Nick Edwards reflects on how his experience of supporting students through the Grenfell tragedy informed his school’s decision to provide regular video lessons for classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on their own practice, remembering that different contexts require different approaches. Show notes Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 19 May, are: Nick Edwards: Director of Maths working in a secon...
May 21, 2020•16 min•Ep. 32
The fourth of our conversations exploring how schools and teachers are managing the challenges of providing remote learning in maths, supporting students and looking after their own wellbeing during the COVID-19 school closures. We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow you to reflect on your own practice, remembering that different contexts will require different approaches. Show notes Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 13 May, are: Dan Poulson, secondary he...
May 15, 2020•15 min•Ep. 31
The third of our conversations exploring how schools and teachers are managing the challenges of providing remote learning in maths, supporting students and looking after their own well-being during the Covid-19 school closures. We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on their own practice, remembering that different contexts will require different approaches. Show notes Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 12 May, are: Laurie Luscombe: s...
May 14, 2020•17 min•Ep. 30
The second of our conversations exploring how schools and teachers are managing the challenges of providing remote learning in maths, supporting students and looking after their own well-being during the Covid-19 school closures. We hope that this interview, and others, will generate ideas and allow listeners to reflect on their own practice, remembering that different contexts will require different approaches. Show notes Taking part in the discussion, recorded on 11 May, are: Jo Brown, primary...
May 13, 2020•13 min•Ep. 29
Since late March schools across England have been closed to most pupils due to the coronavirus pandemic. This podcast explores how schools and teachers are managing the challenges of providing remote learning in maths, supporting students and looking after their own well-being in an unprecedented situation. Provision of mass remote learning is new to all teachers – where we might normally turn to research or a more experienced colleague, we are now all finding our way. We hope that this intervie...
May 07, 2020•15 min•Ep. 28
Creating time out of class for secondary teachers to engage in professional development activities, inside and outside their own school, can sometimes be difficult. This episode talks to two headteachers, from neighbouring schools in east London, who make it happen as a matter of policy. For several years, teachers from both schools have been released to take part in Maths Hubs activities, mainly in the area of teaching for mastery. Show notes The voices you’ll hear are: Steve McCormack, NCETM C...
Mar 12, 2020•23 min•Ep. 27
Jenny Laurie is a deputy head and maths teacher at The St Marylebone CE School in central London. The school was one of the very earliest to adopt a teaching for mastery approach in maths. When two maths teachers visited Shanghai, they were particularly struck by the collaborative nature of curriculum planning there, and resolved to introduce a more collegiate way of planning at St Marylebone. Initially something of a sceptic, Jenny explains why she has been completely won over by the changes th...
Nov 27, 2019•33 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Eugenia Cheng rethinks gender around maths Dr Eugenia Cheng is a research mathematician who teaches maths to arts students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was born and educated in England and is an honorary hellow at the University of Sheffield. Eugenia holds a strong commitment to making maths accessible to all, and to this end, is the author of a number of popular maths books and articles. Eugenia’s reflections on being a woman in the world of research mathematics make for i...
Nov 07, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 25
An audience with the exam boards: the new A level and GCSE 9-1 This year, our podcast with the exam boards focuses on the new reformed A level, first examined for a whole cohort this summer (2019). We also discuss how things are going with the 9-1 GCSE, now in its third year. Representatives from England’s three main exam boards share their thoughts on how students got on, what the implications are for teaching and how the new qualifications might affect numbers opting for A level. Show notes Ta...
Oct 18, 2019•48 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Managing maths in mixed-age classes The current National Curriculum, introduced in 2013, divides mathematical learning clearly into ‘year group objectives’. This has led teachers to ask how to manage year group objectives for two or more year groups within one class of children. Many Maths Hubs have responded by running ‘innovation’ Work Groups, to support these teachers, using various different models. In 2019/20, for the first time, a national project in mixed-age teaching brings together the ...
Oct 10, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 23
In this first episode of the new school year, we interview three of the people behind the recently published Secondary Mastery Professional Development Materials . They explain how the materials can help departments and teachers develop their maths pedagogy to teach for deep and connected understanding. They offer teachers suggestions for how the materials might be used, where they might start and how they are structured. If you would like to look at the specific section discussed in detail on t...
