Who can take part?

Participants in this Work Group are those who teach and/or have responsibility for the maths curriculum in Years 5 to 8. Participants may be subject leaders, phase leaders or teachers with responsibility for transition in a school.

Work Groups are particularly effective when secondary schools and their linked, or feeder primary schools work together, which could be in a geographical location or within a MAT.

What is involved?

Participants are expected to attend the equivalent of three full days of workshops, and to complete school-based tasks between sessions.

Work Group Leads aim to hold sessions in both KS2 and KS3 settings, affording opportunities to see the tasks in different classroom contexts.

A range of materials have been developed which exemplify the principles of teaching for mastery and focus on key elements common to both KS2 and KS3 maths teaching and learning.

Some of these materials may be explored in Work Group sessions, and teachers will then try them out with pupils, observing the impact of different pedagogical approaches in their own class, reflecting on these activities, and preparing brief notes to support discussions in the following workshop.

Participants may also be asked to contribute to online forum discussions.

Schools need to be willing to explore and trial a potentially different pedagogy in maths, and to develop their transition practice.

It is expected that activity associated with this project is sustained over at least one school year.

What are the intended outcomes?

Pupil outcomes

Pupils:

• are better prepared for the curriculum transition from KS2 to KS3
• in KS3 show improved understanding of the chosen topics, based on strong connections with KS2 foundations
• in KS2 and KS3 demonstrate a positive attitude to maths.

Practice development

Participants will:

• ensure that lesson design and pedagogy demonstrate a secure knowledge of curriculum continuity
• develop understanding of how learning in KS2 develops in KS3
• develop understanding of how teaching for mastery develops in KS2 and KS3
• develop practice to address areas where there are possible barriers to progress in KS3
•  make use of coherent approaches, representations and language.

Professional learning

Work Group Leads, participants, and the teachers in their schools will:

• have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the curriculum across KS2 and KS3, including the expectations of students at the end of each key stage in relation to specific areas of the curriculum
• have a deeper understanding of the approaches which will support students as they move from KS2 to KS3, including the importance of consistency of language and representations specifically relating to specific areas of the curriculum.

What is the cost?

The Years 5-8 Continuity programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools