Ensuring all teachers of maths have the specialist knowledge and skills required to teach maths effectively is a key component of the work of the Maths Hubs support for secondary schools. There are significant numbers of people teaching maths in secondary schools without specialist initial teacher training and the 2023 Ofsted maths subject report ‘Coordinating mathematical success’ highlights the need for secondary schools to make sure that non-specialist teachers receive the necessary professional development to teach maths effectively.

Recruitment and retention of maths teachers in secondary schools remains a challenge in many schools, resulting in senior leaders having to think creatively to deploy their staff from other subjects or to recruit overseas teachers. Headteachers can use this programme as part of a package of support to help with their recruitment of maths teachers. The programme is offered at different points in the year to increase flexibility of start dates:

• NCP24-30a starts early in the summer term in 2024
• NCP24-30b starts in the autumn term

This programme supports non-specialist teachers in developing the specialist knowledge (the blend of subject and pedagogical) for teaching maths, and complements teaching for mastery approaches as exemplified in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery.

The programme uses highly regarded centrally produced core materials that have been piloted and refined over several years. Participants also work collaboratively on maths tasks facilitated by Cohort Leads. There is opportunity for structured conversations to unpick the maths, the pedagogy modelled within sessions, misconceptions that students have, and how the approaches can be transferred to the participants’ classrooms.

In addition, participants may opt to undertake formal academic assessment at Master’s level associated with this programme, in order to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Practice in Mathematics from the University of Chester. This is a 60-credit award, and there are recognised progression routes to Postgraduate Diploma or to MA, for those who might wish to take their studies further in the future.

This programme is provided for non-specialist teachers of maths in state-funded schools who fit the following definition: ‘A non-specialist teacher of mathematics is ‘a teacher that is currently teaching some mathematics or has commitment from a headteacher/executive head to teach some mathematics within the next year, who has not undertaken initial teacher training (ITT) in mathematics’.

If there is sufficient space in the cohort, other teachers of maths who do not fit this definition but would benefit from this support may also participate.

There are core materials for all SKTM programmes that Cohort Leads will use as the basis of their local programmes. This programme has 18 core sessions (an introductory session then 17 sessions exploring each of the NCETM KS3 core concepts), and is designed to be the equivalent of six days.



The programme should be engaged with across the year (spread out over a minimum of two terms), to allow participants time to develop their practice and evaluate the impact of the adaptations made. In addition to attendance at these sessions, participants will be asked to carry out school-based tasks to enable practice transfer to the classroom. It is recommended that each participant has a named mentor in school who can follow up with a up with a professional learning conversation after each session.