Teaching for Mastery
What is teaching for mastery?
Mastering maths means students of all ages acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. The phrase ‘teaching for mastery’ describes the elements of classroom practice and school organisation that combine to give students the best chances of mastering maths. Achieving mastery means acquiring a solid enough understanding of the maths that’s been taught to enable students to move on to more advanced material.
The Five Big Ideas underpin teaching for mastery in both primary and secondary schools.
What is the Maths Hub Teaching For Mastery Programme?
We have opportunities available for you, your school and your department to get involved.
Our Teaching for Mastery programmes are our most popular programmes and are fully funded by the Department of Education. These programmes are rooted in school based evidence and practice and develop supportive and collaborative networks of schools across the region.
Since their inception in 2015, we have worked with 226 primary schools and 46 secondary schools from across the region to support them in the introduction of teaching for mastery approaches in their schools.
Impact statements…….
Staff have accessed high-quality training through a regional mathematics hub. Teachers make sure that pupils revisit their learning on a regular basis.
Jarrow Cross CofE Ofsted Report
What else do I need to know about teaching for mastery?
If you are interested in the research behind teaching for mastery, there are a number of research papers available in the NCETM’s website page of Supporting Research, Evidence and Argument.
For secondary school maths teachers and leaders, a document of Themes and Key Principles from December 2017 outlines some of the characteristics of teaching for mastery at secondary. This flyer also addresses some of the myths surrounding mastery – and dispels them.
The NCETM provides a wide range of mastery resources including assessment materials, professional development materials, calculation guidance and marking guidance for both primary and secondary teachers.
Can I find out more about schools that have been involved in teaching for mastery?
Read these case studies to learn about how schools tackle setting vs. mixed-attainment classes, and how collaborative planning leads to high quality lessons.
Headteachers, senior leaders and heads of maths talk about their experiences of introducing and developing teaching for mastery in these videos.
A collection of podcasts, feature articles and blogs all about mastery in schools enables you to explore the breadth of work taking place in a variety of different settings.