Applications for this academic year 2025 - 26 are now closed.

Sign up here to find out when applications open for Secondary Mastery Specialist Programme for 2026/27

What is involved?

The Mastery Specialist Programme is for primary teachers with a passion for maths. In the first year of the programme, three residentials – one in each term – provide an opportunity to develop understanding the Five Big Ideas in Teaching for Mastery in depth, and to focus on the specialist subject knowledge required to design lessons that unfold the maths for all children.

Between residentials, as a classroom teacher, specialists will be able to apply their learning to the context of their own classroom and school, reflecting with others what the impact of learning has been on pupils.

Who can take part?

Participants should be experienced primary practitioners with the capacity to lead change in their own schools, and to develop as leaders of professional development in other schools. Their headteachers commit to supporting them and to developing teaching for mastery in their schools.

What will you learn?

• Your pupils will show a positive attitude towards maths and enjoy learning the subject
• You will demonstrate deeper subject knowledge and greater understanding of the principles behind teaching for mastery
• Your colleagues will begin to develop teaching for mastery approaches
• Your school will develop policies and systems which support a teaching for mastery approach

What is the cost?

The Primary Mastery Specialist Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme and the AMSP so is free to participating schools/colleges.

Applications for this academic year 2025 - 26 are now closed

Sign up here to find out when applications open for Primary Mastery Specialist Programme for 2026/27

Want to become a specialist in teaching for mastery and support your own school to develop teaching for mastery approaches? Join the Secondary Mastery Specialist Programme. During the course of the programme you will receive fully-funded professional development from experts, have time to develop your own expertise, and then to support others.

Any teacher (excluding ECTs) who is teaching maths in a state-funded secondary school in England and who wishes to develop both their own classroom practice and their skills in leading professional development with others, can apply to become a Secondary Mastery Specialist.

Learn what's involved in the application process by downloading this information document.

Hear from a teacher who has been part of the programme as he explains how teaching for mastery has revolutionised the way he teaches, and has had a positive impact on his students.

What is involved?

This two-year programme supports secondary maths teachers to become experts in teaching for mastery and lead change within their schools.

Teachers will strengthen their classroom practice and learn how to support colleagues. They will explore the NCETM’s The Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery, working closely with their subject leader to embed these approaches across the department. Participants will also complete the NCETM Professional Development Lead Programme, gaining the skills to lead effective CPD.

What is involved?

Secondary maths teachers in state-funded schools in England with QTS and at least two years’ teaching experience. Applicants should be committed to develop their own teaching and support improvement across their department.

What will you learn?

• You will deepen classroom practice and help students build deep, connected mathematical understanding
• You will complete the NCETM PD Lead Programme and learn how to support colleagues through CPD
• You will take part in around 7.5 days of professional development, including workshops, school-based activity and collaborative planning
• You will observe teaching for mastery in other secondary and primary schools

A two-year central programme

Post-16 GCSE and FSQ Mastery Specialist

Applications for this academic year 2025 - 26 are now closed

Following the success of the Primary and Secondary Mastery Specialist Programmes, Maths Hubs, working in conjunction with the NCETM, are now seeking applications from Further Education establishments that wish to nominate ‘lead teachers’ to take part in an important two-year professional development programme leading to the designation of Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialist. The programme is aimed at those who teach GCSE Mathematics resit and/or Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs).

More information about Further Education Mastery Specialists can be found in the news item Mastery Specialists in GCSE Resit and Functional Skills.

Who can take part?

The programme is for practitioners of post-16 GCSE Maths resit and/or Functional Skills Maths who are currently employed in a post-16 setting and regularly teaching maths to students aged 16-19 enrolled onto full-time Study Programmes under the government’s Condition of Funding policy. 

Participants must have at least two years’ experience teaching post-16 GCSE/FSQ maths, with the capacity to lead change within their own institutions. They may be based in FE colleges, Sixth Form colleges, or other post-16 settings.

What is involved?

Practitioners of post-16 GCSE Mathematics resit and/or Functional Skills Maths can become Mastery Specialists, initially developing their own teaching for mastery approaches, then supporting others to do the same.

The programme has an initial training year, followed by a second year and beyond, in which specialists support others. It equips participants with the knowledge and skills to develop highly-effective approaches to the teaching of GCSE Maths resit and Functional Skills Maths, using the principles of teaching for mastery.

What will you learn?

• Your students will develop a secure and connected understanding of the maths they are learning
• Your students will report increased confidence in using maths
• You will develop classroom practices aligned to the principles of teaching for mastery, as exemplified for the post-16 GCSE/FSQ sector
• You will, over time, become part of the Maths Hubs LLME Community

What is the cost?

The Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialist Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools/institutions.

Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialist Programme (Embedding the Impact)

Who can take part?

This community is only open to previous participants of the Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialist Programme

What is involved?

This programme supports existing Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialists to deepen their understanding of mastery teaching, refine classroom practice, and support departmental development.

This community is structured to include four days of participation in central community events, with preparation tasks.

What will you learn?

• You will continue to develop an understanding of teaching for mastery and support the department and leadership in creating coherent curriculums and a culture of professional learning
• You will work within your department to develop a culture aligned to the principles of teaching for mastery
• Your students will develop a secure and connected understanding of the maths they are learning and report increased confidence in using maths

What is the cost?

The Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialist Programme (Embedding the Impact) is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools/institutions.