Four ways to create better mathematical talk in your classroom

And resources you might like to explore

Evaluating the professional development

Creating opportunities for teachers to reflect, discuss and record the impact on their practice and thinking

Teaching through the pandemic 6 – James Cresswell

A secondary teacher discusses how he’s managed the change to teaching all-attainment groups in Key Stage 3

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

Charlie’s Angles: Guest Blog by Debbie Morgan

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

Algebra

Lesson videos addressing the demands of the New Curriculum to introduce formal algebra into KS2

Learning in Lockdown 1 – Kathryn Darwin

A second in department shares her experiences of the new challenges that learning in lockdown has created, and how she and her school are overcoming them

Cardinality and Counting

Understanding that the cardinal value of a number refers to the quantity, or ‘howmanyness’ of things it represents

Reasoning Skills

Developing opportunities and ensuring progression in the development of reasoning skills

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

School leader considerations

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

Starting out with a new maths class

Three experienced secondary teachers give tips on how to get off on the right foot with a new maths class at the start of a new year

Algebraic Thinking

Materials for exploring algebra with KS3 students

Number and Place Value | Year 1

National Curriculum resources for Number and Place Value – Year 1

NCETM Newsletter - September 2020

Covid recovery: new resources, and thoughts on 'catch-up'

NCETM Primary Mastery Professional Development Materials

A discussion with the two lead editors of the PD materials

Meet the team

Find out more about current NCETM team members with their areas of responsibility. If you want to get in touch with someone at the NCETM, email info@ncetm.org.uk with full details of your query and we will direct it to the right person

The DfE KS3 maths guidance – what you need to know

Let us show you what the guidance includes, and the resources available to get the most out of it

What mastery has done for our school

Jenny Laurie, deputy head and maths teacher at a central London secondary school, talks about being one of the very earliest to adopt a teaching for mastery approach in maths

How social media is changing my CPD

A primary school maths lead talks about what social media offers to inspire, support and challenge his ways of teaching maths

NCETM primary video lessons for remote learning in 2021

Even if you’re not setting maths to be accessed independently, our videos can support your remote provision

A maths book isn't just for Christmas

Six maths books out in 2019 that might help you enhance your teaching

Lessons from GCSE maths exams in summer 2022

The three main exam boards in England give feedback on where students did well, and not so well, in the first real exams since before the pandemic

NCETM Newsletter - October 2020

Classroom teaching under Covid-19 restrictions, CPD sessions for secondary maths departments, and more

Background to the Maths Hubs Programme

How did it start and how does it run?

Calculating using knowledge of structures (1)

Unit 1 – 6 weeks

Completing the square

What is the square that is being completed? Algebra tiles can be moved around to represent this manipulation - particularly with students familiar with area models of multiplication from KS3.

Pattern

Looking for and finding patterns helps children notice and understand mathematical relationships

New video celebrates ten years of Maths Hubs

Discover what the network offers schools and teachers

Working with the materials

Teachers describe how they have used the Primary Mastery Professional Development Materials in their own schools and classrooms

Learning in Lockdown 8 – Melissa Molnar

A Year 1 teacher talks about leading maths across her school and the wider school partnership

Statistics | Year 2

National Curriculum resources for Statistics – Year 2

Resources and features from the NCETM in 2020/21

What you might have missed and what’s coming up…

Eight reasons to join a Maths Hubs secondary CPD project

Free CPD? Local collaboration? Department-wide impact? Maths Hubs Work Groups have it all – and more

Teaching through the pandemic 5 – Kate Jackson

A Year 4 teacher and Mastery Specialist explains how she teaches maths lessons outside and encourages other teachers to have a go

University maths entrance tests

How they can support maths teaching for all A level Maths students

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

Oracy

The role of oracy in the context of teaching for mastery

Number and Place Value | Year 4

National Curriculum resources for Number and Place Value – Year 4

Numbers up to 10,000,000

Unit 3 – 4 weeks

Shape and Space

Understanding what happens when shapes move, or combine with other shapes, helps develop wider mathematical thinking

Latest issue of Bespoke out now

We’ve just published the latest issue of Bespoke, which brings up-to-date news from the Maths Hubs Programme

Numberblocks wins a BAFTA!

The CBeebies television series, Numberblocks, has won a BAFTA award.

