Our Maths department has friendly, supportive staff who frequently run support sessions for students outside of class. Interventions and revision sessions are held near exam time on specific modules. Every year the department enters students in the national Maths Challenge competition as well as the Maths Olympiad for Girls.

Examinations

Assessment is by four examinations: Core Pure 1 (90 minutes 25%), Core Pure 2 (90 minutes 25%), Further Pure 1 (90 minutes 25%), Further Mechanics 1 (90 minutes, 25%)

Progression

Mathematics helps us in all aspects of life, whether it be when we’re out shopping, adapting a recipe or general problem-solving, so mathematics will aid all students in whatever path they choose to take. Students who enjoy mathematics can go on to study any of the following courses at university: 

• Mathematics
• Any engineering related course
• Any science-related course
• Any business/ economics course
• Any computing course

Numerous students have gone on to study mathematics or a mathematics related degree at highly prestigious universities, with successful admissions to Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group universities.

Many employers favour applicants with a strong mathematics background. Employers generally want to employ people who have shown that they can solve problems and a solid maths qualification provides this proof.