Mathematics

Year 8 is the first year of post-primary school in Northern Ireland and the start of Key Stage 3. Pupils secure the four operations with integers, decimals, fractions and negative numbers, then begin using letters to represent numbers — simplifying expressions, substituting into formulae and solving one- and two-step equations.

Geometry covers angle rules, properties of triangles and quadrilaterals, area, perimeter and coordinates. Handling data covers averages, range, and drawing and reading a range of charts.

Year 8 classes often bring together pupils from many different primary schools with quite different starting points, so this is a common year for confidence to wobble — and a very responsive one to targeted one-to-one support.