King's College London Maths School, London

What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

From the beginning of their time at the school, students quickly get to know each other through events that staff and students organise, such as bushcraft trips and clubs. This leads to a friendly, close-knit community that students value for its inclusivity. Students feel safe at the school. They say that the school feels like a second home.

Students embrace the culture that leaders set, which they refer to as 'productive struggle'. With the support of highly committed and skilled teachers and tutors, students work collaboratively in the classroom to challenge themselves. Outside lessons, groups of students and staff make excellent use of well-designed break-out spaces to discuss complex maths and physics problems with great enthusiasm. Students thoroughly enjoy this way of working. They grow into confident, articulate scholars who are well prepared for demanding undergraduate courses. They achieve exceptionally high grades in their A levels and university entrance tests that enable them to go on to their chosen universities.

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders and managers have developed an extremely ambitious curriculum. They supplement the core A-level and AS-level curriculums with additional academic enrichment courses they have designed themselves, such as the King's certificate for Year 12 students. As a result of this demanding programme, students gain a deep conceptual understanding of mathematical principles. They also become proficient in broad academic skills, such as research, presentation and academic extended writing.

Leaders, managers and teachers have designed a curriculum that is carefully sequenced to make the best educational sense for their students. For example, teachers teach differential equations early within the mechanics strand of the maths A level so that students can apply these to equations in mechanics and physics. Students can then use their knowledge of differential equations to solve terminal velocity problems in physics. Students value how the curriculum structure in maths helps support their understanding of physics and vice versa.

Leadership & management.

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