As part of the government initiative to have a mathematics specialist in every primary school in England, the University of Winchester leads a consortium of four universities and around twenty local authorities operating across the south east of England providing this programme to primary school teachers.
In June 2008, the DCSF launched the Mathematics Specialist Teacher (MaST) Programme. The Government has committed to giving every primary school access to a MaST by 2019 to improve maths teaching and learning.
Teachers accepted onto the programme will be enrolled in a new two-year part-time masters level (60 CAT points) qualification to develop deep mathematical subject knowledge, subject-specific pedagogy, and the skills to mentor and coach colleagues.
- Through the programme teachers can:
increase their confidence when teaching primary mathematics and find new and exciting ways to improve their pupils' engagement, confidence and achievement in mathematics
- coach and mentor colleagues to raise mathematical teaching standards, acting as maths champions in their school to enable whole school improvement in mathematics teaching
- join a supportive local network of MaSTs who work together to improve maths teaching across the local area
- take part in a national programme to raise the profile of mathematics teaching among pupils, parents and colleagues, and make it a key priority for school improvement.
The programme is funded by the DfE and includes money to cover teachers for release from their school.
Teachers interested in applying for the programme will need to demonstrate that they:
- have a good range of classroom teaching skills when teaching mathematics, and have taught mathematics to primary school children in two or more year groups
- meet the minimum mathematics qualifications required to become a teacher, be a full-time qualified teacher in a primary school and be able to identify strengths and gaps in their knowledge of mathematics within the primary curriculum
- have worked alongside teaching colleagues as part of a professional development activity, or engaged in some aspect of in-service provision or support to staff
- are enthusiastic about and committed to developing the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to become a Mathematics Specialist teacher
- are well placed to lead improvements in the teaching and learning of mathematics in their school and have a good working relationship with the school's leadership team
- are prepared to undertake personal, extended professional learning activities, maintain a Professional Learning Log and undertake professional development tasks that will involve them carrying out in-school support to colleagues
- are prepared and able to attend the six local half-day extended meetings and the five HEI led days each year.
Our MaST Course leaflet will give you contact information and detail the local authorities we are currently working with.