Primary teaching for mastery – Embedding

–A project designed to support schools in their second year of teaching for mastery.

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
• Support for school leadership and subject leadership
• Subject knowledge
• Lesson design
• Professional development models within individual schools.

This year there will be a focus on curriculum recovery, providing mutual support and expertise to focus on what really matters.

Who can take part?

This project is for schools who have previously participated in a Development Work Group. All schools must show a strong commitment from both school and subject leadership for embedding teaching for mastery approaches, and at least the lead participant teacher from the Development Work Group school must have already started using teaching for mastery approaches. Each school will have a lead participant, normally the subject leader for maths. They are likely to have played a lead role in previous years. The headteacher from each school will also be involved at appropriate times to ensure that there is a whole school commitment for embedding changes.

What is involved?

There are six workshops across the academic year (more details below) which include opportunity for:

• Creation of a bespoke action plan to reflect on impact of changes
• Headteachers to meet to develop their understanding of embedding teaching for mastery
• Support for subject leaders to develop themselves and others
• Reflecting on work completed back in schools
• At least one experience of collectively planning a lesson (this could be online) which is taught and observed at the next workshop.

There is also one school visit from the Primary Mastery Specialist who runs the Work Group to support embedding changes in each school.

What will you learn?

Participants and their schools will:

• enhance their mathematical subject knowledge, emphasising key areas of maths
• cultivate a deep understanding of the principles and pedagogies of mastery
• understand the school-wide structures which enable staff to develop mastery approaches
• develop the ability to plan, teach and reflect on lessons with a mastery approach
• establish a set of principles, policies, practices and systems which embody a teaching for mastery approach.

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.