The NCETM Maths Podcast, from the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, invites teachers, maths experts and anyone with a passion for teaching maths to talk about topics that shine a light on great maths teaching. With ideas for classroom activities, inspirational stories of careers in maths, and lively debates on contemporary topics, the NCETM podcast has something for everyone. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Episodes
Monday Jun 10, 2019
Monday Jun 10, 2019
In this podcast, we visit Spring Bank Primary School in Leeds and talk to headteacher, Sarah Hawes and maths lead, Tracey Baruah. With 40 years’ experience between them, they explain their enthusiasm for what the Mastery Readiness Programme is offering the children in their school.
The Mastery Readiness Programme began work with a small number of schools in the Northern Powerhouse in 2018/19. The programme was designed in response to Maths Hubs’ recognition that some schools were not able or ready to engage with the full Teaching for Mastery Programme. This bespoke programme offers schools support with preparatory groundwork to become ‘ready’ for teaching for mastery. The programme is being rolled out nationally in 2019/20.
If your school might benefit from participation in the expanding Mastery Readiness Programme, please contact your local Maths Hub, or email Emma Patman or Elizabeth Lambert directly.
You can also find out more about the programme by visiting the Mastery Readiness section of our website.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Sarah Hawes, Headteacher at Spring Bank Primary School
- Tracey Baruah, Maths Lead at Spring Bank Primary School
- Gwen Tresidder, Communications Manager, NCETM
Episode chapters
- 01:10 – Introductions and how the school began with mastery
- 05:05 – What the Mastery Readiness Programme involves
- 07:25 – Not like attending one-off workshops
- 09:45 – Getting all staff on board
- 12:32 – Articulate children
- 14:47 – A different type of training
- 18:42 – Understanding what ‘going deeper’ means
- 19:29 – Focus on problem solving
- 25:18 – What pupils have got out of it
- 27:17 – Abandoning ability-groupings: a revelation
- 32:26 – Next year: the full Teaching for Mastery Programme
- 33:57 – The challenges
- 39:39 – Advice for heads considering Mastery Readiness.
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Teaching the hardest topics in GCSE maths
Which are the hardest topics in GCSE maths? You will know some by reputation. Some might surprise you. What can you do to make these topics more accessible to students? In particular, how can you unlock a depth of understanding that allows students to use their knowledge flexibly and in unfamiliar situations?
The Maths Hub network’s national project, ‘Challenging Topics at GCSE’, addresses these issues, through local collaborative teacher Work Groups.
In this podcast, two teachers from South Yorkshire, who lead Work Groups, tell us why teachers should get involved. They tell us about the benefits to teachers and their wider departments. The podcast begins with an interview with Kathryn Greenhalgh, Maths Hub Lead for Yorkshire and the Humber, who gives a national picture of the project.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Kathryn Greenhalgh, Maths Hub Lead for Yorkshire and the Humber
- Lisa Wilson, Penistone Grammar School, Barnsley, and Work Group Lead for South Yorkshire Maths Hub
- Rosie Kavanagh, Oakwood High School, Rotherham, and Work Group Lead for South Yorkshire Maths Hub
- Gwen Tresidder, Communications Manager, NCETM
Wednesday Mar 06, 2019
Wednesday Mar 06, 2019
The episodic or ‘ping-pong' teaching approach is one of the most striking features of a mastery-style lesson. But what is it exactly and how does it affect decisions when planning lessons?
In this podcast, Primary Mastery Specialists Faye Glendinning and Sam Shutkever take us through the gritty detail of episodic lesson planning.
They explain the theory and how it is implemented in their schools. Each of them then takes us through the episodes of a recent lesson in detail, explaining each planning decision.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Faye Glendinning, Cedars Academy, Birmingham, and Central Maths Hub
- Sam Shutkever, Akroydon Primary Academy, Halifax, and West Yorkshire Maths Hub
- Gwen Tresidder, Communications Manager, NCETM
Additional related content is available on the podcast page on our website.