Sep 26, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In this podcast, the last of the 2018/19 school year, we find out how a secondary school maths department works together to ensure all maths lessons in Years 7 and 8 are consistent in approach—and it’s a teaching for mastery approach developed by the department gradually over three years. One of the teachers interviewed has just finished the first year of training, with the NCETM and his local Maths Hub, as a Mastery Specialist. The other is the head of KS3 maths at the school, Penrice Academy i...
Jul 18, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In this podcast, we visit Spring Bank Primary School in Leeds and talk to headteacher, Sarah Hawes and maths lead, Tracey Baruah. With 40 years’ experience between them, they explain their enthusiasm for what the Mastery Readiness Programme is offering the children in their school. The Mastery Readiness Programme began work with a small number of schools in the Northern Powerhouse in 2018/19. The programme was designed in response to Maths Hubs’ recognition that some schools were not able or rea...
Jun 10, 2019•43 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Teaching the hardest topics in GCSE maths Which are the hardest topics in GCSE maths? You will know some by reputation. Some might surprise you. What can you do to make these topics more accessible to students? In particular, how can you unlock a depth of understanding that allows students to use their knowledge flexibly and in unfamiliar situations? The Maths Hub network’s national project, ‘Challenging Topics at GCSE’, addresses these issues, through local collaborative teacher Work Groups. In...
Mar 18, 2019•44 min•Season 1Ep. 19
The episodic or ‘ping-pong' teaching approach is one of the most striking features of a mastery-style lesson. But what is it exactly and how does it affect decisions when planning lessons? In this podcast, Primary Mastery Specialists Faye Glendinning and Sam Shutkever take us through the gritty detail of episodic lesson planning. They explain the theory and how it is implemented in their schools. Each of them then takes us through the episodes of a recent lesson in detail, explaining each planni...
Mar 06, 2019•49 min•Season 1Ep. 18
After GCSE, 20% fewer girls than boys continue studying maths. This limits their access to some of the more challenging, interesting and lucrative careers. But why? In this podcast episode we speak with Rachel Beddoes, Girls’ Participation Coordinator of the Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP). She explains what the barriers are for girls, and what teachers and schools can do to overcome these. She also gives details of events and bespoke support available from the AMSP and other organisatio...
Feb 13, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 17
How does maths teaching in a primary school in Shanghai look and feel to an experienced observing teacher from an English school? A Mastery Specialist from Leicestershire, who was among a group of teachers from Maths Hubs who visited Shanghai during school year 2018/19, gives her impressions. Show notes Taking part in the discussion are: Afshah Deen, Primary Mastery Specialist and Year 2 teacher at Parkland Primary School, Wigston, Leicestershire Chris Shore, Maths Hub Lead, East Midlands South ...
Jan 10, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 15
How does maths teaching in a secondary school in Shanghai look and feel to experienced observing teachers from secondary schools in England? Two Mastery Specialist teachers from North West England, who were among a group of teachers from Maths Hubs who visited Shanghai during school year 2018/19, give their impressions. Show notes Taking part in the discussion are: Jayne Watts, teacher at Alsager School and Secondary Teaching for Mastery Lead for North Mids and Peaks Maths Hub Dave Connell, 2nd ...
Jan 10, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 16
How do you become a Mastery Specialist? What are the personal and professional benefits? How can you have impact in your own school? And what happens when your skills take you even further? Leanne Casey tells us about her experiences. Show notes Taking part in the discussion are: Leanne Casey, Primary Mastery Specialist and Deputy Head at St. Michael’s CE Primary School in Bedworth, Coventry (a two-form entry primary school) Beth Goodliff, NCETM Communications Officer This podcast complements th...
Dec 11, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 14
How do young children (Reception age and below) develop their early mathematical thinking? How do those teaching them help the children build a platform of understanding? And where does maths fit in to the wider picture of childhood development? Two experts in the field explain. Show notes Taking part in the discussion are: Dr Sue Gifford, Mathematics Education Department, Roehampton University Viv Lloyd, NCETM Assistant Director, Primary and Early Years Mathematics Steve McCormack, NCETM Commun...
Nov 23, 2018•38 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Two secondary teachers, one a head of department, explain how participating in a Maths Hub Work Group on mathematical thinking both helped their own teaching and sowed seeds of improvement in their departments. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Satveer Bahia, from Platanos College, working with London Thames Maths Hub ( @Mathshub_LT ) Catriona Shearer ( @CShearer41 ) from Saffron Walden County High School, working with Cambridge Maths Hub ( @CamMathsHub ) Steve McCormack, NCETM Comm...
