The mathematics department here at Bailieborough Community School has a strong commitment towards enabling every student to reach their full potential in terms of achievement in the subject.

The aim of our department is to enable our students to:

• enjoy mathematics and develop a love, fascination and interest in the world of numbers
• become confident and competent mathematics students
• develop their use of mathematics as a tool for solving problems
• become logical and articulate thinkers
• become familiar with mathematics terminology and be able to use it in a clear and precise manner
• achieve excellent results in their mathematics examinations and reach their full potential

The mathematics course aims to provide for an enhanced student learning experience and greater levels of achievement for all. Much greater emphasis is placed on student understanding of mathematical concepts, with increased use of real-world contexts and applications that will enable students to relate mathematics to everyday experience.

The mathematics syllabus contains the following strands:

Strand 1: Statistics & Probability

Strand 2: Geometry & Trigonometry

Strand 3: Algebra

Strand 4: Numbers

Strand 5: Functions

Within the mathematics classrooms at Bailieborough Community School the teachers create an environment of shared learning and student involvement, wherein questions are welcomed and encouraged. We promote student interaction in the classroom and discussion of the topics to achieve effective learning. A wide range of teaching methodologies are used including group work, ICT, AFL methodologies and differentiated material to ensure our lessons are varied and the students are interested, appropriately challenged and engaged at all times.

At Bailieborough Community School Junior Certificate students receive five mathematics periods per week. In first year they are divided into classes of mixed ability and study a common syllabus (the Common Introductory Course). The progress of students is monitored continuously and students are assessed on an ongoing basis through teacher observation of classwork and homework, regular class tests, assessment for learning methodologies, and house exams at Christmas and Summer time.

Classes are separated into higher level and ordinary level for second and third year. The above assessment methods continue until students sit mock examinations in February of their third year in preparation for sitting the Junior Certificate Exam in June.

Junior Certificate Mathematics Exam:

Higher level students take two papers, each lasting two and a half hours.

Ordinary level students take two papers, each lasting two hours.

Foundation level students take one paper lasting two hours.

Paper 1 tests material from Strands 3, 4 and 5.

Paper 2 tests material from Strands 1, 2 and Section 3.4 from Strand 3.

The questions are of various length, however a time-frame for each question is provided on the paper.

Some tips for doing well in Junior Certificate Mathematics:

Practice, Practice, Practice – Mathematics is a subject you need to constantly be practicing to do well. Pick a topic, study it and then take some past exam questions and try them, then check your answer against the marking scheme. Make sure you know how to use your calculator and always show your workings when writing your answer.

Upon completion of the Junior Certificate course, students then have the choice to continue their mathematics education as part of the Transition year programme or progress straight into fifth year where they will take mathematics as part of the Leaving Certificate Programme.

We hope you enjoy studying Mathematics at Bailieborough Community School.

Some useful mathematics links:

http://www.projectmaths.ie/

http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Post-Primary_Education/Project_Maths/

http://www.examinations.ie/exammaterialarchive/?i=91.97.108.95.95.104