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Overview

The Mathematics department at Rangitoto College has the objective of ensuring that all our students leave school with at least the required qualifications needed for entrance to University. We employ 25 highly qualified teaching staff that includes specialists in both Statistics and Calculus. We have designed several courses aimed at maximising the potential of all our students and adopt industry leading best practice processes.

HOD Profile

Catherine Udy-Bothwell

‘Mathematics can be fun and does not have to be a subject that students fear. Research shows that the higher a person’s qualifications in mathematics, the more they earn.’
Catherine Udy-Bothwell

Catherine has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland in Mathematics and Spanish and a Secondary Teachers College Diploma from the Auckland College of Education. Catherine has been teaching for 23 years and has had extensive experience in her subject. This is Catherine’s 11th year at Rangitoto College and she leads a team of 25 people in the Mathematics Department.

Facilities

Rangitoto College recently undertook a significant investment in its facilities for the Mathematics Department. The Maths Block was officially opened in March 2006 which was a highlight of the year. It was a great acknowledgement of all the hard work done by Mathematics teachers. Speeches were given by Governor-General, Dame Sylvia Cartwright; the Minister of Education, Mr Steve Maharey; the Member of Parliament for Tamaki, Mr Peachey; and the Principal, David Hodge.

The new mathematics block has excellent technological facilities including a well-equipped computer laboratory with 25 computer stations. There are also six classrooms with Interactive White Boards that provide both teachers and students with technology to use the latest resources in ensuring interactive learning opportunities.

Mrs Udy-Bothwell, the Head of Department, approached the Art Department, investigating the possibility that the Art Department could create something bright, bold and mathematical with their art classes to decorate the foyer of the new building. Through 2006, the Year 10 art classes worked hard to create a mural, co-ordinated by Ms Rikken. It was put up at the beginning of term two and on 27 June 2007, Mr Hodge and Mrs Meiklejohn, the Assistant Head of Mathematics, organised on official opening for the Mathematics Block mural. The mural is a testament to the talent of the Year 10 art classes that painted it. Maths staff and students appreciate its beauty every day.

Courses on Offer

Year 13: Maths Calculus, Maths Statistics and Maths Intermediate
Year 12: Mathematics, Maths Extension and Maths Intermediate
Year 11: Maths Applied, Maths Intermediate, Mathematics and Maths Extension.
Year 10: All of our Year 10 classes are streamed so that pupils work in a challenging environment with students of a similar ability. Extension classes are also offered at this level.
Year 9: The majority of Year 9 pupils are streamed with extension classes available. The course is outlined below.

Year 9 Course

The Mathematics Department provides all Year 9 students with a wide range of mathematical skills that will prepare them to take maths to a higher level and support them in their numerical work for all subjects.

In year 9 students will study:

  • Probability
  • Measurement
  • Number
  • Algebra
  • Statistics
  • Geometry


We are also active participants in ‘The Numeracy Project’, which is a Ministry of Education initiative, to improve the thinking skills of students. The Secondary Numeracy Project is now in its third year of implementation.

Rangitoto College is part of a two year pilot scheme that started at the beginning of 2007. The project has been run with our current Year 9 pupils. Our involvement ensures that the pupils have strategies available to help them to succeed in senior mathematics courses.

At the beginning of the project, each child is interviewed with specific questions. These questions allow the teacher to see the processes that the child uses to get to their answer. These interviews are conducted again at the end of the project to see how much progress the child has made. The project has been very successful this year and both teachers and pupils have enjoyed the challenge.

Course Structure

Extra Curricular Activities

The Rangitoto Mathematics Department has numerous extra-curricular activities that are associated with the department.

  • Mathematics week
  • Mathex
  • Mathematics Competitions


We encourage as many students as possible to enter the competitions that are available throughout the year. Maths competitions encourage and stimulate problem-solving skills crucial to high levels of achievement in Mathematics. The competitions that are available are as follows:

  • National Bank Junior Mathematics Competition (open to Year 9, 10 and Year 11 students).
  • The Westpac Australian Mathematics Competition for students in Year 9 to Year 13.
  • Mathex Team competition for Year 9 and Year 10. It is a team based activity where the best teams from schools around New Zealand will compete against each other in order to win prizes for the school.
  • ETON Press Senior Maths Competition – Open to Year 12 & 13 students.
  • UNSW Australia Mathematics Competition – mid-year – open to Year 9, 10 and Year 11 students.


Maths Week is a nationwide activity undertaken by schools to promote mathematics in schools. At Rangitoto College, we celebrate maths with a number of activities that both students and staff are involved in.

This year we ran our very own mathex competition where the pupils were in teams from their tutor groups and competed against others in their year group. There were scavenger hunts, daily competitions, maths dress up day, staff quizzes. It was a very successful week and enjoyable for all involved.

Achievements of Rangitoto College Mathematics Students

 

 

  • At Year 11, all external standards were at least twice the national averages for excellence and Rangitoto College exceeded the national Decile 10 averages in all standards in both excellences and merits.
  • At Year 12, in six of the eight standards, students achieved at twice the national average for merit and excellence.
  • In Year 13 Statistics, 93% of students gained 14 or more credits and the excellences were 150% of national results for internals.
  • In Year 13 Calculus, students achieved at least twice the national average in all of the standards.