Post-16

Maths Hubs, working in conjunction with the NCETM, are seeking applications from Further Education establishments that wish to nominate ‘lead teachers’ to take part in an important two-year professional development programme leading to the designation of Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialist aimed at those who teach GCSE re-sit and/or Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs). 

Who can take part?

The programme is for practitioners of post-16 GCSE Maths resit and/or Functional Skills Maths who are currently employed in a post-16 setting and regularly teaching maths to students aged
16-19. 

Participants must have at least two years’ experience teaching post-16 GCSE/FSQ maths, with the capacity to lead change within their own institutions. They may be based in FE colleges, Sixth Form colleges, or other post-16 settings.

An information document for the programme can be found on the NCETM website: Further Education Mastery Specialist 

What is involved?

Participating FE establishments will nominate a lead teacher to develop as a Mastery Specialist and follow a minimum two-year programme.

The programme has an initial training year, followed by a second year and beyond in which specialists support others. It equips participants with the knowledge and skills to develop highly effective approaches to the teaching of GCSE Maths resit and Functional Skills Maths, using the principles of teaching for mastery.

During the first year, the emphasis will be on the lead teacher developing their knowledge, understanding and skills of teaching for mastery in their own establishment.

Upon completion of the first year of the programme, participants will join a collaborative cohort of Mastery Specialists according to their provision type. Participants will continue to develop teaching for mastery approaches in their own institutions, working with their colleagues whilst being supported by peers in the collaborative cohort.

What will you learn?

• Your students will develop a secure and connected understanding of the maths they are learning
• Your students will report increased confidence in using maths
• You will develop classroom practices aligned to the principles of teaching for mastery, as exemplified for the post-16 GCSE/FSQ sector
• You will, over time, become part of the Maths Hubs LLME Community

What is the cost?

In 2025/26, the Maths Hub will cover the cost of the 15 days’ release time for the nominated lead teacher. In 2026/27, the Maths Hub will cover the cost of the 15 days’ release time for the lead teacher. 

How to Apply 

Please contact our FE Lead, Alison Sutch, for more information – a.sutch@alsagerschool.org

Who can take part?

These Work Groups are for A level Maths institutions and involve established teachers who are looking to deepen their pedagogical understanding around a locally selected theme. Participants must be teaching a current A level Maths group. Participants who will find this Work Group particularly useful include those who may have already completed other A level subject knowledge and pedagogy CPD. It is focused on A level teachers working collaboratively to improve their practice.

What is involved?

Participants’ institutions must commit to:

• releasing them to attend all Work Group sessions
• allowing them to develop their practice in their classroom and share this with department colleagues.

Participants must commit to:

• attending all Work Group sessions and engaging with and completing activities between Work Group sessions.

What will you learn?

• Your students will have a deeper conceptual understanding of the A level Maths content
• You will understand the purpose of the ‘overarching themes’ of A level Maths, including use of technology, and their impact on teaching and learning in A level Maths
• You will have a deeper understanding of content pedagogic knowledge for A level Maths

What is the cost?

The Developing A Level Pedagogy project is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools/colleges.

How to Apply

Please fill in the Google application form – Developing A Level Pedagogy Application  

Who can take part?

This Work Group is for institutions in which Core Maths is established, and will involve teachers of Core Maths in at least their second year of teaching the qualification, who are looking to deepen their pedagogical understanding of contextualised problem solving. These may be teachers in post-16 settings whose main subject is maths or whose main subject is not maths. Participants will be expected, where appropriate, to work with colleagues in their own department.

Participants’ institutions must commit to:

• releasing them to attend all Work Group sessions
• allowing them to develop their practice in their classroom and share this with departmental colleagues.

What is involved?

This Work Group gives teachers opportunities, through collaboration and experimentation, to develop improved teaching approaches that support the open-ended problem-solving skills. Core Maths students need to develop, and to share these with departmental colleagues. Participants will design and trial classroom activities, sharing and reflecting on their experiences with others in the Work Group.

What will you learn?

• Your students will have raised awareness of the use of maths and statistics in everyday life
• You will understand the philosophy of Core Maths, with its approach to teaching and learning maths through contextualised problem-solving in authentic situations
• You will develop your understanding by exploring a range of common Core Maths approaches and topics
• You will disseminate information on Core Maths pedagogy with your departments and support your school/college in developing clear ways of communicating and promoting its Core Maths offer.

What is the cost?

The Developing Core Maths Pedagogy project is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools/colleges.

How to Apply

Please fill in the Google application form – Developing Core Maths Pedagogy Application

Who can take part?

This programme is for teachers who are in the first two years of teaching Core Maths and are teaching a Core Maths class during the academic year 2025/26.

What is involved?

Teachers are expected to attend all programme sessions (the equivalent of three days), explore and engage with the bespoke resources of the programme, and to implement practice-based activities in between sessions to enable reflection on the pedagogical approaches they are trialling. Teachers need to be given time and support to try out ideas in their own classroom during the programme, and encouraged to reflect on developing and deepening their classroom practice. 

Principal focus is on Core Maths subject knowledge and pedagogy and the programme will be based on these six key themes: applying Fermi estimation and modelling, exploring statistics, making sense of finance, using the pre-release materials, developing critical analysis and creating contextualised activities

What will you learn?

• Your students will have raised awareness of the use of maths and statistics in everyday life
• You will plan lessons/sequences of lessons to promote student understanding, confidence, and progress
• You will understand the philosophy of Core Maths, with its approach to maths through contextualised problem-solving
• You will understand how online learning and technology can be used to support Core Maths teaching

What is the cost?

The Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics Core Maths Teachers is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools/colleges.

How to Apply 

Please fill in the Google application form – SKTM Core Maths Teachers Application

NCETM Professional Development Lead accreditation is designed for those who lead professional development for teachers of maths.

Who can take part?

These programmes are for expert teachers of maths (all phases from Early Years to post-16) who have existing commitments and responsibility for designing, leading and evaluating maths teacher professional development, and who will lead maths professional development beyond their own institution. Participants must be based at a school/institution in England.

An information document can be found on the NCETM website: Professional Development Lead Programme

What is involved?

The PD Lead Programme is designed for participants who are working with other teachers to enhance teaching and learning of maths. 

The programme consists of a blend of online and face-to-face activity equating to three days, and a
series of independent planning and study tasks to be completed in your setting, spread over the
academic year. You will be in a position where you have ownership of planning, leading and
evaluating a professional development programme for a group of teachers/practitioners. Your work on
the programme will be recorded and shared for accreditation purposes in a standardised document.

In partnership with the University of Chester, we are delighted to offer you the opportunity to further
develop your work from the PD Lead Programme to gain 60 Masters credits and a PG Certificate in
Educational Studies in Mathematics.
Further information about the time commitment, assignments and costs will be available later in the
year. Please indicate on the application form whether you are interested to know more about this
opportunity.

What will you learn?

Throughout the year you will:

• consider what constitutes effective PD and the role of the PD Lead in terms of planning,
executing and evaluating PD programmes
• consider some fundamental themes and issues in maths and the teaching of maths, and the
implications of these in the context of supporting other practitioners
• develop an understanding of the full range of potential outcomes of maths professional
development, including: knowledge, attitudes and dispositions; practice development; school
approaches/policies; pupil outcomes
• develop an understanding of effective models of maths professional development, the
rationale for using them, and the research evidence that supports them.

What is the cost?

The Professional Development Lead Programmes are fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so are free to participants and their schools.

How to Apply 

Applications are now closed for 2025/26

Who can take part?

The programme is for colleagues working with school and subject leaders to improve maths teaching and learning in a school or group of schools other than their own. Normally, participants will have previously completed the NCETM PD Lead Programme. Participants will be expected to commit to the full programme of activities and will need the support of the headteacher of their own school and/or their MAT. The programme is for teachers working in England only.

An information document can be found on the NCETM website: School Development Lead Programme

What is involved?

This programme is specifically designed to enable the leaders of maths school development to enhance leadership capacity and capability in the schools they support. It will provide regional support through workshops (face-to-face run regionally across England, and online), practice development activities, and an online community.

Participants design and lead a maths school development initiative, working with school and subject leadership. They must maintain a reflection and learning log, and a record of their initiative.

What will you learn?

During the programme you will:

• increase your awareness of the skills needed by a mathematics school development lead and
have a deeper self-awareness in relation to the role
• develop your knowledge of a range of mathematics school development domains and know
why, when and how to work within these effectively
• develop your knowledge and understanding of how to lead the implementation of a maths
school development process, with appropriate emphasis on working closely with senior and
subject leaders to:

– explore their setting’s needs
– prepare for and begin (at least) to deliver an evidence-informed approach, designed
to address a specified priority and to be sustainable beyond your involvement with the
school
– strengthen your knowledge of the evidence base that underpins school development
and change management.

What is the cost?

The School Development Lead Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participants and their schools. You must discuss your intended application with your Maths Hub before
applying, as you will need their support to sponsor your place on the programme.

How to Apply 

Applications are now closed for 2025/26

Who can take part?

This Work Group is for teachers of GCSE Maths, and for those teaching GCSE Maths resit and/or Functional Skills Maths. Participants may be based in secondary schools, UTCs, FE colleges, Sixth Form colleges, schools with post-16 provision, or other post-16 settings.

Participants will be representing their institution and working with colleagues between Work Group sessions, so ideally will have some responsibility to develop teaching and lead change. 

What is involved?

Participants are expected to attend the equivalent of three full days of workshops and to complete practice-based tasks between sessions. These tasks may include trying out an activity with students, observing the impact of different pedagogical approaches in their own class, reflecting on these activities, and preparing brief notes to support discussions in the following workshop. They may also be asked to contribute to online forum discussions.

Participants’ departments will, through shared good practice, become more effective in supporting students whose route towards a Level 2 qualification crosses phases of education. The development of transferable teaching techniques, which align to the underpinning principles of the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery, will be a pervasive element of the Work Group’s remit. 

It is expected that through their teachers’ participation in this project, students will be better prepared for transition from KS4 to post-16 (GCSE Resit and/or Functional Skills). In Key Stage 4, students will show an increased understanding of their route to a Level 2 qualification (either GCSE or Functional Skills), and in post-16 will demonstrate a more positive attitude to maths.

What will you learn?

Professional learning

Participants will have a deeper understanding of the approaches which will support students as they move from KS4 to post-16 (GCSE Resit and/or Functional Skills), including the importance of consistency of language and representations relating to specific areas of the curriculum.

Student outcomes

Students:

• are better prepared for transition from KS4 to post-16 (GCSE Resit and/or Functional Skills) 
• (in KS4) show an increased understanding of their route to a Level 2 qualification (either GCSE or Functional Skills)
• (in Post-16 GCSE and/or Functional Skills) demonstrate a positive attitude to maths.

What is the cost?

The Supporting Students to Achieve a L2 Qualification in Maths Work Group is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools/colleges.

How to Apply 

Please fill in the Google application form – Supporting Students to Achieve a L2 Qualification in Mathematics Application