In partnership between GLOW Maths Hub, SHaW Maths Hub and AMSP, this project provides national support for the effective development of pedagogy in the teaching of A level Mathematics. It aims to enhance the quality of teaching and the conceptual understanding of students, and the development of participants as leaders of A level teaching professional development in their own school or college.

The Work Group supports developing the quality of teaching in response to the demands of the new specifications for A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Work Groups in this project aim to develop knowledge of content and requirements of the new A levels and understand the purpose of the overarching themes.

There is a range of currently available maths teacher professional development around subject knowledge and pedagogy for new teachers of A level Maths via the AMSP, but no extended professional development for experienced teachers or leaders of A level Maths teaching around the overarching themes, technology or other aspects of pedagogy of the new A level Maths specification. There is a strong focus on pedagogy through the overarching themes of the new linear A level Maths specification, with changes to pedagogy in statistics teaching, assessment and expectations in the use of technology.

Who will be leading the group?

Martin Withington and Gayle Scot

Martin has taught A level Maths and Further Maths and is an Associate for the Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP).  He has extensive experience in using IT both in the classroom and for resource preparation. Martin also supports the professional development of teachers as a popular workshop lead at conferences.

Gayle is a Level 3 NCETM Accredited PD Lead and Post-16 Lead for SHaW Maths Hub. She has taught A level Maths and A level Further Maths for over 20 years and is an experienced subject mentor for ITT maths trainees.

Who is it for?

The target group of schools/colleges/departments are those which want to develop one or more aspects of their A level pedagogy.

The target group of lead participants in this NCP are existing leaders of A level teaching or experienced teachers of A level Mathematics who wish to lead the development of pedagogy in A level teaching with other colleagues in their own or other schools. This Work Group will also be valuable for teachers who have limited experience of teaching A Level Mathematics and even to those who have not yet done so. An openness to new ideas and a willingness to share them with colleagues are probably the two most important prerequisites for participation.

What are the intended outcomes?

Participants will know the content and requirements of the linear A-Level Mathematics and understand the purpose of the over-arching themes and their impact on teaching and learning in A Level Mathematics. There will be a strong emphasis on integrating the use of technology into everyday teaching. 

Student outcomes

Students will:

• be able to demonstrate/communicate the links between mathematical topics within the A level content
• have increased confidence in the reasoning/proof, problem-solving, modelling and use of calculator elements of assessment
• be better placed to continue their learning in A level Maths and to progress to HE or employment following the Covid pandemic.

Whole school/departmental policies and approaches

• schools/colleges will have improved the capacity of staff to deliver A level Maths
• departments will be better able to prepare lessons that meet the requirements of the A level (including the overarching themes and the use of technology) and support Covid recovery.

Practice development

Participants will:

• plan sequences of lessons which meet the requirements of the A level, including addressing the overarching themes and use of technology
• apply related pedagogical approaches in their A level teaching to support Covid recovery
• support colleagues in their own school/college in embedding themes from the Work Group in their delivery of A level teaching to support Covid recovery.

Professional learning

Participants will:

• understand the purpose of the over-arching themes, including use of technology, and their impact on teaching and learning in A level Maths
• be confident to teach aspects of the content (particularly mechanics and statistics)
• understand related pedagogical approaches to support Covid recovery.

What will it involve?

Participants will plan sequences of lessons which meet the requirements of the linear A Level, including addressing the overarching themes and use of technology.  They will also support colleagues in their own school / colleges in embedding themes from the Work Group in their delivery of the linear A Level.

Four afternoons 1.15pm-4pm.

What is the cost?

Free - funded equally by Maths Hubs and AMSP