Department members: 

Alana Carolan, Claire McKenna, Donna-Marie Brennan, Eoin Power, Joseph O’Sullivan, Katie Fitzgerald, Lauren Reilly, Marie O’Connor, Mary Tighe, Megan Brady, Hannah Kealy, Nicola Mc Connell, and Sarah Meade. 

Department Co-ordinators:  

Claire McKenna 

Mathematics Learning Support Team: 

Carmel Quigley, Claire Smith, Donna-Marie Brennan. 

Numeracy:  

At O’ Carolan College we believe the development of numeracy skills is a basic entitlement for all. All students should experience a rich numeracy learning environment, regardless of perceived ‘ability’. Numeracy involves the application of knowledge, skills and understanding, essential for personal and social development and for life-long learning.  

Provision of the Subject in the School: 

Maths is taught to all years from First to Sixth Year as per the DES Syllabus and Guidelines, with ‘Mathematical Applications’ taught to Leaving Certificate Applied students. Learning support is available, where appropriate, from the learning support team and ‘Applied Mathematics’ as an additional subject is available to Leaving Certificate students in fifth and sixth year. (See Applied Mathematics report).  

Timetabling: 

First Year – 5 classes a week 

Second Year – 5 classes a week 

Third Year – 5 classes a week 

TY – 3 classes a week 

Fifth Years – 5 classes a week.  Higher level students also have an additional class one evening a week after school for the duration of Fifth Year.  

Sixth Years – 5 classes a week.  Higher level students also have an additional class one evening a week after school for the duration of Sixth Year. 

The subject is taught at Higher and Ordinary level to both Junior and Leaving Certificate classes.  

Planning and Preparation: 

Department meetings were formally held and minuted regularly throughout the year.  These meetings were used to discuss department planning, allocation of classes, review programmes of work particularly first year maths, organise Maths Week events, record results and expected results, arrange Christmas and Summer tests, prepare marking schemes and discuss textbooks.    

Informally we discussed department matters daily. 

ICT and Maths/ Resources: 

Each Maths classroom has a PC, projector and visualiser, with all department members having access to a graphics tablets. Geogebra software has been installed on all PCs in OCC.  

Students have full access in school and at home to Microsoft Teams, which class teachers keep regularly updated with ongoing classwork and resources for all students. All junior students now have their own ‘show-me’ board which are used regularly in class as a valuable teaching aid. 3rd year and 6th Year students have access to Studyclix; an online bank of past exam questions with solutions.  

Assessment: 

Assessment includes homework and class tests, with class tests being given regularly, typically at the end of each section.  In-class assessment using show-me boards is also a valuable teaching methodology, with all junior students having their own board.  

First & Second Years sit a one hour exam at Christmas and summer. 

Fifth Years sit a 1 hour & 20 minute exam at Christmas and summer. 

Informal and formative assessment occurs in class on an ongoing basis, which allows students to assess their progress. 

Extra-curricular Mathematics: 

OCC’s Maths Department encourage our students to become involved in a number of fun activities during the school year, with the goal of enhancing learning and of increasing their enjoyment of the subject.