Our primary projects are based upon four phases of professional development. These are mastery readiness, development, embedding and sustaining. Each phase lasts for one academic year, therefore schools working with us are committing to sustained development of mathematics over a number of years. Many schools will start at the development phase and then progress; however, some schools may benefit from also participating in the readiness phase.
FULLY BOOKED - Primary Mastery Development Programme
This programme involves sustained work alongside one of our mastery specialists for the duration of one academic year. Schools participating in this programme are making a long-term commitment to the development of teaching for mastery across the school.
Who can take part?
This programme is for state-funded primary schools in England. Two teachers from each participant school will attend six half-day meetings during the school year, and lead teaching for mastery development in their own school.
NB: Schools can only take part in this particular Work Group once. However, there are other Work Groups dealing with teaching for mastery which are available in the year after a school is in a Development Work Group and beyond.
Expectations of participating schools
- The Lead Participants will participate in the regular cross-school Work Group meetings with the Mastery Specialist (half-days) and make changes to maths teaching, in their own classroom initially and beyond, by the end of the year
- The Lead Participants will receive a minimum of ten (combined) days’ release time for development work including the above meetings
- The headteacher will meet with the Mastery Specialist and the Maths Hub’s leadership as well as working with the other Work Group school headteachers
- The school will introduce teaching for mastery approaches across the school and establish TRG professional development models to support teacher development
- The school will provide any reports required by the Maths Hub and participate in any evaluation processes required
- The school will continue to collaborate with the schools in the Work Group for the year 2024/25 and beyond.
What is the cost?
The Primary Teaching for Mastery Development Work Groups project is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools. Each school will receive a £1000 grant towards the cost of the required teacher release time.
How to Apply?
This Work Group is now fully booked for 2023/24.
Fully Booked - Primary Mastery Embedding Programme
The strategic goal of the Teaching for Mastery Programme for primary schools is to establish teaching for mastery approaches so that all pupils develop deep knowledge, understanding and confidence. Those who have worked on establishing teaching for mastery in a Development Work Group become part of an Embedding Work Group in their second year, focusing on systems and culture to support teaching for mastery as well as support for school leadership and subject leadership.
Taking part in this programme involves:
- Preferably two teachers from the school attending six half-day Teacher Research Group (TRG) sessions throughout the year. Some of these may be conducted as webinars.
- Receiving the mastery specialist into their school for one half-day school visit.
- A commitment to developing teaching for mastery in their school through continuous work outside of basic attendance at the programme events.
- The headteacher attending three short updates about teaching for mastery. These are likely to be webinar events.
Who can take part?
This is for schools who have previously participated in a Development Work Group. All must show a strong commitment for embedding teaching for mastery approaches, and at least the lead teacher from the Development Work Group must have already started using mastery approaches. The school leadership team including the headteacher must also be involved, to ensure there is a whole school commitment. If you think that your school is eligible for this programme, please contact our Primary Mastery Lead, Rachel Hounslow-Griffiths (rhounslow@meadow.cheshire.sch.uk).
What is the cost?
The Primary Teaching for Mastery – Embedding project is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.
How to Apply?
This Work Group is now fully booked for 2023/24.
Fully Booked - Primary Mastery Sustaining Programme
One of the most important things about developing a mastery approach is that it takes many years to develop within a school. Acknowledging that, this programme is for schools who have already completed the Mastery Development phase at any time since 2016. It is our desire that, over the next three years, all schools who have already done the main Mastery Development phase will also participate in this programme. Each group of schools doing the Sustaining programme will likely work on issues that are most pertinent to their current situation.
What is involved?
Workshops are hosted in different schools during the year, with the first held in a Mastery Specialist’s school.
Sustaining Work Groups are a permanent form of support where schools can focus on continued improvement, consistency and refinement of teaching for mastery. Teachers, maths leads and headteachers are all involved, striving to support teachers, and looking at collaborative planning and subject knowledge development.
Who can take part?
Schools will have previously participated in a Development Work Group and might have received support for embedding mastery. Participating schools must show strong commitment from their leadership for sustaining mastery approaches, and for most teachers to have already started using these.
Each school will have a lead participant in the Work Group, normally the maths lead. At different points in the year, other teachers will also participate. If you think that your school is eligible for this programme, please contact our Primary Mastery Lead, Rachel Hounslow-Griffiths (rhounslow@meadow.cheshire.sch.uk).
How to Apply?
This Work Group is now fully booked for 2023/24.
FULLY BOOKED - Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics Primary Teachers
Develop mathematical subject knowledge and understand the pedagogy that underpins the teaching of it.
Who can take part?
These programmes are designed for primary teachers who would like to develop their specialist knowledge for teaching maths. This may be particularly relevant for teachers that have moved phases or have not received maths-specific training.
What is involved?
This project is designed to improve the subject knowledge and pedagogical knowledge for all practitioners teaching and supporting the learning of primary maths.
There are two pathways: Number and Spatial Reasoning. Each pathway consists of several core units and looks at specific topics as well as policy and practice. Exploration of modules in these pathways will take place during the course of the academic year, over the equivalent of four days. Participants in the programme may wish to follow one pathway this year, and the other pathway next year.
What is the cost?
The SKTM Primary Teachers Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.
How to Apply?
This programme is now fully booked for 2023/24.
FULLY BOOKED – Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics (Primary Teaching Assistants)
This project is designed to improve the subject knowledge and pedagogical knowledge for all practitioners teaching and supporting the learning of primary maths.
It utilises primary teaching assistant-specific materials and focuses on the following mathematical areas: What is effective in the learning and teaching of mathematics?; Number sense (part 1); Number sense (part 2); Additive reasoning; Multiplicative reasoning; Fractions. The modules are each designed to last three to four hours, but may last longer if delivered online. This programme will take place across the equivalent of four days.
Who can take part?
These programmes are designed for primary teaching assistants who would like to develop their specialist knowledge for teaching maths. This may be particularly relevant for new TAs or TAs that have not received maths-specific training.
What is the cost?
The SKTM Primary Tas Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme and is therefore free to participating schools.
How to Apply
This programme is now fully booked for 2023/24.
Fully Booked - Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics - Primary Early Career Teachers
Develop mathematical subject knowledge and understand the pedagogy that underpins the teaching of it
Who can take part?
Phase 1 Communities in this project are for those identified as Early Career Teachers – teachers in their first or second year of teaching. Phase 2 Communities are for those in the early part of their careers. They will have engaged with Phase 1 before engaging with this phase.
What is involved?
Two maths-specific subject knowledge projects are available to support primary Early Career Teachers (ECTs) – one is for ECTs who have not yet participated in this project and one is for those who participated in 2022/23. Both projects offer high-quality subject knowledge and pedagogy maths support for ECTs, recognising the requirements of the ECF.
Communities of ECTs will be formed in these projects, allowing for collaboration and practice-sharing. In both projects, teachers will design effective learning and teaching in maths, and review and analyse their practice.
What is the cost?
The SKTM Primary Early Career Teachers Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.
How to Apply?
Phase (Year) 1– This Work Group is now fully booked for 2023/24.
Phase (Year) 2 – This Work Group is now fully booked for 2023/24.