Securing Foundations at Year 7
Discover ways to help students who need additional support to make good progress in KS3 and beyond
Background
National data indicates that, since Covid, there has been an increase in the number of students not meeting Age Related Expectations (ARE) by the end of KS2, and that the gaps in knowledge for some in Year 7 are wider and deeper than in previous years; this is supported by evidence from a recent NCETM teacher survey.
Year 7 teachers are also reporting that they feel insufficiently equipped to teach these students mathematical content from much earlier in the curriculum.
The Ofsted maths report published in 2023 reported findings which indicate that students for whom learning maths is more challenging fail to grasp early concepts, which increasingly hampers their progress through the curriculum.
By KS3, these students are unable to understand, let alone apply, new knowledge. This, coupled with a lack of opportunity to reason mathematically or solve problems, results in some students in Year 7 being unable to access the KS3 curriculum, and hence they require substantial remediation to enable them to make progress.
Who can take part?
The Work Group is suitable for experienced or novice teachers who are interested in developing their teaching practice to support students in securing the foundations of mathematical understanding.
What is involved?
Participants are expected to attend the equivalent of three full days of workshops, and to complete school-based tasks between sessions.
Workshops will be a blend of national and local sessions, and online and in-person provision.
The centrally-produced resources are designed to support teachers and focus on the foundations of mathematical understanding.
Each set of resources has a different focus, adapting the most relevant parts of the support available for KS2 teachers so that they build on students’ prior knowledge and prepare them for their study in KS3.
The resources comprise both classroom-facing slides and teacher guidance.
Participants who actively engage with the teacher guidance and supporting materials will benefit most.
Teachers are encouraged to generalise the pedagogical strategies they explore as part of this project, and embed them in their practice more widely, to meet the needs of all students.
For all participant schools there is also an expectation that the subject leader participates in a subject leader community (NCP25-15).
What are the intended outcomes?
Student outcomes
Students will:
- develop a deep and connected understanding of the maths they are learning
- reason, think and communicate mathematically as part of their normal experience in maths lessons
- make progress such that they are better able to access a suitable KS3 curriculum
- develop confidence with, and a positive attitude to, maths
Practice development
Participants will:
- develop classroom practices aligned to those in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery
- develop their pedagogic and content knowledge of KS1 and KS2 maths, with a particular emphasis on key concepts
- practise strategies and refine their practice to best support students who did not meet age-related expectations (ARE) at the end of KS2
- consider approaches which support all students to reason mathematically and develop a deep and connected understanding of the maths they are learning.
Professional learning
Participants will:
- work as part of a professional learning community to reflect on their approaches, deepen their understanding about effective approaches, and refine their practice
- develop an understanding of pedagogic approaches consistent with teaching for mastery
- develop an understanding of the KS1 and KS2 curriculum content
- share their knowledge and understanding with appropriate members of their department.
What is the cost?
The Securing Foundations at Year 7 project is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.
How can I get involved?
To reserve your place on this Work Group during 25/26, please complete the form below and we will be in touch (subject to availability) when we have further details.