Podcast
Evaluating Maths Hubs' impact with the EEF
The NCETM’s Dr Jen Shearman, Dr Paul Rowlandson and Sue Evans discuss the upcoming EEF-funded trials of two important Maths Hubs programmes in 2025/26
04/04/2025

In this episode, the NCETM’s Dr Jen Shearman, Dr Paul Rowlandson and Sue Evans discuss the upcoming EEF-funded trials of two important Maths Hubs programmes in 2025/26. The conversation explores the role of external evaluation, the challenges of conducting randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and what the findings could mean for maths education in England.
A transcript (PDF) of this episode is available to download.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion:
- Jen Shearman, Director for Evaluation and Impact, NCETM
- Sue Evans, Assistant Director for Primary, NCETM
- Paul Rowlandson, Assistant Director for School and Professional Development, NCETM
- Julia Thomson, Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, NCETM.
Episode chapters
- 00:00 Introduction and welcome
- 01:12 Meet the team and overview of the EEF trials
- 01:57 Understanding the EEF and its role
- 03:31 The NCETM's involvement with the EEF
- 06:11 Introduction to the SKTM Secondary Non-specialist Teachers Programme
- 09:28 Introduction to the Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 Programme
- 12:02 Challenges in conducting the trials
- 22:01 Hopes and expectations from the trials
- 31:04 Conclusion and how to get involved.
Useful links
- Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics Secondary Non-specialist Teachers Programme
- Mastering Number at Reception and KS1
- Mastering Number at KS2
- Blog post on the EEF trials: Going for gold standard
- Evaluating our programmes in 2025/26
- EEF trial of the Secondary Non-specialist Teachers SKTM Programme
- EEF trial of the Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 Programme
- TIMMS 2023 Report
- Coordinating mathematical success: the mathematics subject report (2023)
- Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive.