We use cookies on our website to ensure that we give you the best experience. This includes cookies from third party social media websites, especially on pages where embedded content from social media can be found. Such third party cookies may track your use of our website. To continue with cookies, please click 'Accept' below. However, you can change your cookie settings at any time.
Teaching for mastery means students gaining a deep and lasting understanding of mathematical procedures and concepts. The Secondary Teaching for Mastery Development Work Group is a funded professional development programme which involves individual teachers and their departments working over time to embed mastery into maths learning.
A Work Group consists of pairs of teachers (Mastery Advocates) from two or more schools. These Mastery Advocates will work closely with a Secondary Mastery Specialist to develop their understanding of the principles and practices associated with teaching for mastery and apply them in their own classrooms. When ready, and supported by the Mastery Specialist, they will collaborate with teachers within their own departments to embed these principles and practices more widely. Work will initially focus on Key Stage 3, but it is intended that this will extend to Key Stage 4.
The design of the Work Group will be bespoke for each department, dependent on their current understanding of teaching for mastery, and tailored to the needs of the Mastery Advocates and their own stages of development, but initially is likely to include:
When ready, the focus will shift to supporting the Mastery Advocates working with their own departments. At this point the work is likely to include:
It is important to recognise that sustained change and development in maths teaching requires a long-term commitment, and the Development Work Group is the first stage of substantial support offered by Maths Hubs. There is an expectation that schools will continue in subsequent years. Departments will continue to work internally on their own practices and systems supported by a Secondary Mastery Specialist, but in parallel with this they join a wider community of schools who are all also working on developing teaching for mastery. These wider groups offer opportunities for ongoing support, development, and practice exchange.
The Work Groups provide an opportunity for your school to engage in high-quality, sustained, collaborative professional development and participate in an important national project.
The aim of these groups is to support Mastery Advocates to develop teaching for mastery in their own classroom and then across their department. All members of the mathematics department will work collaboratively to explore the principles and practices associated with teaching for mastery set out in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery. Ultimately, they will be encouraged to develop departmental classroom practices in line with these principles.
Schools that wish to participate in the Work Group must commit to the following:
Participation in this Work Group is the first part of a long-term development for schools, with funded opportunities and free support available via the Maths Hubs network in subsequent years. Schools initially participate in a Development Work Group and should then go on to work in an Sustaining Work Group. We believe that in a healthy education system, a balance of in-school development and external collaboration are necessary, and so Sustaining Work Groups offer a support mechanism to enable teachers to continue to exchange ideas and develop collaboratively. In the second year, there will be three days’ worth of in-school Embedding Support from a Mastery Specialist alongside regular external meetings. In subsequent years, support is offered primarily through the external meetings, reflecting the changing balance.
Any state-funded secondary school with an interest in developing mathematics teaching for mastery can apply. The school should identify two teachers (Mastery Advocates) who will be best placed to innovate in their own classroom and to lead developmental work across the department i.e. at least one should be the head of department or second in department, the Key Stage 3 lead or someone with a similar role.
There is no fee or charge to participating schools to take part in this Work Group. The Maths Hub meets the cost of running the Work Group. Each department will receive £2000 to enable the Mastery Advocates to work with the Secondary Mastery Specialist and thus enable them to work within their own department.
More information about Secondary Teaching for Mastery Work Groups can be found on the NCETM website including commentary from Teachers and Head Teachers who have already been involved in the programme.
To apply, please complete our application form (google form) linked below. Once you have submitted the form, please email admin@emsmathshub.org.uk and copy in the Headteacher/member of SLT and Mastery Advocate Teachers as confirmation.
If you would prefer to complete a paper version of the application form, you can access a Word version through the link below. Once completed please return via email to admin@emsmathshub.org.uk and copy in the Headteacher/member of SLT and Mastery Advocate Teachers as confirmation of their electronic signaures.