St Bede's College

Students who are very able at Mathematics (i.e. at least very close to A* level at GCSE) should consider taking Further Mathematics at Advanced Level in addition to Mathematics. This subject is again regarded as very serious from an academic point of view and it requires 12 modules to be sat in total rather than the normal 6 for just A-level Mathematics. This allows both breadth and depth to be added to the student’s mathematical education. Students wishing to read Mathematics at University should really take Further Mathematics and those considering doing Physics, Engineering or Economics at University should give it some very serious thought. This is particularly true of applications to Oxford and Cambridge.

Students taking both Mathematics and Further Mathematics in the Lower Sixth would sit the Core 1 – Core 4 modules, Statistics 1 and either Mechanics 1 or Decision 1. The advantage of this arrangement is that if a student wishes to drop the subject at the end of this first year they can do so and walk away with a full A-level in Mathematics. Interestingly this leads to a situation where students already have an A-level when they apply to University in the Autumn term of the Upper Sixth.

Students continuing with Mathematics and Further Mathematics in the upper Sixth will need to do a further six modules. It is compulsory to do another two Pure Mathematics modules, we normally do Further Pure 1 and Further Pure 2. The other four modules allow a far greater choice though. We would usually do Mechanics 2 (and Mechanics 1 if not done in the Lower Sixth), which is vital for Physicists and Engineers, and Statistics 2 and then consider Mechanics 3, Statistics 3, Statistics 4, Decision 1 (if not done in the Lower Sixth) and Decision 2 (which overlaps the Economics syllabus with critical path analysis and game theory) for the other choices. The department has the ability to teach all of these options and there is the flexibility to adjust the selections depending on the particular dynamics of the group in question.

Fast Track Further Mathematics:

One of our relatively recent innovations has been the introduction of a ‘fast track’ Further Mathematics group which will do Mathematics and Further Mathematics in just 18 lessons a fortnight (rather than the normal amount of 24 in the Lower Sixth). This allows students to take three other subjects at AS level and hence five in total. This is a highly attractive proposition for some of our most able and motivated students. We will run such a group if there is sufficient demand from suitable students. Places in such a group are dependent on an A* at GCSE level and the recommendation of your current Mathematics teacher. It is potentially possible to continue with ‘fast track’ into the Upper Sixth (21 lessons instead of the normal 28 per fortnight) and hence do five full A-levels if you so wish.

For further details on any of the above courses please see Dr Andrew Dando, Head of Mathematics.