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
After GCSE, 20% fewer girls than boys continue studying maths. This limits their access to some of the more challenging, interesting and lucrative careers. But why? In this podcast episode we speak with Rachel Beddoes, Girls’ Participation Coordinator of the Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP). She explains what the barriers are for girls, and what teachers and schools can do to overcome these. She also gives details of events and bespoke support available from the AMSP and other organisations. There are links below for more details on these.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Rachel Beddoes, Girls’ Participation Coordinatior, AMSP
- Gwen Tressider, Communications Manager, NCETM
Episode chapters
- 00:57 – The creation of the AMSP
- 02:34 – Rachel’s (maths) life story
- 04:34 – Why is a Girls Participation Officer needed?
- 07:34 – Why are fewer girls doing advanced maths than boys?
- 11:33 – What is AMSP doing about it?
- 13:50 – How could teachers address these barriers?
- 15:30 – Core Maths and girls
- 19:33 – What can teachers do?
- 22:01 – What are Stemettes?
- 24:11 – What can 11-16 schools do?
- 26:13 – The role of female maths teachers
- 28:51 – Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
- 31:33 – Whole school strategies
Links for research and initiatives mentioned in the interview:
- FMSP/UCL research: Gender and Participation in Mathematics and Further Mathematics, March 2017, referred to by Rachel and NCETM summary article
- Institute of Fiscal Studies report: How can we increase girls’ uptake of maths and physics A level, August 2018
- DfE research published Feb 2019: Attitudes towards STEM subjects by gender at KS4 looking at girls’ enjoyment of and confidence in studying STEM subjects as well as beliefs about job prospects, earning potential and future plans (published shortly after the interview was recorded)
- Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP) website, in particular, these pages:
- Supporting students’ transition to advanced maths, specifically the section at the bottom of the page, with ideas and resources to encourage girls to consider taking maths
- Girls’ participation self-audit for schools: a list of ideas – how many is your school doing?
- Events
- Local support
- Stemettes: a social enterprise working to inspire and support young women into STEM careers
- WISE (Women in Science, Engineering and Maths) campaigns: People like me and My skills, my life.
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
How does maths teaching in a primary school in Shanghai look and feel to an experienced observing teacher from an English school? A Mastery Specialist from Leicestershire, who was among a group of teachers from Maths Hubs who visited Shanghai during school year 2018/19, gives her impressions.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Afshah Deen, Primary Mastery Specialist and Year 2 teacher at Parkland Primary School, Wigston, Leicestershire
- Chris Shore, Maths Hub Lead, East Midlands South Maths Hub
- Steve McCormack, NCETM Communications Director
Episode chapters
- 03:29 – Afshah’s overview of the experience
- 06:36 – What impressed Afshah most
- 07:17 – What surprised Afshah
- 09:04 – A lesson on properties of 3-D shapes
- 10:10 – Thoughts on small steps within lessons
- 12:02 – Fluency of the Shanghai pupils
- 13:16 – Shanghai teachers’ planning and discussions
- 17:42 – How the experience has affected Afshah as a teacher
- 18:58 – The wider context of teacher exchanges over the year
- 24:19 – How ‘greater depth’ is viewed in Shanghai
- 27:43 – Afshah’s role in her area as a Mastery Specialist
Information on where showcase lessons are being held in late January 2019.
