Myth busting

Still not sure about what's available for you from the NCETM and Maths Hubs? Or maybe you need to know a little more about the fully-funded professional development and support that teachers of maths across England can get? We have answers to your questions below.

What is the NCETM?

The NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics) provides DfE-funded professional development through our national network of Maths Hubs, which is available completely free to state-funded schools and colleges in England. We coordinate the Maths Hubs Programme and provide support for maths teachers, from Reception to post-16.

We are not a union or chartered organisation, there is no membership required and none of our programmes are outsourced for delivery for profit. Our aim is to support all schools, colleges, organisations and individuals by providing maths-specific professional development and resources.

2 In 3 Schools In England Have Been Involved With The Work Of Maths Hubs And The Ncetm

Who develops our resources?

Our materials, including pupil-facing resources and our professional development programmes, are developed by experts. Whether produced by one of our NCETM Team members, a Maths Hub Lead or a classroom teacher, each contributes their own experience and expertise.

We work together with teachers still active in the classroom to produce our completely free professional development materials and curriculum resources, which are informed by extensive academic research, and have mastery as the underpinning principle.

Team Photo Of Ncetm Team

We offer:

  • News and features
  • Videos and podcasts
  • Regular primary and secondary mailings
  • Professional development and resources for teachers consistent with mastery
  • Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
No Of Visitors To Ncetm Website Downloads Stats

What are the Maths Hubs?

We coordinate the network of 40 Maths Hubs across England, with the aim of offering locally-based professional development. If you teach maths in a state-funded school or college in England, your school is already served by a Maths Hub, which is able to support you by offering fully-funded CPD.

Each Maths Hub is led by a dedicated team of maths specialists (many of whom still teach regularly), and has a highly skilled network of accredited LLMEs (Local Leaders of Mathematics Education) to work with schools and colleges to support:

  • Early Years (Reception)
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • GCSE and A level
  • Core Maths
  • GCSE Resit.
Stats Of Mastery Specialists And Schools Involved With Maths Hubs

How can you get involved with your hub?

All state-funded schools and colleges in England are served by their local Maths Hub, and belong to a specific hub area. Hubs are able to offer tailored support to improve the teaching of maths.

To contact your local Maths Hub to find out about the free programmes on offer, available from Early Years to post-16, find your local hub. There is no registration and you don’t need to do anything to ‘join’; simply get in touch.

What is the cost involved?

All of the CPD offered by Maths Hubs is completely free to state-funded schools in England.

All we ask is that, if you engage with a professional development programme through your Maths Hub, you commit fully for the duration of the programme. Places may be limited and we want all schools and teachers to be able to access the support that will help their pupils to become confident mathematicians.

What is the format of professional development with Maths Hubs and the NCETM?

We do not offer one-off, half-day or full-day courses or training. Our programmes run across an academic year and beyond, and are focused on delivering long-term, sustained change across schools and departments. The focus is as much on what happens in a classroom, school or department as what happens during the sessions. Participants are expected to try out new ways of working in their own schools, and to make changes over time and reflect on the impact of these.

Our CPD takes the form of programmes, Work Groups and communities (a catch-all term we sometimes use for these is ‘projects’). Before you select the professional development that’s right for you and your school, learn more about these three types of professional development, and become familiar with the Work Group model.

What is teaching for mastery?

You can learn more about teaching for mastery in the dedicated Mastery section of our website. Our Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery page is also a great place to start.