One school’s success with Core Maths

Seven Core Maths classes prove the value of the qualification for students

Ten resources for GCSE maths revision lessons

A selection of sites and resources that will help with your lesson and homework planning this revision season

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

Professional development opportunities for leaders of maths education available now

Teachers who want to achieve or enhance maths leadership accreditations can now apply for two separate professional development programmes

Maths leadership CPD opportunities

Applications now open for two separate professional development programmes

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

Remote teaching returns 2 – Steph Elliot

A Year 6 teacher from Newcastle gives us a window on her primary school’s ‘blended’ approach to providing remote learning

Algebra | Key Stage 3

National Curriculum resources for Algebra – Key Stage 3

Multiplication and Division | Year 4

National Curriculum resources for Multiplication and Division – Year 4

Issue 13 of Bespoke out now

Up-to-date news from the Maths Hubs Programme

Beyond the maths classroom: how trusts can support teacher professionalism

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

Which KS3 topic are you teaching next?

New videos, PowerPoint slides and guidance documents provide ideas and resources for teaching KS3 topics

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

Multiplication and Division | Year 6

National Curriculum resources for Multiplication and Division – Year 6

Raising girls' participation in maths

Rachel Beddoes explains what the barriers are for girls, and what teachers and schools can do to overcome these

Recognise, compose, decompose and manipulate 2D and 3D shapes

Unit 4 – 3 weeks

Right angles

Unit 3 – 2 weeks

Draw, compose and decompose shapes

Unit 4 – 2 weeks

Coordinates

Unit 7 – 2 weeks

Angles

Unit 10 - 3 weeks

Symmetry in 2D shapes

Unit 10 – 2 weeks

Parallel and perpendicular sides in polygons

Unit 10 – 2 weeks

Improving children’s confidence in maths starts with parents

What one primary teacher has done to improve children's confidence by engaging parents in learning maths

Secondary Round-up - January 2024

Our latest Secondary Round-up is now available

Two London heads on engaging with teaching for mastery

Two secondary headteachers describe how they make engaging in professional development activities a matter of policy

Primary Round-up - April 2020

Our latest Primary Round-up is now available

Secondary Round-up - September 2022

Our latest Secondary Round-up is now available

Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialist Programme (Embedding the Impact)

For Post-16 Mastery Specialists looking to deepen and refine their practice

How can we meet the needs of all pupils without differentiation of lesson content? How can we record progress without levels?

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

October's Secondary Round-up is out

Our latest Secondary Round-up is now available

Outstanding schools, Ofsted and mastery

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

Secondary ITE professional development materials

Six professional development units designed for ITE tutors to use with secondary trainee maths teachers

Primary ITE professional development materials

Six professional development units designed for ITE tutors to use with primary trainee teachers exploring maths

Shape

Unit 7 – 2 weeks

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

Geometry - properties of shapes | Year 4

National Curriculum resources for Geometry - properties of shapes – Year 4

Geometry - position and direction | Year 2

National Curriculum resources for Geometry - position and direction – Year 2

Response to Jo Boaler’s view of maths in UK schools

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

Mastery brings ‘priceless’ benefits to secondary school

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

A Tale of Two Schools

We visit two very different primary schools, and learn about their reasons for choosing teaching for mastery and its impact

Statistics | Year 3

National Curriculum resources for Statistics – Year 3

Secondary professional development materials published for KS3

Making the most of our new secondary mastery materials

An interview with three of the people behind the recently published Secondary Mastery Professional Development Materials

Geometry - position and direction | Year 6

National Curriculum resources for Geometry - position and direction – Year 6

Mindset: why is it so important in teaching for mastery?

Liam Colclough, a headteacher in Sheffield, is convinced that to introduce teaching for mastery effectively, a shift in mindset is required

Secondary Archive

An archive of all Secondary Round-ups and Magazines

Susan Okereke: speaker, podcaster and maths teacher

A wide-ranging conversation covering engagement, curriculum, classroom culture, and preparing students for maths beyond school

Teaching about climate change in the maths classroom

Two authors talk about their new resources and suggest tips for addressing social issues through maths

Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics - Core Maths Teachers

Support for teachers who are new to teaching Core Maths

NCETM Newsletter - June 2019

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

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

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

Numberblocks – Series 3

Series 3, all episodes

Geometry - position and direction | Year 1

National Curriculum resources for Geometry - position and direction – Year 1

Online support for parents and teachers during school closures

Find out about online support for parents and teachers being offered by the NCETM during school closures

Statistics | Year 5

National Curriculum resources for Statistics – Year 5

Leading the change: a headteacher’s journey with teaching for mastery

What happens when a school fully embraces Maths Hubs professional development?

