As a school we have worked closely with the GLOW MathsHub and have been involved with their Teaching for Mastery Research Groups. This is a national maths project looking at how to best implement a mastery approach across both the county and the country.  This mastery approach takes inspiration from a number of places, Shanghai, Singapore, the USA’s NCTM, the UK’s NCETM, as well as a popular scheme in the UK, White Rose Maths. 

Our aim is that all pupils achieve a deep understanding of mathematics which can be quickly recalled, is secure and adaptable for the world around them.  This deep knowledge is secured through the careful facilitation of a discursive, whole-class, teacher-led approach. Children experience each aspect of a mathematical concept through many different ways and formats. 

Mathematics lessons at Drybrook School involve several key elements:

After careful thought, we found that Maths Shed’s mastery teaching slides fit well with our philosophy here at Drybrook. We use these slides as a base and are easily adapted and added too to meet the needs of each year group. 

• Regular focus on calculation questions (Fluent in 5).
• Vigorous recap of previously covered skills (Flashback 4). 
• Exploring content in greater depth instead of accelerating through it – using a range of equipment and pictorial representations. 
• All children working on the same content at the same time (with scope for support and challenge) instead of separate, differentiated work for groups of different abilities.
• Children not placed into ability groups based on prior attainment – taught in year groups.
• Focused, detailed and rigorous, discursive whole-class teaching.
• Rapid intervention during the session to overcome misconceptions.
• Regular evaluation questions give the opportunity to summarise the day's learning.  
• Recap through targeted intervention homework books (Power Maths). 
• The development of the growth mindset in pupils and staff so success is linked to effort and working on overcoming difficulties.

To achieve mastery in mathematics, pupils are required to become proficient in three aspects:

• Do it - Fluency – the ability (through practice) to understand and work with the key points in each area of mathematics and to recall this knowledge accurately.
• Twist it - Reasoning – the ability to recognise relationships, explain ideas, correct misconceptions and enquire about mathematics.
• Solve it - Problem-solving – the ability to apply their mathematics knowledge to solve problems of increasing sophistication, breaking them down into different steps and persevering to find solutions.

For further information please explore the links below:

Maths Shed - https://www.mathshed.com/en-gb

GLOW Maths - http://www.glowmathshub.com

NCETM -https://www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/47230

White Rose teaching resources - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/teaching-for-mastery-in-primary-maths/whiterosemaths