What your child will learn in maths#

They will learn to use different methods to solve problems, including word problems and different types of tables, graphs and diagrams. Children will connect their understanding of whole numbers to fractions, decimals and percentages. They will also apply their maths skills to understand concepts like angles, perimeter and area, and explore patterns, shapes, and data.

Having good mathematical skills and a positive view of themselves as maths learners will help your child in the future. They are important for things like solving problems and creative thinking. When talking to your child about maths, encourage your child to use the vocabulary that they have been using in their maths classes.

Numbers#

Your child is learning about numbers, including to:

• Understand a wider range of numbers such as factors and square numbers to read, write, compare, and order numbers up to 1,000,000, and add and subtract whole numbers. Students use estimation and rounding to check their calculations.
• Multiplication and division by recalling multiplication facts up to 10 × 10, multiplying multi-digit numbers (for example, 54 × 112), and dividing large numbers with remainders (for example, 198 ÷ 7). Using the order of operations is important new learning in Year 6.
• Expand their knowledge of fractions, decimals by adding and subtracting decimals (for example, 3.45 + 15.33), and working with fractions (for example, ¼ + 2/8). Year 6 children are introduced to percentages and understanding how fractions, decimals, and percentages relate to each other.
• Apply maths to financial situations to create simple financial plans (for example, budgets or shopping lists) and calculate simple percentages for purchases.

Algebra#

Your child is learning to:

• Understand equality and inequality. They use the ideas of equality (when both sides of an equation are the same, like 3 + 5 = 8) and inequality (when 1 side is greater or smaller, like 5 × 3 < 20) to answer true or false statements, or find missing numbers in an equation.
• Identify growing patterns to find rules for patterns using tables, graphs, and diagrams.
• Create algorithms by developing step-by-step instructions (algorithms) to solve problems, like using a decision tree to sort shapes.

Measurement#

Your child is learning to:

• Measure and estimate length, weight, capacity, temperature, and time, using the right tools and units. They are also practicing measuring and drawing angles with a protractor. In Year 6 children use multiplication to find the area of rectangles and triangles, and the volume of cubes and rectangular prisms.
• Convert metric units like millimetres to meters and using decimals in measurements.
• Understand units of time. Your child is learning to convert between time units (for example, minutes to hours), calculate the difference between times, and understand both regular clock time and 24-hour time.

Geometry#

Your child is learning to:

• Understand shapes by describing and comparing 2D shapes (like different triangles) and 3D shapes (like prisms and pyramids). Children also look at the angles they can see inside shapes.
• Transform shapes by creating and describing patterns that rotate (turn), reflect (flip), tessellate, and translate (slide) shapes.
• Read and create maps using grid references, directional language (north, south, east, west), and measuring distances (in metres and kilometres) and turns (in degrees).

Statistics#

Your child is learning to:

• Explore real data – ask and answer questions using data and predict what they think the data will show. In Year 6, their investigations may be about changes over time, like "how much will this bean plant grow over 10 days?".
• Collect and check data – plan how to collect their own data, check where it comes from, and make sure it is trustworthy. They also learn to organise data and look for mistakes.
• Present and make sense of data – by creating and describing graphs and charts to find patterns and trends, compare their findings to their original predictions and what they already know.
• Develop statistical literacy – to check and improve how others collect and present data to avoid mistakes or misleading information.

Probability#

Your child is learning to plan and carry out probability experiments to:

• Investigate chance – by exploring chance-based situations, including those with outcomes that aren’t equally likely. They start by asking questions, predicting possible outcomes, and identifying all ways each outcome could happen. For example, what is the chance of pulling out a red counter from a bag that has 20 red and 25 blue counters?
• Collect and record data – by working out the possible outcomes, and/or doing the experiment and recording the results. They will then create charts to present the data and describe what these charts show.
• Compare results and probabilities – by looking at their experiment’s findings with the expected probabilities. In Year 6, your child is learning to calculate probabilities as fractions and use them to answer the investigative question.

Resource#