We need to talk (about maths)

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

Statistics

Unit 8 – 1 week

The research mathematician and his A level teacher

Douglas Coates talks about his career in maths research and reflects, with his ex-teacher, on learning A level maths

Targeted Support in Mathematics (Intensive)

Support for leaders to implement change and maximise the impact of Maths Hubs professional development

Probability and Statistics | Key Stage 3

National Curriculum resources for Probability and Statistics – Key Stage 3

Resources for teachers using the mastery materials

Supplementary content to support use of the Secondary Mastery PD Materials

Targeted Support in Maths – one school’s story

How bespoke support enabled a primary school to achieve its best ever maths SATs results

Primary Teaching for Mastery (Introductory)

Support for schools beginning their journey implementing teaching for mastery with fidelity

Curriculum prioritisation in primary maths

What maths to teach for the rest of 2020/21

NCETM Newsletter - February 2020

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

Statistics | Year 4

National Curriculum resources for Statistics – Year 4

How one secondary school is using Checkpoints at KS3

We visit a school in Lancashire pioneering their use

Taking on the role of maths lead in a primary school

Ten tips for newcomers to the position

Time

Unit 11 – 1 week

Sense of measure – capacity, volume, mass

Unit 14 – 2 weeks

Time

Unit 11 – 2 weeks

Available now! Secondary Mastery Professional Development Materials

Read about our comprehensive Secondary Mastery Professional Development Materials, what they are, who they are for, and how they can be used

Guest blog by Jane Jones HMI, Ofsted

What are the implications for Ofsted evaluation if the mastery principle is followed rigorously?

Two pleas to maths teachers at the start of the school year

The NCETM’s Director, Charlie Stripp, has warned of the dangers of putting pressure on pupils to ‘catch-up’

New diagnostic classroom resources to find out what your Year 7s can do

Addressing two years of disrupted schooling, Checkpoints activities will help you to formatively assess understanding of key topics

Fractions | Year 6

National Curriculum resources for Fractions – Year 6

NCETM Newsletter - December 2019

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

Number | KS3

National Curriculum resources for Number – Key Stage 3

Measurement | Year 4

National Curriculum resources for Measurement – Year 4

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

All NCETM website Communities to close

Find out about the implications and possible actions you may need to take

Five resources for planning your post-mock exam lessons

We’ve picked out some sites to help you make the most of your Year 11s’ mock exams and analyse their results

Cardinality and number sense

What is cardinality? Why is it important? And how can we help children develop an understanding?

Money

Unit 9 – 1 week

Geometry - properties of shapes | Year 1

National Curriculum resources for Geometry - properties of shapes – Year 1

Covid recovery primary maths resources

Training materials, PowerPoints, videos and more are here to help primary schools plan maths teaching for the new school year

Using a high quality textbook to support teaching for mastery

We visit the classroom of Hannah Gray, a primary teacher involved in trialling new Singapore-style textbooks, designed to support a mastery approach

School sees better results through teaching for mastery

Embracing teaching for mastery in maths has seen pupils’ love for the subject contribute to some exceptional end of year outcomes for all year groups

Spotlight on LLMEs – Early Years SKTM

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

Using the NCETM Curriculum Prioritisation materials

A maths lead tells his school's story

Ideas for collaboration in secondary maths teaching

Work with your colleagues to plan lessons and develop your own knowledge and pedagogy

Geometry - position and direction | Year 4

National Curriculum resources for Geometry - position and direction – Year 4

NCETM Newsletter - September 2019

Our latest NCETM newsletter is now available

The end of an era: we say goodbye and thank you to two remarkable women

Celebrating a legacy of collaboration, service and excellence in maths education

Algebra | Year 6

National Curriculum resources for Algebra – Year 6

Ratio and Proportion and Rates of Change | KS3

National Curriculum resources for Ratio and Proportion and Rates of Change – KS3

The answer is only the beginning

A look at two of this year’s KS2 SATs questions, analysing the demands made on pupils and the mathematical thinking required

Eight GCSE maths questions that surprised exam boards

What makes a good (or bad) GCSE question?

The Five Big Ideas at Secondary – Mathematical Thinking

Why is mathematical thinking so important in the secondary classroom?

Five essential reads: our top three most popular features of 2024/25 (and two you might have missed!)

From fluency and Ofsted to mathematical talk and non-specialist support, we share some popular features from the past year we think you’ll enjoy

Multiplying by 10 – is it OK to just put a zero?

Find out what our Professional Development Materials say about how children should be taught to multiply by 10

Just started teaching maths? What you need to know

Are you a trainee, new to teaching maths or working with teachers early in their careers? Discover resources we have for you

Mastery Myth-busting

We dispel some of the common myths about teaching for mastery

Aligning curriculum reform and assessment with teaching for mastery in primary maths

Charlie Stripp and Debbie Morgan respond to a recent TES article by Peter Foulds and David Thomas regarding the primary curriculum and potential reform

Becoming an LLME – what do I need to know?

