Mixed-age Curriculum

Teaching for mastery in mixed-age settings

Mixed-age split-class teaching

In this model, year groups are taught separately within a mixed-age class

Curriculum Prioritisation for mixed-age whole-class teaching

Mixed-age whole-class teaching, planned over two years

Case studies

These case studies offer insight into two commonly-used approaches to mixed-age teaching: mixed-age split-class teaching and mixed-age whole-class teaching

Mastery and the mixed-age conundrum

At Richard Taylor Primary School, a clever combination of whole- and split-class teaching has led to pupils excelling in maths

Managing maths in mixed-age classes

We talk to two teachers with years of experience teaching mixed-age classes, who are running Work Groups in their local hubs

Mixed age planning and teaching for mastery

A Work Group looks at ways to manage maths curriculum objectives with two or more year groups in one class

Making mastery work in KS2 mixed-age classes

How a new two-year rolling programme strengthens curriculum coherence and deepens content coverage for all pupils

Mixed-age mastery – how and why it works

One North Yorkshire primary school has made teaching for mastery work in four classes which span seven year groups

Mixed-age mastery – making it work in KS2

A primary school in Harrogate has developed a two-year rolling programme that creates more curriculum time

A coherent journey through maths

At a small, rural primary school, pupils in mixed-age classes benefit from teaching for mastery approaches

Mixed-age whole-class teaching

In this approach, all pupils in the class are taught together, following a carefully-sequenced two-year rolling programme

How can teaching for mastery work in a mixed age class?

A group of schools in Northamptonshire have been addressing this issue, with encouraging results

'They can see it straight away': the impact of Mastering Number

Successful implementation of Mastering Number has brought huge benefits to pupils in a mixed-age class

Maths to age 18, why everyone should welcome it, and what we can do to help make it happen

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

School leader considerations

Prompts and reflections to support school leaders in thinking through what’s right for their context

How Early Years children develop mathematical thinking

Two experts in the field explain how reception age and below develop their early mathematical thinking

Primary Round-up - May 2025

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

Our Primary Round-up for February is out

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

Aligning curriculum and assessment reform with teaching for mastery in FE GCSE Resit/FSQ Maths

Charlie Stripp and Emma Bell explore how curriculum and assessment reform could transform the maths experience of post-16 learners

October's Primary Round-up is out

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

Curriculum prioritisation in primary maths

A term-by-term framework to support planning and teaching

Support for primary teachers

Teaching and curriculum guidance for primary teachers

Primary Teaching for Mastery

Collaborative professional development for schools to ensure that a teaching for mastery approach is implemented with fidelity

Six images to help plan primary maths lessons

Six images that might prompt deeper thought when designing maths lessons from Year 1 to Year 6

NCETM Director says all post-16 providers should consider offering Core Maths

Primary Round-up - June 2023

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

Maths competitions – use them to motivate all students, not just the ‘brightest’

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

The importance of Core Maths and the support available

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

NCETM Newsletter - April 2020

Learning in lockdown: support for teaching and learning from the NCETM, including new primary video lessons, plus support available from elsewhere, and more

Mastering Number at Reception and KS1

Supporting pupils to develop good number sense

Maths Hubs professional development opportunities for 2019/20 now available

The full range of CPD opportunities available through Maths Hubs has been published

Algebra out and reading online maps in!

Proposed new maths GCSE resit exam

Mastery Specialists in GCSE Resit and Functional Skills

The NCETM plans a new programme to train specialists in teaching maths up to Level 2 to post-16 students

New CPD opportunities for KS3 teachers

Support your Year 7s and develop students’ multiplicative reasoning skills

Maths Hubs CPD for 2024/25 now available

Over 30 projects offer professional development for schools and teachers

Securing Foundations at Year 7

Discover ways to help students who need additional support to make good progress in KS3 and beyond

Supporting Students to Achieve a L2 Qualification in Maths

Develop teaching approaches across secondary and post-16 to support students to achieve a Level 2 qualification

Maths education: the present, the future, and how to get there

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

Early Years

The materials in this section are designed to support Reception teachers (those working with 4-5 year olds)

Developing your use of manipulatives in maths teaching

Articles, books and video to help you use physical representations more effectively in lessons

Shanghai Surprise!

