Mastering Maths

The Research Study

The Mastering Maths research study, funded by the Education Endowment Foundation, involves the Mastering Maths programme, run by the University of Nottingham and an evaluation of the programme led by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). 

What is the Mastering Maths programme?

The programme aims to improve GCSE Maths outcomes for post-16 students in Further Education (FE) college settings. It adopts research-informed approaches, underpinned by five key principles which were developed as part of the Centres for Excellence in Maths programme by the FE sector . The key principles concern developing deep understanding of mathematics and teaching that takes into account the needs of students in the sector.

Who is taking part?

Maths teachers from college settings, from all over England, have been recruited from FE and sixth form colleges to take part. 

These teachers will be teaching at least one GCSE Maths class and did not take part in the CfEM efficacy trial as a Lead Teacher or full intervention teacher.

What is happening?

Each teacher taking part in the research study has been randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group. One teacher from each college that has nominated two teachers is in the intervention group, the other in the control group. Both groups will provide data to the evaluators.

The teachers in the control group continue to teach as they usually do. 

The teachers in the intervention group:

• attend two days of face-to-face regional professional development, run by teams of experienced Lead Teachers (in the weeks beginning 7th and 14th October 2024). 

• take part in five lesson study group meetings run by one of the Lead Teachers

• teach five Mastering Maths lessons to all their GCSE classes