Securing Foundations at Year 7 is underpinned by principles designed to promote more equitable outcomes for all students. These include that students of all prior attainments should have access to reasoning and problem-solving as a routine part of their curriculum experience. This crucial element of mathematics is something that lower prior-attaining students are too often denied.
Each year, around 30% of Year 6 pupils in England do not meet the expected standard for maths in KS2. They join secondary school with a wide variation in learning needs and may still be working on mathematical content from Key Stage 1 and 2. Securing Foundations at Year 7 was introduced to tackle this challenge, and evaluation following its first year reveals that it has been a phenomenal success.
Who can take part?
This Work Group is intended for schools with Year 7 students who have not met age-related expectations in maths, particularly students whose attainment is in the bottom 20-30% of the national cohort at the end of KS2. 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.
For all participating schools, there is also an expectation that the subject leader joins a subject leader community.
What is involved?
A pair of participants from each school will join a Work Group; the pair should comprise at least one teacher with QTS, but may include a teaching assistant or similar.
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.
What are the intended outcomes?
There are no shortcuts! Schools from previous years who engaged more fully with the programme and used more of the materials with their students saw the greatest impact.
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.
Participants will work with their school/subject leaders to:
• share a common vision, culture and set of principles which align with those in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery.
• ensure that relevant teachers and support staff engage with the materials.
• ensure flexibility in the KS3 scheme of work so that suitable adaptations can be made to ensure accessibility and progress for all students.
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.
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 it is free to participating schools.
How do I sign up?
Click Register to express your interest.