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Maths Award Scheme

  • A Guide for Parents

How will my child be tested?

Each week, children will be tested informally on one of their multiplication tables tests – for example. their 3 Bronze, their 6 Silver or their 8 Gold.

Children will be expected to answer questions mentally. For the harder tests, children are encouraged to use ‘jottings’ to calculate the answer if needed.

Normally, children will complete all their Bronze level times tables, then their Silver and their Gold, revisiting each multiplication table to ensure that each times table and inverse facts are added to their long-term memory!

What next?

Our scheme marries core facts (declarative knowledge) with key methods and strategies (procedural knowledge) and teaches children to be proficient learners and to apply their knowledge. Once your child completes an award, we scaffold their learning as they prepare for the next one…

  • Before moving on from Silver or Gold, pupils will be expected to pass four mixed multiplication tests where they rehearse their Silver and Gold skills but with all their times tables; this is to ensure that they are ready for the next step and that learning is embedded. Pupils who progress too quickly can become worried about the pace of the scheme if their multiplication tables are not secure.
  • In preparation to be tested on their Human Calculator, children may be tested on their 70, 700, 0.7, 0.07 times tables, etc. This will also be a really good recap of their retrieval of multiplication and division facts.
  • Alongside this scheme, children have their own logins for Times Tables Rock Stars to rehearse at home and in school for speed and accuracy.

https://play.ttrockstars.com/school/student/

What can we do at home?

Try these websites for fun times tables games:

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/22/most-popular

http://www.maths-games.org/times-tables-games.html

http://www.primarygames.co.uk/

What is our Maths Award Scheme?

We work hard to support children in becoming confident, fast and accurate in their recall of number knowledge, in particular, multiplication and division.

We have developed this scheme of low-stakes, regular testing and rehearsal to ensure fluency and progression of core knowledge and facts across KS2.

Why is automaticity important?

This scheme is ambitious for all and the carefully sequenced steps promote automaticity in key knowledge through rehearsal, variation and intelligent practice!

Don’t be disappointed if your child does not pass a test on the first attempt. It is far more valuable that your child spends time properly rehearsing each multiplication table fact so that it guarantees long-term learning and independence.

There is no rush for children to complete each award, it is far more important that children remember the knowledge than pass the tests quickly.

The overall aim of our scheme is to ensure automaticity and confidence in maths knowledge that pupils can apply in their lessons in class.