Senior School Mathematics Department

The Senior School Mathematics Department at Marlborough College Malaysia delivers an enriching programme throughout the school to pupils of all abilities. Whilst pupils are specially trained to deal with the rigours of examinations we feel it is crucial that the pupils should also be exposed to the beauty and usefulness of mathematics even if it is outside of the confines of the syllabus. Many of our pupils go on to study a Maths based course at some of the top universities around the world.

The pupils take the Edexcel IGCSE course and then either Studies Standard, Standard or Higher Level at IB. The more able pupils will take the IGCSE course a year early and study the Edexcel Further Pure Mathematics course in Hundred (Year 11). Beyond the examination courses, the school takes part in the UKMT Maths Challenges and this is complemented with a popular UKMT activity which aims to develop the pupils’ problem-solving. Pupils are also encouraged to attend frequent drop-in sessions to support their learning.

The department is healthily staffed with seven maths beaks many of whom have responsibilities outside of the department including the Director of Studies. All members of the Maths department are tutors in both day and boarding houses. All staff are encouraged to attend professional development courses in order to ensure that their practice is current and relevant.

The department is well resourced with the teaching being shared amongst five classrooms, all with projectors and fully working Wi-Fi to dynamically aid both the teaching and the learning. The department prides itself on being forward thinking, innovative and in keeping with the modern Mathematics student.

Prep School Mathematics Department

“Maths is like a road with many different paths,  some paths are rocky, some paths are smooth but all paths are possible” – Phoebe Ackerley

At Marlborough College Malaysia, Mathematics forms one of the core subjects and plays a vital role in the development of our pupils. With the pupils in mind, we aim to build lessons that are pupil-centred, fun and interactive. Mathematics could be thought of as three main categories, namely:

Mathematics as a discipline:

Mathematics has a deep and broad approach to thinking and learning and it is the very cornerstone that we build our problem-solving approaches on. It is for this reason that we aim to not only build our pupils’ ability to process numbers and solve problems but also to think laterally, strengthening their ability to solve problems later on in life that may not appear straightforward, giving them the edge in a world that is not always direct and neatly packed.

Mathematics relating to the real world:

It is through real world application that pupils begin to gain an appreciation of the importance of Mathematics as a subject and for this reason our lessons are, as often as possible, linked through application; teaching pupils not only how to apply mathematics but why.

Holistic approach to Mathematics:

Mathematics should not start and end when the bell goes but be carried through each and every pupil’s day and it is for this reason that we regularly hold cross-curricular days which enforce the linkages between subjects. This then gives pupils the ability to not only see the connections and form greater mental bonds but also view mathematics not only as a subject but as a tool that can be relied on.

The Mathematics department at Marlborough College is healthily staffed, comprising of nine internationally trained teachers who are encouraged to regularly attend courses to broaden their teaching skill set. We follow the Common Entrance syllabus at both 11+ and 13+ levels as it sets the bar much higher than that which would normally be expected, allowing us to cover far more and building our pupils to a much higher level in a shorter period of time.

Pre-Prep Mathematics Department

Fostering an enjoyment and feeling of confidence about number is a high priority as the children progress to more formal Maths sessions in Years 1 and 2. Our curriculum covers the four strands of Mathematics, including number, measurement, geometry and statistics. Each lesson begins with a fun and engaging activity to develop quick and accurate recall of number facts. Experienced teachers follow a progressive scheme of work that provides opportunities for repetition within lessons and throughout the year to ensure that every child is secure in their knowledge before moving to the next step in their learning. Children take part in varied written and practical tasks enabling them to practise and perfect their numerical skills and explore new concepts. A hands-on approach to learning is still encouraged at this stage. Children learn to collaborate in small groups and work independently, making use of varied and stimulating resources that are linked to real life experiences.