Who can take part?
The intended participants 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. This project is particularly effective when secondary schools and their feeder primary schools work together – have a chat with your connected schools about participating.
What is involved?
Work Groups focus on curriculum and pedagogical continuity over Years 5 to 8. Participants will collaborate with colleagues from across KS2 and KS3, working on mathematical tasks together and reflecting on the resulting activity and learning.
Participants are expected to attend the equivalent of three full days of workshops and to complete school-based tasks between sessions. Sessions will take place in KS2 and KS3 settings, offering the chance to see tasks in the classroom. School-based activity between meetings encourages participants to make use of the resources with their own classes.
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.
Schools should 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?
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.
Participants will work with their school/subject leaders to ensure that:
• collaboration between primary and secondary colleagues on issues of curriculum and pedagogy is a normal part of the school’s transition practice and policy.
• curriculum planning at KS3 is better informed by KS2 content.
• curriculum planning at KS2 identifies the priority learning which underpins progression, preparing students for the KS3 curriculum.
All 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.
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 project is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.
What is the time commitment?
Participants will be expected to attend the equivalent of three full-day workshops.
How do I sign up?
Register your place by clicking the link above.