The University of Northampton's School of Education has won a
tender to lead a new national initiative across sixteen local
authoritiesto train around 1000 primary school teachers as
Mathematics Specialists over the next three years.
The Primary Mathematics Specialist Programme is a new
professional development programme created as a result of a
recommendation in the 'Independent Review of Mathematics Teaching
in Early Years Settings and Primary Schools' (June 2008), that
every primary school should have access to a Mathematics Specialist
Teacher by 2019.
Fully funded by the Department for Children, Schools and
Families (DCSF), the course is run by a consortium led by The
University of Northampton, with partners Bishop Grosseteste
University College Lincoln, Nottingham Trent University, University
of Bedfordshire, University of Derby and University of
Hertfordshire, and in close partnership with local authorities.
Debbie Morgan, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education, The
University of Northampton, and Regional Programme Lead Primary
Mathematics Specialist Programme, commented:
"The Programme represents an exciting opportunity to work in
collaboration with other universities, local authorities and
schools to provide quality professional development for teachers -
and make a significant difference to children's learning of
mathematics."
Through face-to-face training outside school hours, network
meetings and in-school development, teachers on the Programme will
gain professional knowledge and the interpersonal skills to lead
collaborative professional developmentand team work in school to
improve the quality and provision of mathematics.
Successful teachers will be awarded the status of Primary
Mathematics Specialist, a recognised national award, in addition to
one third of a Masters degree in Education.