Head of department
- Sorts pupils, sets classes
- Reviews the groups each term
- Decides at the end of the year
Maths Lab
Year 7 maths: the lessons, the step back when a pupil needs it, and the tools to see it.
Year 7 sequence: DfE Sample Key Stage 3 Mathematics Curriculum Framework (2021). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Using Maths Lab
Records and availability
Teaching methods
Keep the representation, explanation and written method connected. Follow the authored lesson and use the pupil's response to decide the next step.
The lesson routine
By topic
The curriculum
Nine units follow the Maths Lab teaching order. Classroom provides the Classroom lessons; Catch-up targets the current unit or earlier skills a pupil needs. Choose a unit to see its lessons.
How the programme works
Every pupil learns in a class, and the class always moves on; some also have extra support. Aim: caught up by Year 8.
Classroom keeps the class on the current unit; Catch-up organises extra teaching for identified gaps. The tier determines the support offered. Assessment evidence and the teacher's judgement determine which lessons each pupil needs.
Start of Year 7
Pupils sorted by KS2 scaled score, with the Sparx baseline. 100 and above: secondary ready, your school’s lessons, no catch-up.
Head of department
| Tier 1 KS2 96 to 99 |
Tier 2 KS2 90 to 95 |
Tier 3 KS2 below 90 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Nothing extra | Readiness test Aims the extra lessons. Teacher |
Starting assessment Finds the gaps; each question names its lesson. Teacher |
| In class | Your school’s lessons Each unit opens with 2 or 3 Developing lessons from Maths Lab Classroom. |
Maths Lab Classroom Developing; Securing work for the higher sets. |
Maths Lab Classroom Developing. |
| After teaching Teacher notes who missed it |
Exit ticket The matching Classroom lesson's. Gaps picked up next lesson. Three misses in a unit: watched closely for Tier 2. |
Exit ticket The gaps go into the week's extra lesson. |
Exit ticket Gaps picked up next lesson. |
| Extra support | None: monitored through the unit tests | An extra group lesson: 1 × 50 or 2 × 25 minutes a week A fixed group, for at least a term. Each week closes the gaps the exit tickets show. Teacher |
Small groups: the step-back plan in Maths Lab Catch-up A fixed group, for at least a term; 25 or 35 minutes. After each: 2 right, next lesson · 1 right, more practice · 0 right, a smaller step. TA or peer mentor; teacher sets the lessons |
| Homework | Sparx, as the school sets it |
||
| Each unit | Your school’s unit test |
Maths Lab unit test Section B tests the Securing objectives. |
Maths Lab unit test Section B tests the Securing objectives. |
| Tier 1 KS2 96 to 99 |
|
|---|---|
| First | Nothing extra |
| In class | Your school’s lessons Each unit opens with 2 or 3 Developing lessons from Maths Lab Classroom. |
| After teaching Teacher notes who missed it |
Exit ticket The matching Classroom lesson's. Gaps picked up next lesson. Three misses in a unit: watched closely for Tier 2. |
| Extra support | None: monitored through the unit tests |
| Homework | Sparx, as the school sets it |
| Each unit | Your school’s unit test |
| Tier 2 KS2 90 to 95 |
|
|---|---|
| First | Readiness test Aims the extra lessons. Teacher |
| In class | Maths Lab Classroom Developing; Securing work for the higher sets. |
| After teaching Teacher notes who missed it |
Exit ticket The gaps go into the week's extra lesson. |
| Extra support | An extra group lesson: 1 × 50 or 2 × 25 minutes a week A fixed group, for at least a term. Each week closes the gaps the exit tickets show. Teacher |
| Homework | Sparx, as the school sets it |
| Each unit | Maths Lab unit test Section B tests the Securing objectives. |
| Tier 3 KS2 below 90 |
|
|---|---|
| First | Starting assessment Finds the gaps; each question names its lesson. Teacher |
| In class | Maths Lab Classroom Developing. |
| After teaching Teacher notes who missed it |
Exit ticket Gaps picked up next lesson. |
| Extra support | Small groups: the step-back plan in Maths Lab Catch-up A fixed group, for at least a term; 25 or 35 minutes. After each: 2 right, next lesson · 1 right, more practice · 0 right, a smaller step. TA or peer mentor; teacher sets the lessons |
| Homework | Sparx, as the school sets it |
| Each unit | Maths Lab unit test Section B tests the Securing objectives. |
End of each term
Groups reviewed: watched pupils can join; after at least a term, pupils can leave. Classes stay.
Head of department
End of Year 7
Tiers 2 and 3: 70% in section B over the year = caught up for your school’s Year 8 lessons. Classes re-set.
Head of department
Who does what
Teacher
- Teaches the class
- Runs the Tier 2 extra lesson; chooses its gaps each week
- Sets the Tier 3 lessons; reads the TA's notes
TA or peer mentor
- Teaches the Tier 3 small groups
- Records each session's exit ticket in Catch-up
- Flags a pupil who is stuck
Using the apps
-
1. Pupils & groups
Add pupils with initials, a unique pupil number, class and year, or import a spreadsheet. Make intervention groups with a tier, adult and weekly day and period. The group chooser keeps the relevant pupils in view.
-
2. Initial assessment & plan
Print the baseline paper, enter marks in the class grid and confirm them. Review the gaps and teacher's tier choice; make a group from ticked pupils. Review the suggested programme, then Confirm programme.
-
3. Teach
Choose the group and Open session. Sign off attendance and the exit answers together; each pupil has a next step. A 50-minute meeting holds two lessons. The next unticked session is next.
-
4. Progress
Review the class and pupil trackers, later reviews, mid-point checks and section B. Print Passports or a half-term booklet. Use Records → Save a backup regularly.
Catch-up keeps pupil records in the browser you use. In Records, use Save a backup to keep a copy. Open a backup replaces the records on screen with that copy.
Instructions for your role →Threshold concepts
Threshold concepts are key mathematical ideas that many later lessons build on, such as place value, equal groups and inverse relationships. A gap here can affect several topics. Address the gap while the pupil continues with the class unit.
-
1. Find the idea
Choose the current unit below, then open a concept. Read its explanation and note the lesson titles and codes that teach it.
-
2. Check the gap
Use assessment responses, Get ready and class work to check understanding. Consider the pupil's explanation and any help needed, as well as their answer.
-
3. Teach and revisit
Use Catch-up → Plan to select the pupil and set suitable lessons. Teach with the pictures and Show it; record the exit ticket, then revisit the idea in a later or mid-point check.
This map shows what the lessons teach. Review each pupil's evidence in Catch-up; Preview opens a lesson, and Set saves the plan.