Post-16

Following the success of the Primary and Secondary Mastery Specialist Programmes, Maths Hubs, working in conjunction with the NCETM, are now 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. The programme is aimed at those who teach GCSE Mathematics resit and/or Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs).

More information about Further Education Mastery Specialists can be found in the news item Mastery Specialists in GCSE Resit and Functional Skills.

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.

Please read this information document very carefully before submitting an application.

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?

The Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialist Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools/institutions.

How to Apply 

Ensure you have read the information document above, and spoken to your local Maths Hub (mathshub@ourladyofpity.co.uk) then complete the application form online – 

Post-16 GCSE and FSQ Mastery Specialists | NCETM

Who can take part?

Participants will be established teachers of A level Maths who are looking to deepen their pedagogical understanding. They must be teaching a current A level Maths group. 

This Work Group would be particularly useful for those who may have already completed other A level subject knowledge and pedagogy CPD.

What is involved?

This project explores and deepens participants’ pedagogic content knowledge, empowering teachers to enhance their classroom practice and to influence department-wide A level teaching. It is an engine for improving student understanding of A level Maths, and driving their subsequent success. Participants will design and trial classroom activities, sharing and reflecting on their experiences with others in the Work Group.

The project involves a direct working partnership between the Maths Hubs Network and the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP).

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, including use of technology, and their impact on teaching and learning in A level Maths
• You and your department will have a better understanding of how ideas behind teaching for mastery can be used in the classroom
• You and your department 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 and the AMSP so is free to participating schools/colleges.

How to Apply

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

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 2024/25.

What is involved?

This programme supports teachers in developing specialist knowledge for teaching Core Maths and increases their confidence in teaching the course. The programme forms part of the overall Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP) and Maths Hubs Core Maths professional development offer.

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

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 New to Teaching Core Maths Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme and the AMSP so is free to participating schools/colleges.

How to Apply 

This is being led by North Mids Maths Hub. Please fill in the application form here – 24-22 New to Teaching Core Maths (office.com)

Who can take part?

This Work Group is intended for teachers whose students will study Level 2 maths across the secondary/post-16 phases. The target groups of participants in this Work Group are teachers of Year 10 and Year 11 students in secondary education AND teachers of post-16 GCSE Maths resit and/or Functional Skills Maths in secondary and further education. 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. 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.

What is involved?

In Years 10 and 11, it becomes apparent that some students will need to continue their mathematical studies beyond the age of 16 in order to achieve a Level 2 maths qualification. In this project, we will consider the mathematical learning experience of these students, to provide greater coherence for their learning across the phases.

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 Cross-Phase – 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 – Cross-Phase – Supporting Students to Achieve a L2 Qualification in Maths

Who can take part?

Participants should be experienced teachers of Core Maths from schools and colleges in at least their second year of teaching Core Maths. Where appropriate, participants will be expected to work with colleagues in their own department.

What is involved?

These Work Groups give 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.

The project involves a direct working partnership between the Maths Hubs Network and the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP).

What will you learn?

• Your students will have raised awareness of the use of maths and statistics in everyday life
• You will teach mathematical concepts and processes effectively through contextualised problem-solving
• You will understand the philosophy of Core Maths
• You will 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 and the AMSP so is free to participating schools/colleges.

How to Apply

This is being led by North Mids Maths Hub. Please fill in the application form here –  24-23 Developing Core Maths Pedagogy (office.com)

Who can take part?

Lead participants in this programme will be from the ITT community; they should be directly involved in ITT with a responsibility for maths. They will represent the various ITT providers across the hub region so may include HEI, SCITT and School Direct, and represent different phases of ITT including EYTS, QTS (primary and secondary), and post-16.

What is involved?

This project aims to form an established group of ITT representatives across the sector who are committed to developing communities of practice in order to review and evolve their provision.

Any work undertaken will be in conjunction with the leaders of maths provision in ITT institutions, to strengthen the partnership and agree actions that will support the deepening of understanding of teaching for mastery for ITT trainees at an award level. Activity may include working across hub boundaries and collaborating in larger regions.

What will you learn?

• You and those responsible for maths provision at your institution will review your practice and programme
• You will aim to ensure trainees have some understanding of designing lessons informed by mastery principles
• Maths Hub leaders will have a dynamic awareness of the local ITT provision and its school-based partnerships
• Maths Hubs leaders will create opportunity for collaboration and discussion across ITT providers, and use it to inform hub work

What is the cost?

The Strengthening Partnerships with ITT Providers project is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating institutions.

How to Apply 

Please fill in the Google application form – Strengthening Partnerships with ITT Providers

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.

Please read this information document very carefully before submitting an application.

What is involved?

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

Participants benefit from the equivalent of three one-day workshops (face-to-face and online). The completion of an Accreditation Evidence Document, which facilitates critical reflection on participants’ learning and the professional development they design, deliver and evaluate over the year, is also required. Participants will design, lead, review and refine a programme of support for maths teacher professional development, drawing upon a range of evidence-informed models and activity.

What will you learn?

• You will design, lead, review and refine a professional development programme
• You will critically evaluate your own professional development programme against your intended outcomes
• You will identify key principles of maths CPD design and the implications of these for the programme you design 
• You will recognise the key distinction between teachers’ knowledge of maths, and teachers’ knowledge of teaching maths

Participants will also have the opportunity to pay to work with the University of Chester and gain an academic award (PG Cert) for completing an enhanced version of the programme.

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 2024/25. You can register your interest for 2025/26 here –

Expression of Interest 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.

Please read this information document very carefully before submitting an application.

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?

• You will develop your knowledge of a range of maths school development strategies and know why, when, and how to use them effectively
• You will strengthen your knowledge of the evidence base that underpins school development and change management
• You will design and lead collaborative maths school development initiatives
• You will increase your awareness of the skills needed by a maths school development lead and have a deeper self-awareness in relation to the role

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.

How to Apply 

Applications are now closed for 2024/25. You can register your interest for 2025/26 here –

Expression of Interest 2025/26