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
How does maths teaching in a secondary school in Shanghai look and feel to experienced observing teachers from secondary schools in England? Two Mastery Specialist teachers from North West England, who were among a group of teachers from Maths Hubs who visited Shanghai during school year 2018/19, give their impressions.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Jayne Watts, teacher at Alsager School and Secondary Teaching for Mastery Lead for North Mids and Peaks Maths Hub
- Dave Connell, 2nd in Maths at Loreto Grammar School, Altrincham, and Secondary Teaching for Mastery Lead for North West Two Maths Hub
- Gwen Tresidder, NCETM Communications Manager
Episode chapters
- 03:46 – Most striking things in the classroom
- 06:59 – Most striking things about the children
- 09:24 – Applying mastery in the English cultural context
- 11:05 – How Chinese students get ahead of their English peers
- 12:41 – Culture of collaborative working
- 16:01 – Lessons from teaching Chinese students
- 18:01 – Changing practice as a result of visit
- 22:20 – What about pupils that say ‘I can already do that’?
Information on where showcase lessons are being held in late January 2019.
Tuesday Dec 11, 2018
Tuesday Dec 11, 2018
How do you become a Mastery Specialist? What are the personal and professional benefits? How can you have impact in your own school? And what happens when your skills take you even further? Leanne Casey tells us about her experiences.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Leanne Casey, Primary Mastery Specialist and Deputy Head at St. Michael’s CE Primary School in Bedworth, Coventry (a two-form entry primary school)
- Beth Goodliff, NCETM Communications Officer
This podcast complements the Mastery Specialist information on the Maths Hubs website.
Episode chapters
- 00:45 – How Leanne became a Mastery Specialist
- 04:10 – Starting to work with other schools
- 05:45 – Getting buy-in from headteacher
- 07:20 – The context of Leanne’s school and its maths performance
- 09:00 – Convincing class teachers, even though maths results were good
- 14:15 – Keeping the mastery momentum going
- 17:30 – Embedding newly appointed teachers
- 20:45 – How Leanne has benefited personally
- 23:00 – Working on mastery with a different Maths Hub, in London
- 27:40 – Advice for a teacher considering applying to train as a Mastery Specialist
If you are interested in becoming a Mastery Specialist, contact your local Maths Hub. They will tell you when the next recruitment window opens, and how to apply.
Friday Nov 23, 2018
Friday Nov 23, 2018
How do young children (Reception age and below) develop their early mathematical thinking? How do those teaching them help the children build a platform of understanding? And where does maths fit in to the wider picture of childhood development? Two experts in the field explain.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Dr Sue Gifford, Mathematics Education Department, Roehampton University
- Viv Lloyd, NCETM Assistant Director, Primary and Early Years Mathematics
- Steve McCormack, NCETM Communications Director
This podcast complements the information on Early Years maths on the NCETM website.
Episode chapters
07:48 - Comparison
10:38 - Cardinality
14:18 - Subitising
18:38 - Conservation
20:38 - Composition
24:18 - Pattern
26:28 - Shape and Space
27:53 - Measures
31:38 - Where maths fits in with other early learning
You may also be interested in this article on subitising, from a recent issue of the NCETM Primary Magazine.
Information on Maths Hubs work in the area of Early Years maths.
Tuesday Oct 30, 2018
Tuesday Oct 30, 2018
Two secondary teachers, one a head of department, explain how participating in a Maths Hub Work Group on mathematical thinking both helped their own teaching and sowed seeds of improvement in their departments.
Show notes:
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Satveer Bahia, from Platanos College, working with London Thames Maths Hub (@Mathshub_LT)
- Catriona Shearer (@CShearer41) from Saffron Walden County High School, working with Cambridge Maths Hub (@CamMathsHub)
- Steve McCormack, NCETM Communications Director
For information about all Maths Hubs projects and Work Groups, and to find contacts details for a Maths Hub near you, go to www.mathshubs.org.uk.
This article from a recent NCETM Secondary magazine gives more information and accounts about what a Maths Hubs Work Group entails.
Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
Representatives from England’s three main exam boards share their thoughts with us on the questions they set, how students (and questions!) performed, what they learned from social media and much more.
Show notes:
Taking part in the discussion are:
- Andrew Taylor (AQA)
- Graham Cumming (Edexcel)
- Neil Ogden (OCR)
- Gwen Tresidder (NCETM Communications Manager)