Oct 30, 2018•36 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Representatives from England’s three main exam boards share their thoughts with us on the questions they set, how students (and questions!) performed, what they learned from social media and much more. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Andrew Taylor (AQA) Graham Cumming (Edexcel) Neil Ogden (OCR) Gwen Tresidder (NCETM Communications Manager)
Sep 18, 2018•40 min•Season 1Ep. 11
An interview with a teacher who’s taught Core Maths since its launch in 2014, and who now has a national role shaping professional development for the growing numbers of teachers following in his footsteps. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Tom Rainbow, Maths teacher, Ivybridge Community College, Devon, and Core Maths Professional Development Lead for the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP). Steve McCormack NCETM Communications Director At time of writing, the Further Math...
Jul 18, 2018•31 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Listen to three secondary maths teachers discuss the best CPD they have taken part in. What really works and why, and how do they think CPD can contribute to career progression? Show notes Taking part in the discussion are: Kathryn Darwin (@ arithmaticks ), Second in Mathematics Faculty at The Mirfield Free Grammar in Mirfield, West Yorkshire Fiona Roberts (@ fn_husker ), Head of Mathematics Faculty at The Mirfield Free Grammar in Mirfield, West Yorkshire Ben Sheedy, Co-Head of Maths at Ridgewoo...
Jun 29, 2018•33 min•Season 1Ep. 9
A discussion with the head of a Birmingham primary school, in an area of educational under-achievement, which, working closely with its local Maths Hub, embraced teaching for mastery in 2016. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Helen Hastilow, headteacher of Slade Primary School in Birmingham Steve McCormack NCETM Communications Director Find out how your school could work on teaching for mastery within the Maths Hubs programme here . The Maths Hub serving Birmingham is Central Maths ...
Jun 12, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 8
A discussion with the two lead editors of the PD materials, to help teachers and schools implement a teaching for mastery approach, being produced by the NCETM and Maths Hubs. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Debbie Morgan, NCETM Director for Primary Clare Christie, Maths Lead, Ashley Downs Schools Federation, Bristol Jo Creamer, Maths Lead and Year 1 teacher, St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School, Bristol Steve McCormack, NCETM Communications Director The mastery profession...
May 25, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 7
A discussion with two maths teachers, both heavily involved in the Maths Hubs project that is introducing teaching for mastery to secondary schools. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Frances Carr, Surrey Plus Maths Hub Lead, and a member of the national Maths Hub team coordinating the secondary school teaching for mastery project Simon Petri, Secondary Mastery Specialist, Surrey Plus Maths Hub Steve McCormack, NCETM Communications Director Find out how the programme has changed the ...
May 11, 2018•36 min•Season 1Ep. 6
A discussion where five teachers describe books—new and old—that have helped in their maths teaching. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Martyn Yeo ( @martynyeouk ), primary maths teacher at an infants school in Nuneaton, Ben Gordon ( @mathsmrgordon ), secondary maths teacher at a school in Blackpool, Craig Barton (@ mrbartonmaths ) secondary maths teacher at a school in Bolton, Laura Tullock (@ mrs_tullock ) Deputy head at a primary school in north Tyneside, and also Teaching for Ma...
Mar 01, 2018•41 min•Season 1Ep. 5
A discussion around how learning about fractions builds across the four transition years from KS2 to KS3, set in a context of a Maths Hubs national project looking at continuity of maths learning generally from Year 5 to Year 8. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Nicki Ashton, primary maths consultant in the London Borough of Wandsworth, and also leading a Work Group for the London South West Maths Hub. Alison Hopper, one of the NCETM’s Assistant Directors for primary maths. Robert W...
Feb 01, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 4
How an English primary teacher had his maths lesson observed while in Shanghai, and how this style of group lesson observation and refinement is becoming (partially) replicated in Maths Hubs work in England. Show notes: Taking part in the discussion are: Jonathan Leeming, Mastery Specialist and primary school teacher in Lancaster. Read his account in the NCETM Primary magazine of being observed in Shanghai. Helen Madeley, Mastery Specialist and primary school teacher in Lancaster area, and also ...
Jan 03, 2018•32 min•Season 1Ep. 3
