Recruitment open for 2026/27
|Dates and Location TBC
Teaching for Mastery Work Groups
This opportunity is for schools in England that have previously participated in a Secondary Teaching for Mastery Work Group or that have a trained Mastery Specialist in their department. Participants should be well placed to lead change within the department.
Date & Location
Recruitment open for 2026/27
Dates and Location TBC
About the Event
Dates and Locations TBC
Participants work with a small group of local schools, led by an experienced Mastery Specialist, to implement teaching for mastery approaches across
their department.
Work Groups provide opportunities for lesson observation and collaborative planning.
The focus of each Work Group will be determined by local need and context, working with participant schools informed by the subject leader community to identify and respond to their priorities.
Teaching for Mastery - Collaborative Work Group Meeting Maths & Science - exam questions across subjects Maths & Science - Comparing methods of converting between units Orchestrating productive mathematical discussions
What are the intended outcomes?
Student outcomes
In almost all classes within the department, students will:
develop a deep, secure and connected understanding of the maths they are learning
achieve both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency
think, reason and discuss their maths in order to deepen their understanding
have a positive attitude to maths and attain high levels of achievement in maths.
Whole-school/departmental policies and approaches
Participants and their departments will:
share a common vision, culture and set of principles which align with those in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery
continue to develop teaching for mastery approaches consistently within their own departments
have structures and systems which allow for dedicated time for collaboration and development with shared responsibility for developing pedagogy.
Practice development
Participants and their departments will:
continue to develop classroom practices aligned to those in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery
collaborate to create a coherent curriculum in a culture of professional learning
develop and implement a coherent and ambitious sustained development plan with clear aims based on evidence of need, and an associated professional development programme which will support all departmental members in meeting these aims.
Professional learning
Participants and their departments will:
have a deep understanding of the practices aligned to those in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery
understand the value of collaboration in creating a coherent curriculum in a culture of professional learning
have a clear understanding of the leadership and management support required to enable them to effectively develop teaching for mastery approaches within their own departments
understand the principles and practices behind the creation of a coherent and connected curriculum which promotes teaching for mastery
understand the benefits of collaborative professional development
This is a free to attend Maths Hub programme, funded by the DFE.
Feedback from 2025/26 participants
"I enjoyed sharing resources and ideas, taking back and sharing with the department who also found them useful."
"The discussion were always insightful and challenged and grew my thinking. On topic and tangential discussions are always given time and deep thought. Learning from colleagues at other schools is invaluable, and a rare opportunity."
"The hands on collaborative planning tasks were great and I've seen them used to great effect in my department!"