Mathematics is seen as a key skill at Ashbourne and the department is fully resourced with an incredible teaching team. Specialist staff teach each strand of the course: Physicists teach our students the Mechanics modules; Statisticians and ex-city workers teach Statistics; Computer Scientists teach the Decision Maths and pure mathematicians teach the core maths modules. This has led to consistently outstanding results with 80% of our students achieving A grades and 60% going onto achieve A grades at Further Maths as well!
Why study Mathematics?
Mathematics is the bedrock of nearly all science and economic based disciplines, from Physicists and Geographers to Bankers and Engineers. A student should always consider taking Mathematics to at least AS Level to prove to future employers that they are comfortable dealing with many different types of figures and calculations.
Which syllabus do we follow?
We follow Edexcel specification for Mathematics
How many units are there?
There are six units in total. Mathematics works in a different way to most other A levels. All students must obtain the four Core Mathematics modules listed below. Ordinarily they will study for and sit C1 and C2 in the AS year and C3 and C4 in the A2 year. Students must also study for and sit two additional units. These could be both from the same area, for example S1 and S2, or from two different areas, for example S1 and M1.
What is each unit about?
Core Mathematics
C1 – Algebra and functions; coordinate geometry; sequences and series; differentiation; integration
C2 – Algebra and functions; coordinate geometry; sequences and series; trigonometry; exponentials and logarithms; differentiation; integration
C3 – Algebra and functions; trigonometry; exponentials and logarithms; differentiation; numerical methods. C4 – Algebra and functions; coordinate geometry; sequences and series; differentiation; integration; vectors
Mechanics
M1 – Mathematical models in mechanics; vectors in mechanics; kinematics of a particle moving in a straight line or plane, statics of a particle; moments.
M2 – Kinematics of a particle moving in a straight line or plane; centres of mass; work and energy: collisions; statics of rigid bodies.
Statistics
S1 – Mathematical models in probablitiy and statistics; representation and summary of data; probability; correlations and regression, discrete random variables; discrete distributions, the Normal distribution
S2 – The Binomial and Poisson distributions; continuous random variables; continuous distributions; samples; hypothesis tests
Decision mathematics
D1 – Algorithms, algorithms on graphs, the route inspections problems; critical path analysis; linear programming; matchings.
D2 – Transportation problems; allocation (assignment) problems; the traveling salesman, game theory, further linear programming, dynamic programming; flows in networks.
How is each unit examined?
All examinations last 1 hour and 30 minutes and have 75 marks. C1 is a non-calculator paper. Students can use calculators in all the other papers.
How is the course structured?
AS students will study for C1 between September and December of the AS year, with a view to taking the C1 examination in January. They will then begin studying for C2 with a view to taking the C2 examination in June. Students also study for M1 and S1. In the A2 year students will begin studying for C3 between September and December with a view to taking the exam in January. They will then begin studying for C4. Student may continue with S1 and M1, alternatively they may study for S2, M2 or D1 and D2. To gain an A level all students must sit all four Core Mathematics modules and two further modules.
When do the exams take place?
Students sit C1 in January and the remainder of the AS units in the May/June examination period. There will be opportunities to resit AS units or sit C3 in January of the A2 year. The remaining units will be sat in May/June of the A2 year.
Which Ashbourne teachers teach this course?
Eddie Morris
(BSc Hons (Bristol), BA Hons, MA (Open) Mathematics (HoD))
Eddie has a BSc in Engineering and a BA and MA in Mathematics from the Open University. He has been at Ashbourne for ten years and as the tutor responsible for timetabling, magically makes it possible for any student to do any combination of subjects. He is interested in athletics and keep fit and has scaled the summit of Kilamanjaro twice.
Chella Nathan
(BEng Hons (North London) BSc Hons (Sri Lanka) Mathematics and Physics)
Chella has a BSc in Mathematics and Physics from his native Sri Lanka and a B.Eng from London University. He has been teaching Mathematics and Physics for over twenty years. His research interests are number theory and the development of renewable energy sources.
Dr Barry Rhule
(Phd (London), BSc Hons (CNAA) Mathematics, Physics)
Barry has a BSc in Mathematics and Physics from CNNA and a PhD in Physics from the University of London. He is a member of the London Mathematical Society and has been teaching Maths and Physics at Ashbourne for over ten years.
Peter Franklin
Peter is a graduate of the London School of Economics. He worked at Channel 4 for over 10 years, first as marketing manager and later writing and directing TV trailers. In 2002 he decided to retrain as a teacher so he could spend more time at home with his family.
David Johnstone
(BSc Artificial Intelligence (Durham) Computing, IT and Mathematics)
David did his first degree in Artificial Intelligence at Durham University. He worked in the city, developing huge corporate IT systems, then went on to do doctoral research in real-time systems scheduling, the technology behind automotive manufacturing. He is a specialist in Java programming, holding a Sun certificate and Java black-belt membership.
Beyond A level for Mathematics and Further Mathematics
After studying Maths and Further Maths many of our students have chosen to read degrees in Engineering, Physics, Economics, Accountancy and Pure Mathematics. Our students have gone on to study both in London at the prestigious University College London and Imperial College London and further afield with many students being placed at Warwick, Nottingham and Cambridge.
Any other information
Students intending to study Mathematics at AS and A2 level should ideally possess A*, A or B at GCSE. However, it is possible for a student with a grade C at intermediate level to be successful in their study of A level Mathematics.
Mathematics at AS and A2 level is both challenging and demanding. It is fundamentally different from the study of Mathematics at GCSE requiring strong skills in algebraic manipulation and a disciplined approach to study. Success is achieved by students who adopt a consistent work pattern. Students who have a tendency to ‘cram’ at the last minute are usually unsuccessful in this subject.
Textbooks
AS
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Core Mathematics 1
Author – Keith Pledger and Mr Dave Wilkins
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-AS-Level-Modular-Mathematics/dp/0435519107/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Core Mathematics 2
Author – Keith Pledger and Mr Dave Wilkins
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-AS-Level-Modular-Mathematics/dp/0435519115/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275642513&sr=1-1
A2
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Core Mathematics 3
Author – Keith Pledger
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-AS-Level-Modular-Mathematics/dp/0435519093/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275642552&sr=1-1
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Core Mathematics 4
Author – Keith Pledger
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-AS-Level-Modular-Mathematics/dp/0435519077/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275642640&sr=1-1
Optional Modules
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Mechanics 1
Author – Ms Susan Hooker et.al.
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-Level-Modular-Mathematics-Mechanics/dp/0435519166/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275644435&sr=8-1
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Mechanics 2
Author – Keith Pledger
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-Level-Modular-Mathematics-Mechanics/dp/0435519174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275644518&sr=1-1
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Statistics 1
Author – Keith Pledger et.al.
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-Level-Modular-Mathematics-Statistics/dp/0435519123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275644563&sr=1-1
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Statistics 2
Author – Keith Pledger et.al.
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-Level-Modular-Mathematics-Statistics/dp/0435519131/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275644613&sr=1-1
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Decision Mathematics 1
Author – Susie Jameson
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-AS-Level-Modular-Mathematics/dp/0435519190/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275644705&sr=1-1
Title – Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Decision Mathematics 2
Author – Susie Jameson
Web link – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edexcel-Level-Modular-Mathematics-Decision/dp/0435519204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275644757&sr=1-1
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