- Published: 12/04/2019
For some schools that have yet to embrace mastery, there can seem to be a long list of reasons it ‘won’t work’. “My school is in an area of high deprivation”, “We are already Outstanding so we don’t need it”, “I’ve heard Ofsted don’t like it”… The list goes on!
We recently visited three very different primary schools, but with two things in common. They are all graded Outstanding, and they all deliver maths through teaching for mastery.
Despite very different contexts, the schools have all committed to teaching for mastery and believe it works for their pupils. Embracing mastery has meant reviewing the curriculum, training staff, and engaging with their local Maths Hub. Each school has faced its own challenges and has had to overcome them in innovative and creative ways.
Their headteachers and maths leads told us what makes maths successful at their schools and how teaching for mastery is part of what makes them Outstanding.
Kentmere Primary Academy, Rochdale
Kentmere is an Outstanding primary school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. With 330 pupils on roll, it has a 1.5 form intake. The school is in an area of significant deprivation. Over 40% of pupils are in receipt of Pupil Premium funding, and 60% of pupils have EAL.
The school’s progress score in maths is well above average. It has a score of 5, compared with a Local Authority average of 0.3, and a national average of 0.0. Kentmere is placed in the top 10% of primary schools nationally for its maths results. Ofsted graded the school as Outstanding in January 2018, having previously been placed in Special Measures in 2013 (prior to it becoming an academy).
If you are interested in following in Kentmere’s footsteps, contact your local Maths Hub to find out more about how to deliver maths through teaching for mastery. Many Maths Hubs run conferences and open mornings for schools interested in learning more about mastery, and CPD is available through local Work Groups. Training for teachers who want to become Mastery Specialists is also available.
Windhill21, Bishop’s Stortford
Windhill21 is an Outstanding primary school in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. With 490 pupils on roll, it has a two form intake. Despite being located in an affluent area, Windhill21 has percentages of EAL pupils (27%) and pupils with SEND (14%) above national averages.
The school’s progress score in maths is above average. It has a score of 2.7, compared with a Local Authority average of –0.3, and a national average of 0.0. Windhill21 is placed in the top 12% of primary schools nationally for its maths results. Ofsted graded the school as Outstanding in October 2018, having previously been graded Good.
If you are interested in following in Windhill21’s footsteps, contact your local Maths Hub to find out more about how to become a Mastery Specialist. The NCETM and Maths Hubs offer training for teachers wanting to become Mastery Specialists. If your school wants to introduce mastery, CPD is available through local Work Groups.
Copley Primary, Halifax
Copley is an Outstanding primary school in Halifax, West Yorkshire. With 240 pupils on roll, it has a one form intake. Copley’s catchment area is predominantly White British, and the school’s percentages of EAL pupils (2.6%), those with SEND (7.7%) and those receiving Pupil Premium funding (8.5%) are all below national and local averages.
The school’s progress score in maths is average, but above that of the Local Authority and national score (a score of 0.6, compared with a Local Authority average of 0.2, and a national average of 0.0). Ofsted graded the school as Outstanding in October 2013, having previously been graded Good.
Copley is the lead school in a federation with New Road Primary School, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. A mastery approach to maths teaching is being rolled out at New Road, having been embedded at Copley.
If your school is ready to embrace teaching for mastery, why not join a Work Group near you? CPD is available via your local Maths Hub, with Work Groups starting from September 2019. Teachers can also train as Mastery Specialists to develop their own knowledge and expertise and take it beyond their school. Find out more about the opportunities on offer and get involved.