Mathematics

About The Department

The Mathematics department is situated in a recently refurbished teaching block, with five newly furnished, well-equipped class rooms each containing fully interactive whiteboards.

In practice, the learning of Mathematics involves many teaching strategies. We give pupils clear guidelines and adopt a traditional exposition making sure that both ends of the ability spectrum are catered for. Full use is made of interactive whiteboards and students are actively involved in the learning process.

On the completion of our course we expect our pupils to be able to carry out standard learned processes accurately and reliably. They should be able to recognise structure and be aware of properties and mathematical relationships. They will be able to invent strategies for solving problems.

Teaching And Learning

Students in the 2nd and 3rd form follow a key stage 3 mathematics course using the STP text books and in the 4th and 5th form they follow a GCSE Mathematics course culminating in two written papers and two pieces of coursework which respectively account for 40%, 40%, 10%, 10% of the final marks. Sixth Form courses at AS and Advanced Level Mathematics are offered with an option of Further Mathematics for the more able pupils. Courses of study at this level include modules in pure mathematics, mechanics and statistics. We encourage stronger students to take an Advanced Extension Award in mathematics and also aid those sitting STEP papers.

All pupils are prepared for the EDEXCEL suite of examinations at both GCE and GCSE levels.

By half term of the 2nd form students are placed in sets according to ability and the lower sets are much smaller allowing for more one to one support in the class room.

Activities

A mathematics "clinic" is held at lunchtime every day to give assistance to pupils who require further support or for those who need more practice prior to external examinations.

All pupils are encouraged to enter the National Mathematics Contest which is a problem-solving competition targeting pupils in the UK at three different age groups. High achieving pupils go on to represent Britain in the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Mathematics

David Pierce (Head of Department)

David has a BSc (University of Canterbury) in Maths (Stats) and PGCE (Manchester University). David hails from the scenic coastal town of Runcorn in Cheshire. After eight years teaching at state schools in England and six years running the maths department at an international school in Kuwait, he chose to settle in Scotland with his wife Joanne and daughters Hannah and Louise. David's first love is Statistics but he also enjoys hockey, football (he is a keen Evertonian) and snooker.

Paul Dunn

Paul followed his BSc (University of Strathclyde) in Mathematics with a PGCE from St Andrew's College of Education (now Glasgow University). Joining Loretto in 1998, he has previously headed up the ICT Department and spent six years as Assistant Housemaster of Pinkie House. Alongside Mathematics where he teaches up to A2 level including statistics and mechanics he is also Head of Careers Education. One of the few west coasters on the staff, Paul is widely travelled and enjoys a variety of leisure pursuits from su doku and reading to hillwalking and family holidays. He coaches cricket and hockey.

Martin Baker (Director of Studies)

Received his BA in Mathematics and Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University and completed post graduate studies at Cambridge specialising in black hole Physics and stellar evolution. He joined the British Antarctic Survey in 1976 as a meteorologist/atmospheric physicist. He worked in the Antarctic for long periods of time between 1976 and 1986 both as a field scientist and as a Base Commander. In 1986 he joined the School of Geography at the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and technology (now Anglia University) as a lecturer in Meteorology and Climatology. Martin joined Loretto School in 1989 initially as a teacher of Technology but later becoming Head of ICT and Head of Physics. He is in the final stages of completing a PhD in fluid turbulence with the Open University. He was Director of Studies from 1996 to 1998 and recently returned to this post in 2001. His interests include literature, music, mathematical art and expeditions. He is a keen gardener and an Elder in the Church of Scotland.

Elspeth Bleakley

Elspeth has a BSc in Mathematical Physics and a PGCE from Edinburgh University. She joined the department in 2005. Although she was born in London she is not a fan of the place and moved north as soon as possible. Being half-Scottish and having family in Edinburgh here seemed the obvious choice. Elspeth has recently taken over running the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and escapes to the mountains whenever she can. In her spare time she plays in an orchestra and runs a Brownie pack.

David Levey

David has a BSc in Physics from University College London and a PhD in Theoretical Physics from Imperial College London specialising in Quantum Field Theory. He has returned to his native Edinburgh in the last few years and completed his PGCE at Edinburgh University, joining the department in 2006. David is a keen chess player and runs the Loretto Chess Club. His other interests are choir singing, philosophy and literature, especially John Milton.