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

Algebra | Year 6

National Curriculum resources for Algebra – Year 6

Aligning curriculum and assessment reform with teaching for mastery in secondary maths (part 2)

Charlie Stripp and Carol Knights continue their two-part discussion with a focus on how secondary maths assessment could be improved

Six resources for teaching and learning times tables

How do your pupils learn times tables? From digestible research to interesting resources, these ideas will help you reflect

What have you missed? What’s coming up?

A summary of our publications in 2018/19, and a look ahead to what's coming in 2019/20

The essence of teaching for mastery

Guiding principles that underpin NCETM and Maths Hubs work, in maths teaching at every school and college phase

Maths, Mindsets and Mastery

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

Making the most of maths competitions

Maths competitions can be a great way to broaden students’ mathematical horizon – get the dates in the school diary early!

New funding for Core Maths

Why this is so important and how you can ensure your school or college can take advantage of it

Beyond the maths classroom: how trusts can support teacher professionalism

What role can trust leaders play in supporting maths teachers to flourish professionally?

NCETM Newsletter - May 2019

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

Probability and Statistics | Key Stage 3

National Curriculum resources for Probability and Statistics – Key Stage 3

NCETM Newsletter - May 2020

Support for maths learning and teaching during school closures, Primary and Secondary Mastery Specialist recruitment, and other opportunities for 2020/21

NCETM Newsletter - September 2019

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

NCETM Newsletter - October 2019

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

A practical way to improve lesson planning in secondary school maths teaching?

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

Charlie’s Angles: Guest Blog by Debbie Morgan

The NCETM Director for Primary tells the story of her involvement with the creation of Numberblocks

A grey area: the importance of colour in representations

An article by Emma Hill, a maths subject leader and Year 3 / 4 teacher

Representations in our primary video lessons

Mathematical structure, manipulatives and myth-busting

Key Stage 3: never more crucial than now

How NCETM resources and Maths Hubs CPD programmes can help repair any damage to learning caused by the pandemic

Reflections on the Ofsted maths subject report

Charlie Stripp shares his thoughts on ‘Coordinating mathematical success’

Spotlight on LLMEs – Early Years SKTM

Hear from a Cohort Lead on the Early Years Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics Programme

Managing money starts in the maths classroom

Discover our resources to help students develop financial literacy

Time

Unit 11 – 2 weeks

Why Mastery Readiness isn't just 'mastery-lite'!

The Mastery Readiness Programme enables schools to put in place structures, systems and positive mathematical culture so they can successfully engage in teaching for mastery

Addition and Subtraction | Year 6

National Curriculum resources for Addition and Subtraction – Year 6

Addition and Subtraction | Year 1

National Curriculum resources for Addition and Subtraction – Year 1

GCSE re-sits: grasping the nettle

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

Nine reasons to work with your local Maths Hub

Why get involved with the Maths Hubs Programme? Find out how it can benefit you and your school

Fractions | Year 2

National Curriculum resources for Fractions – Year 2

Using maths storybooks to engage children

Mini ‘stories’ can be an effective way to reveal mathematical structure and are a common feature in some of the best maths textbooks

Spotlight on LLMEs – Research and Innovation Work Groups (RIWGs)

Hear from the co-leads of the RIWG for Oracy

Teaching that adds up: how mastery can support financial literacy

Bringing a teaching for mastery lens to Oak’s financial education resources across the primary and secondary phases

Primary Archive

An archive of all Primary Round-ups and Magazines

Fractions | Year 5

National Curriculum resources for Fractions – Year 5

Improving maths in multi-academy trusts by engaging with Maths Hubs

A profile of two multi-academy trusts (MATs) reaping the rewards of participation in Maths Hubs teaching for mastery work

