Boxgrove Primary School
Boxgrove Primary School has been involved in the Maths Hub since 2015 – from the very start. The Maths Lead works for the Maths Hub as a Mastery Specialist and Work Group Lead.
Find out about the school’s journey with the Maths Hub and why the school leadership feel it is important to work with the Hub.
What instigated Boxgrove’s initial involvement with the Maths Hub?
The current Maths Lead instigated the involvement by attending the Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics Work Group in 2015. In 2016, they were part of a Teacher Research Group (TRG) and became inspired by the work of the mastery specialists, so began training to be a ‘Cohort 3’ Mastery Specialist in 2017. Alongside training to be a Mastery Specialist, teachers at Boxgrove have participated in numerous Work Groups such as, Early Years and Mastering Number. The involvement has been sustained since 2015 purely because the school “believes in what the Maths Hub offers”. Opportunities such as visiting other schools, working as a team with teachers from across the region, whilst developing subject and pedagogical knowledge which aligns with the principles of Teaching for Mastery were opportunities that the school took advantage of. Since the school’s first involvement with the Maths Hub, 2
How can a primary school coordinate staff professional development through the Maths Hub effectively?
Some schools worry about releasing teacher to attend the professional development opportunities offered by the Maths Hub. For Boxgrove, this has never been a problem as “all teachers are passionate about working with the Hub” and “the impact of staff attending work group session is huge; there is always such a buzz.” The Maths Lead coordinates attendance to work groups and always seeks to cover any lessons internally to minimise disruption. There is a very much an ethos of the CPD opportunity being so valuable and will impact staff and students and is therefore worth attending.
How do you maximise impact of attendance to Maths Hub work groups?
Every week, Boxgrove has a staff meeting. During the first half-hour of this staff meeting is a “hot topic” where teachers that have attended any CPD (such as the Maths Hub work groups) share what they learnt. Time is then given to explore key principles further so that teachers can implement ideas in their classrooms. This is then monitored and regularly reviewed.
What advice would you give a school leader who is on the fence about getting involved in their local Maths Hub?
“The benefits are immeasurable!”
“All staff, regardless of experience, are able to develop their subject and pedagogical knowledge and skills which impacts the pupils.”
“The Maths Hub is friendly and supportive and is why people keep coming back!”
“It has allowed us to keep up to date with the current educational landscape”
To explore the Work Groups, Programmes and Communities open to your school, click here.
As well as having teachers participate in Maths Hub Work Groups, the Maths Lead works as a Mastery Specialist and Work Group Lead, so supports other schools across the region in their development of maths learning and teaching. How has your role as a ‘Local Leader of Maths Education’ complemented the work you have done and are doing in-school?
“The Maths Hub has helped to develop me as a leader. Training as a specialist, leading a Teacher Research Group, supporting schools with their implementation of Teaching for Mastery and leading Mastering Number have all been invaluable opportunities. I have developed leadership skills and benefited from networking with other teachers from across the region. At first, I worried about being ‘the expert’ and having the answers to everything but now, as an LLME, I remind myself I am facilitating, and I love it!”. If you are interested in exploring the professional opportunities available through the Maths Hub, then click here.