Mathematical Thinking for GCSE

Teachers or departments keen to address the reasoning and problem-solving challenges of the mathematics curriculum and its assessment at GCSE are encouraged to take part in this project. Work Groups will explore professional development activities focusing on practical and accessible classroom-based approaches. The activities themselves also offer a model for wider department engagement with professional development processes, and hence could provide the basis of an effective department improvement programme in this area.

Please see the document below for further information.

Mathematical Thinking for GCSE

Challenging Topics at GCSE

In many respects, the GCSE, first taught in autumn 2015 and examined in summer 2017, still feels new, and throws up new challenges for teachers and pupils alike. In 2017-2018 there was a Maths Hubs pilot project which explored ways of teaching those GCSE maths topics teachers found challenging to teach, and students found challenging to learn.  In 2018-2019, this work will continue. Work Groups will explore effective ways of teaching some of these topics, both to address the immediate needs of the incoming KS4 pupils, but also, crucially, taking a longer-term view by considering development in KS3.  The aim will be to get to grips with all the underpinning content of a topic, exploring misconceptions and effective pedagogical approaches for each element.

Please see the document below for further information.

Challenging Topics at GCSE

Year 5 to 8 Continuity

Collectively, the network of Maths Hubs across England work on projects around national maths education priority areas. One of those priorities centres on primary pupils, within a teaching for mastery context, developing the deep knowledge and understanding they need to be fully prepared for the secondary mathematics curriculum. Another centres on the development of teaching for mastery in secondary schools. This work group addresses both these priorities. Each Maths Hub participating in a national project runs a local Work Group, where teachers come together over a period of time to work on areas defined by the project. All Work Groups are subject to a common evaluation process, which collectively provides a body of evidence on the project’s outcomes. So, your participation in this Work Group will contribute to your own professional leaning, and that of your school colleagues, as well as making a contribution to the improvement of maths education at a national level.