Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Maths - Secondary Non-specialist Teachers

There are significant numbers of people teaching maths in secondary schools without specialist initial teacher training and the 2023 Ofsted maths subject report ‘Coordinating mathematical success’ highlights the need for secondary schools to make sure that non-specialist teachers receive the necessary professional development to teach maths effectively.

This programme supports non-specialist teachers in developing the specialist knowledge for teaching mathematics (the blend of subject knowledge and pedagogical knowledge) required for teaching maths. 

What is involved?

The programme is aligned to the NCETM teaching for mastery pedagogy and is based on six key themes:

• Structure of the number system
• Operating on number
• Multiplicative reasoning
• Sequences and graphs
• Statistics and probability
• Geometry.

Participants will explore these themes, supported by an experienced secondary practitioner.

What are the benefits?

Participants will:

• explore and increase their use of a range of pedagogic approaches consistent with teaching for mastery
• increase their confidence in planning for progression in maths
• improve their subject and curriculum knowledge of secondary maths with a particular emphasis on mathematical structures in key areas.

What do participants think?

• "As a non-specialist, this course has enabled me to use the correct terminology and assisted in the way I structure my lessons" – Simon
• "This programme has deepened my understanding of the representations and given me new strategies that I can use with my students in the classroom" – Emily
• "It's making me see the different ways that concepts can be approached" – Jane

What are the expectations?

Participants and their schools must be able to commit to the full academic year’s programme. The programme will be run over the equivalent of 6 days where there will be 18 core sessions. In addition to attendance at these sessions, participants will be asked to carry out follow-up tasks back in their schools to enable practice transfer to the classroom

Who can apply?

This programme is for non-specialist teachers of maths in state-funded schools who fit the following definition:

• A non-specialist teacher of mathematics is ‘a teacher that is currently teaching some mathematics  of has a commitment from a headteacher/executive head to teach some mathematics within the next year, who has not undertaken initial teacher training (ITT) in mathematics’.
• If there is sufficient space in the cohort, other teachers of maths who do not fit this definition but would benefit from this support may also participate.

What is the cost?

The SKTM – Secondary Non-specialists programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.

Where and when?

All sessions will be Face to Face from 9.45am* to 3pm and held at Kibworth Grammar School Hall, School Road, Kibworth, LE8 0JE. *participants to arrive at 9.45am for a 10am start. 

Who will be leading the programme?

Nick Asker - Independent Education Consultant, specialising in improving learning in mathematics

Interested?

Please complete our application form linked below. Once you have submitted the form, please email admin@emsmathshub.org.uk and copy in your Headteacher or member of your Senior Leadership Team who is supporting your application as confirmation of their support.