·       The Maths and Computing Specialism (since Sept. 2004) underpins school improvement by leading effective Teaching & Learning strategies to raise attainment. Curriculum time for Maths and ICT has increased as well as the number and range of courses, links with local community, LEA, other schools and businesses.

·        The Maths Department has built, through its Capital Bid, suited rooms and through these, the use of ICT is strong within the department. The Maths Department is a very strong department and has had a very stable staffing structure for a number of years.

·         Mathematics results at GCSE are consistently high at A*- C level and on average, against FFT, consistently improves each student by approximately half a grade above prediction.

·         Early entry in Mathematics for the most able and in Statistics through extra curricular work is led by the Specialism.

·         Statistics GCSE is one of the highest performing GCSE subjects with virtually all students gaining at least a Grade C pass.

·         At A-Level the number of students achieving A-Level mathematics has on a trend basis been rising with 2008 being an exception.

·         Numbers of students studying AS Level Mathematics are consistently high.

 

·         The Maths Department has also led or worked with a number of departments on cross curricular activities. This includes Maths in Art in Year 9 (26 students). This activity has now been spread to schools across the borough. Work on River projects in Year 8 Geography and Maths and The Environment – through the study of our globe with 25 Year 10 students

·         The school is in Partnership with the Merseyside Further Mathematics Network and is a centre for Mid-Sefton. This has benefited a number of students from neighbouring institutions.

·         Through a partnership with the Sefton LIG G&T coordinator the Maths Department have been able to Target 60 students from across the borough to achieve Grade A or A*. The impact on grades of this has still to be investigated but the staff and students have given positive feedback in regards to the impact of these sessions. Sacred Heart have also been involved in working with South Sefton Schools in order to increase the number of students that gain a Grade C or above in Maths.

·         Similarly through these sessions the Mathematics Department have been able to offer INSET to 8 Sefton teachers on the content of the GCSE Higher Tier.

·         A major partnership has been with Brookfield High School, a school in Knowsley. In partnership with us they have selected borderline students for our staff to work with in school and during extra curricular time.

·         Partnerships with our Primary schools are well established and have continued to be very successful. Activities such as 'Mission Impossible' and 'Measure Island', aimed at Year 6 and Year 4 respectively, have proved very enjoyable for both staff and students alike.  

·         We are trying to improve our existing partnership with our Special School – Crosby High through our Jaguar in Motion project. This has included INSET for their relevant member of staff.

 

·         GCSE Maths for Parents and the wider community has continued and is going from strength to strength. The 100% pass rate has helped immensely and the dedication of Mrs. Shields in making this project work (also a parent and member herself of the local community) cannot be underestimated. This runs from November to November. Any parent interested in taking GCSE Maths should contact school and ask to speak to Mrs Shields or Mrs Jones.

·         The success of GCSE Maths for Parents has led to a small number of the community students progressing to AS-Level Mathematics.

 

·         Students in Year 11 have all been given the opportunity to achieve Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in IT through the ECDL.

·         Year 10 students have all chosen one of the following IT qualification this year:- GCSE (full) including extra curricular time, GCSE (half), ECDL, OCR Nationals Certificate and Diploma

·         Lead school for a very successful Post 16 collaboration for a Level 2 BTEC Diploma in IT across four schools.

·         A history of excellent results at Post 16 has always contributed heavily to school’s success (see ALPS). 2007 blip seems to be due to new syllabus and preliminary marking from the board indicate another successful year in 2008.

 

·         Senior Surfers is the most successful of our community activities. It embodies two major elements of the school ethos. The Christian attitude of understanding, teaching and giving (in this case time and expertise). Numerous of our more senior citizens in the local community have attended, over a long period of time, lessons on the use of IT. This has include learning outcomes such as cropping photos, e-mail, e-mail with attachments, shopping online and many other practical applications for IT.

 

·         Especially, not exclusively, Maths and ICT. Part of local collaborative for quality assurance.

·         Extending Partnership with Hope University into Religious Studies, Science and History.

·         Maths Partnership includes nominated school for non-specialist training and we are the only school who takes double groups for the Mathematics Enhancement course – the prequel to a Mathematics PGCE.