Reflections on the uptake of AS/A level Maths, AS/A level Further Maths and Core Maths

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

Measurement | Year 3

National Curriculum resources for Measurement – Year 3

Measures

Comparing different aspects such as length, weight and volume, as a preliminary to using units to compare later

Gap tasks: maximising the impact of Work Groups

We visit Gorse Hill Primary School Work Group in Swindon, and find out how gap tasks are driving powerful changes in pedagogy

Addition and Subtraction | Year 2

National Curriculum resources for Addition and Subtraction – Year 2

Multiplication and Division | Year 5

National Curriculum resources for Multiplication and Division – Year 5

Outstanding schools, Ofsted and mastery

Find out how three schools deliver maths through teaching for mastery, and why Ofsted liked what they saw

Counting on a good read: maths books we love for World Book Day

To celebrate World Book Day we share some of our favourite books about maths for all ages

Measurement | Year 4

National Curriculum resources for Measurement – Year 4

Maths CPD chat

#mathscpdchat, previously managed by the NCETM

NCETM’s Deputy Director, Jane Imrie, retires

Primary Round-up - June 2024

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

Secondary Round-up - June 2024

Our latest Secondary Round-up is now available

Primary Round-up - February 2023

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

New Year honour for the NCETM’s John Westwell

John Westwell, the NCETM’s Director for System Leadership, awarded an MBE for services to education

Primary Round-up - October 2024

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

Primary Round-up - February 2024

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

NCETM Newsletter - February 2019

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

T levels: what maths teachers need to know

What maths teachers need to know about the post-16 qualifications that will stand alongside A levels and apprenticeships

Introducing the Trailblazers

NCETM Director for Post-16 GCSE/FSQ, Emma Bell, shares details of a new cohort of Mastery Specialists

Mastery brings ‘priceless’ benefits to secondary school

A secondary head explains how adopting a mastery approach has transformed teaching and learning in maths

Understanding Dyscalculia

How teaching for mastery approaches can support students with dyscalculia to engage positively with maths

TIMSS 2023 results published

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) confirms that England has maintained its high global performance in mathematics

Post-16 GCSE and FSQ Mastery Specialists

Become a Mastery Specialist in Further Education

Teaching maths in a real-life context

Teachers discuss the joys, the challenges and good resources

NCETM Newsletter - February 2020

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

Why mastery makes us optimistic about our next GCSE results

Article by Jenny Laurie, Deputy Head at The St Marylebone CE School, London

Useful tips for tackling multiplicative thinking

Embedding multiplicative thinking across the primary maths curriculum

Numberblocks – Series 3

Series 3, all episodes

Statistics | Year 5

National Curriculum resources for Statistics – Year 5

Maths Hub in North West named after Alan Turing

Agreement reached for North West Two Maths Hub to be named after the famous mathematician and World War Two codebreaker

NCETM Newsletter - January 2020

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

School leaders

Information for school leaders about free professional development

We need to talk (about maths)

The Oracy Commission Report’s recommendations and how this could impact on maths teaching and learning

Teaching mathematics for mastery at secondary school

Ten years of the Maths Hubs Programme

A celebration of the achievements made across ten years by England’s 40 Maths Hubs, supporting teachers and schools to improve maths teaching and learning

NCETM Newsletter - January 2019

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2019

Number and Place Value | Year 1

National Curriculum resources for Number and Place Value – Year 1

Number and Place Value | Year 2

National Curriculum resources for Number and Place Value – Year 2

Developing a comprehensive maths curriculum

Developing a school curriculum for mathematics, scheme of work and calculation policy

Ratio and Proportion | Year 6

National Curriculum resources for Ratio and Proportion – Year 6

Fractions | Year 6

National Curriculum resources for Fractions – Year 6