BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Secondary Teaching (QTS)

Learning Communities – Children Learning, Children Thinking

This module explores the sociological influences relating to our success as learners.

You will use research on thinking, learning and development to consider how individuals can maximise learning opportunities for themselves and help others to learn.

In addition, you will explore influences on learning, development and identity and discuss how learners are included or excluded from education settings.

Central to the module is a sociocultural perspective on learning and education that looks beyond the individual to communities and the historical contexts in which learning takes place.

Childhood to Adulthood

This module develops your awareness of the biological, intellectual, social and emotional changes that occur from childhood through to adulthood. You will examine the phases of development in children from conception through to puberty, early adolescence and adolescence in a changing world. You also will examine growth and physical development in the early years, motor development and maturation.

Equality of Opportunity and Diversity

This module will explore relationships between cultural identity, social policy and issues of equality and diversity.

You will examine key features of the theory and practice of social and educational inclusion from several perspectives, and explore issues central to inclusion, human rights, equal opportunities and social justice.

You will explore patterns of inequality in selected areas of social policy and provision with reference to the British experience and some international issues.

While the focus of the module will be on the British experience, some international issues will also be explored with the help of practitioners and your reading of literature.

You will have the opportunity to develop and share individual case studies, which will enable you to understand how policy affects the very real experience of individuals and institutions.

Calculus I

This module builds on the material covered at A level and introduces some new fundamental areas of mathematics. Differential calculus will be extended and you will start the study of the applications of differentials, as you learn to apply these to a variety of contexts including optimisation problems.

Calculus II

This module builds on the material covered at A level and introduces some new fundamental areas of mathematics. You will explore integral calculus in more detail and begin to study of the applications of integrals. These techniques will be applied to a variety of contexts including area and volumes.

Introduction to Statistical Theory

Statistics involves the analysis and interpretation of data with a view to making more informed decisions. As such, its importance in the 21st century can hardly be overstated: statistical techniques are fundamental tools in data science, economics and biology, to name a few.

In this module, you will gain an introduction to statistical inference and investigate topics such as point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression models.

Probability and Random Variables

This module provides a grounding in the theory of probability, and is an essential precursor for the subsequent study of mathematical statistics and operations research.

The emphasis will be on modelling real situations, including probability calculations motivated by statistical problems.

Preparing for Professional Practice

This module introduces you the core competencies that are required to enable development as a professional secondary mathematics teacher and in preparation for the four-week school placement at the end of the module.

The content will equip you with the knowledge and understanding required for the four-week full time placement.

Developing Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching

This module explores what effective mathematics teachers need to know in terms of their own subject knowledge and depth of cognitive understanding.

Using current theoretical frameworks, you will develop your own cognitive understanding of key, foundational topics in the secondary curriculum, and analyse the important difference between knowing how to do maths and knowing how to teach mathematics.

Teaching and Learning Mathematics

This module focuses on developing pedagogies and skills that enhance specifically the effective teaching of mathematics with cognitive understanding. These are developed alongside an awareness of the historical and contemporary approaches to teaching mathematics responsibly.

Perspectives in Research in Mathematics Education (Prime)

This module provides opportunities for studying how mathematics education is researched, and changing emphases in mathematics education and in research.

It provides insights into key questions, factors and issues associated with the study of school mathematics contexts.

It enables you to critically examine the evidence basis for current policies and initiatives in schools, and the application of research methodologies.

Calculus III

This module builds on the material covered within the first year calculus courses. Calculus will be extended to functions of more than one variable and applications of partial differentiation and multiple integrals.

Network Analysis

In recent years, interest in the theory of complex networks has exploded. The advent of social media and progress in artificial intelligence have made network analysis into an indispensable tool.

In this course, you will study the mathematical theory that underlies network analysis; namely, graph theory. Graph theory is an exciting and rich subject in its own right and many of its results and principles will be studied in this module.

Applications of Probability

This module aims to develop techniques in the use of probability in real-world contexts. Exploration of the theoretical mathematical models used to describe patterns of events that occur in time, and in space.

School Experience: Developing As A Teacher

You will work on placement for ten weeks to support and develop your confidence to teach the whole class in mathematics at Key Stages 3 and 4.

You will be able to demonstrate a competent level of subject and pedagogical knowledge towards teaching mathematics in a secondary setting and through effective reflection will be able to understand the impact of your teaching on pupils’ learning.

Introduction to Statistical Theory

Statistics involves the analysis and interpretation of data with a view to making more informed decisions. As such, its importance in the 21st century can hardly be overstated: statistical techniques are fundamental tools in data science, economics and biology, to name a few.

In this module, you will gain an introduction to statistical inference and investigate topics such as point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing and regression models.

Perspectives in the Teaching and Management of Mathematics

In this module, you will consider the teaching styles, leadership qualities and resources that are effective in the delivery of the secondary mathematics curriculum.

You will also examine the management structures of the wider school setting and explore decision making and leadership styles of those in higher positions.

Social Justice and Equity in Education

For teachers to become truly competent practitioners, it is vital for them to have an awareness of social justice, equity and social democracy, knowing both what this means in a broader global context and how this translates more locally; specifically, being aware of what the implications are for this in a whole-school context and in their classroom.

This module will enable student teachers to develop and critically reflect on matters relating to; educational inequality in schools; what it means to practice social justice principles; discrimination; the relevance of meritocracy; inclusive pedagogy and breaking the cycle of disadvantage in and through education.

Independent Project – Critical Pedagogical Analysis

This double module builds on the outcomes of two Y2 modules, Perspectives of Research in Mathematics Education and Teaching and Learning and aims to extend trainee teachers‘ independent research enquiry and intellectual capacity by extending their chosen area.

Trainee teachers will be given opportunities to reflect on the knowledge base introduced in taught modules and to extend and demonstrate the inter-relationships between pedagogical theory, mathematics and their placement experiences. It is designed to be focused on the awareness that effective teachers need to be able to integrate and apply their body of knowledge to professional practice

Applied Statistics

This module builds on statistical ideas and techniques studied in earlier modules and introduces you to using SPSS.

The emphasis of this module is on statistical modelling and case studies will be drawn from various areas including education, environmental science and health. 

Advanced Calculus

This module follows from the calculus modules in levels 4 and 5 and continues the study of calculus and associated applications.

You will link linear algebra and calculus to investigate vector functions, extend your knowledge to include functions of a complex variable, and further develop your understanding of the solutions of partial differential equations

Advanced Game Theory

Game theory tries to model how decision makers interact during situations of conflict or cooperation.

The implications of this theory are widespread and have had a significant impact on many subjects including economic, biology and computer sciences.

School Experience: Developing As A Professional

This is the final placement, where you will spend 10 weeks in a secondary school.

It is designed for student teachers to gain proficiency in whole-class teaching across the KS3 and KS4 secondary curriculum, and to develop your knowledge about school management, performance and national targets.

This placement is linked to, and designed to, enable student teachers to meet the Teachers’ Standards for qualified teacher status (QTS). The placement aims to increase student teachers’ understanding and application of the relationship between theory and practice in education and develop their professional confidence and competence within a school setting.