We are delighted to announce that the NCETM’s Director for Primary Maths, Debbie Morgan, has received a CBE for services to education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Debbie joined the NCETM in 2012, and, since 2014, has led the work of introducing teaching for mastery approaches to maths in primary schools across England. In that time, working alongside the national network of Maths Hubs, Debbie has trained and influenced many thousands of teachers. As a result, hundreds of thousands of primary school pupils have developed a more secure and more lasting mathematical understanding.

This work is the culmination of an entire working life devoted to primary education, during which time Debbie has moved from class teacher to headteacher, and on to advisory and teacher-training roles with local authorities and universities. In 2015, she completed her doctorate with the Open University, which focused on the development of primary teachers’ mathematics subject knowledge.

In addition, she has found time to be the maths consultant on the BAFTA award-winning CBeebies programme Numberblocks.

‘I am honoured to receive this award and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way,‘ says Debbie. ‘It has been a privilege to be involved in maths education, working initially with children and then teachers. Maths is often a subject that primary teachers lack confidence in, but I have a belief that all can develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to be successful. I take my hat off to teachers, particularly in this present time, as I continue to work with them online. Their commitment and resilience is phenomenal!’

The NCETM’s Director, Charlie Stripp, says the award is richly deserved.

‘The ability to use maths with confidence in everyday life and in the workplace is vital, and the mathematical foundations laid at primary school are crucial to young people’s long-term success in their maths education. The NCETM’s Primary Teaching for Mastery Programme, designed and led by Debbie, is transforming the way primary mathematics is taught, and is improving the maths education of hundreds of thousands of young people.

‘Debbie has worked with great determination and conviction to improve the teaching and learning of maths at primary school level throughout her working life. It is a pleasure and a privilege to have her on the NCETM team as our Director for Primary Mathematics.’

In this short video, Debbie talks about receiving the honour and the work that has contributed to it:

Read more about the NCETM’s teaching for mastery work.

Debbie tweets about her work at @ThinkingMaths.