A summary of our February 2025 Week in Focus across social media

Time

Unit 11 – 1 week

GCSE re-sits: grasping the nettle

An article from our Director, Charlie Stripp

How the NCETM's mastery materials are making an impact

How our Professional Development materials can help you consolidate your subject knowledge, plan your maths lessons effectively and be assured that your pupils will grasp concepts with confidence

Research and innovation in the Maths Hubs Network

How smaller CPD projects refine, innovate and improve the Maths Hubs Programme and give teachers an opportunity to pursue special interests

Planning and sequencing for curriculum prioritisation

A maths lead explains how our resource has given her teachers an easy route into the mastery materials as well as excellent pedagogical development

How post-16 Mastery Specialists are leading system change

Based on the underpinning principles of teaching for mastery, the Trailblazers explore ways to develop provision in FE mathematics teaching

Spotlight on LLMEs – Primary Mastery Specialist

We discover what it’s like to take part in the Primary Mastery Specialist Programme

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

Multiplication and Division | Year 3

National Curriculum resources for Multiplication and Division – Year 3

Teacher collaboration supports mixed-attainment classes

A London school models one possible way to make the transition

Measurement | Year 5

National Curriculum resources for Measurement – Year 5

Fractions | Year 2

National Curriculum resources for Fractions – Year 2

Fractions | Year 1

National Curriculum resources for Fractions – Year 1

Geometry - properties of shapes | Year 5

National Curriculum resources for Geometry - properties of shapes – Year 5

NCETM Newsletter - January 2019

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2019

How variation has changed my teaching

Article by Jayne Webster, who teaches maths at Denbigh School in Milton Keynes

Five tips for using number lines in Key Stage 1

We look at five ways number lines can be used in KS1 to explore and reason with numbers

Making an impact with Core Maths

We find out why one of the country’s largest post-16 colleges has introduced Core Maths

How and why one Yorkshire school is teaching Core Maths

A head of maths and Maths Hub Lead talks about the benefits of the qualification

An effective model for collaborative planning in maths

At Southfields Academy collaborative planning sessions have led to improved lesson quality, reduced planning time, and better staff retention

Online CPD: the unexpected gains

We speak to three Maths Hubs about how they moved their CPD offer online, what they learned, and what’s next

How can schools and colleges offer Core Maths?

How a variety of colleges and schools are managing the logistics of offering Core Maths

No need to differentiate in primary school maths lessons

Debbie Morgan explains why all children should be included in all aspects of a primary maths lesson

Exploring comparison in Early Years

What is comparison? And how can we help children develop a secure understanding of this mathematical concept?

The Five Big Ideas at Secondary – Coherence

Why is coherence one of the Five Big Ideas in Teaching for Mastery?

The power of partnership: system leaders in MATs and Maths Hubs are transforming maths education

Maths Hubs work with trusts within and across hub boundaries, benefiting thousands of pupils and hundreds of teachers

Number and Place Value | Year 3

National Curriculum resources for Number and Place Value – Year 3

Geometry - properties of shapes | Year 2

National Curriculum resources for Geometry - properties of shapes – Year 2

The Five Big Ideas at Primary – Coherence

Why is Coherence one of the Five Big Ideas in Teaching for Mastery? And what does it mean for primary maths teachers?

Teaching for mastery: isn’t it just 'good teaching'?

Emma Patman, a Year 4 teacher, explains how her teaching has been transformed by her exposure to teaching for mastery pedagogy

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

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

Ten minute read: Q&A with Eugenia Cheng

'Is there a relationship between maths, gender and learning? How might it be characterised?' Dr Eugenia Cheng shares her ideas.

Aligning curriculum and assessment reform with teaching for mastery in secondary maths (part 1)

Charlie Stripp and Carol Knights suggest ways in which the curriculum and assessment of secondary mathematics might be improved

Measurement | Year 2

National Curriculum resources for Measurement – Year 2

Fractions | Year 3

National Curriculum resources for Fractions – Year 3

Measures

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

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

Number and Place Value | Year 5

National Curriculum resources for Number and Place Value – Year 5

Fractions | Year 4

National Curriculum resources for Fractions – Year 4

Developing a comprehensive maths curriculum

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

Primary Archive

An archive of all Primary Round-ups and Magazines

Maths CPD chat

#mathscpdchat, previously managed by the NCETM