What is teaching for mastery?

Mastering maths means pupils of all ages acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. Future mathematical learning is built on solid foundations which do not need to be re-taught. The phrase ‘teaching for mastery’ describes the elements of classroom practice and school organisation that combine to give pupils the best chances of mastering maths. Achieving mastery means acquiring a solid enough understanding of the maths that’s been taught to enable pupils to move on to more advanced material. The elements of classroom practice, known as the Five Big Ideas underpin teaching for mastery in both primary and secondary schools.

 

Teaching for mastery is currently widespread in primary schools across England, with around 9,000 primary schools engaging with their local Maths Hub, and over 850 primary teachers training as Mastery Specialists. The mastery approach is growing in Secondary Schools and Post-16 institutions and the Solent Maths Hub has worked with over 54 secondary schools across our region.

 

The Five Big Ideas underpin teaching for mastery in both primary and secondary schools.

What is the Teaching for Mastery Programme?

The NCETM and Maths Hubs have been running the national Primary Teaching for Mastery Programme since 2015, and more recently secondary schools have also become involved with teaching for mastery as the Secondary Teaching for Mastery Programme expands. The programme is open to all state-funded schools in England.

This video explaining the programme was made in 2018, but all the principles still apply now.

Mastery Specialists spearhead the Teaching for Mastery Programme across the country. Teachers who train as Mastery Specialists are given a year’s intensive training in the principles of teaching for mastery, underpinned by its Five Big Ideas, and in professional development leadership. In the following year, they further develop teaching for mastery in their own schools. And they share the approach with neighbouring schools by leading Teaching for Mastery Work Groups.

 

The Solent Maths Hub offer professional development to help teachers develop a mastery approach in their own classroom, department and school. Any teacher or school wishing to take part in a Teaching for Mastery Work Group should look at the Work Group.

 

What is it like engaging with the Solent Maths Hub?

Here directly from Head Teachers and Maths Leads at two local primary schools in the videos below. Or head to our Case Studies section to read about experiences from a range of primary schools (including mixed age), secondary schools, post-16 institutions and special schools.

Halterworth:

Haylands Primary School:

---