Secondary Mastery Specialist Programme 2025/26

There are some exciting changes to the programme for 2025/26

Want to become a specialist in teaching for mastery and support your own school to develop teaching for mastery approaches? Join the Secondary Mastery Specialist Programme. During the course of the programme you will receive fully-funded professional development from experts, have time to develop your own expertise, and then to support others.

In a change from previous iterations of this programme, Specialist will not be required to become local leaders of maths education, although this will still be available as a future pathway, as appropriate.  Instead, Specialists will have an increased focus on embedding teaching for mastery pedagogy within their own department, working alongside the subject leader, if different.

Learn what's involved in the application process by downloading this updated information document.

Hear from a teacher who has been part of the programme as he explains how teaching for mastery has revolutionised the way he teaches, and had a positive impact on his students.

Any teacher (excluding ECTs) who is teaching maths in a state-funded secondary school in England and who wishes to develop both their own classroom practice and their skills in leading professional development with others can apply to become a Secondary Mastery Specialist.

The Secondary Mastery Specialist Programme enables secondary maths teachers to become experts in teaching for mastery, so they in turn can develop maths departments that are well-led, high-performing, and provide high-quality professional development through collaborative working. It also develops them in their role as a leader of professional development with others, so they are well supported when working with their own department.

Participants first work on their own understanding and practice and then work with members of their own department to develop teaching for mastery. In year three and beyond the school joins a Secondary Teaching for Mastery Work Group to continue to develop specific elements of teaching and practice across their department.

Throughout the training Specialists are supported nationally and locally, enabling them to have professional conversations and share experiences both in-person and online.

In future years, working closely with their local Maths Hub and the national team, Specialists may choose to go on to lead work with other schools.

Learn what's involved in the application process by downloading this information document.

Hear from Mastery Specialists in our videos below. Find out more about mastery in our case studies. And take a look at the Mastery Specialist Programme in more detail in this diagram.

Find out more on the web page

What are the benefits of participating in the programme?

The benefits for schools that apply to be part of the programme include:

• the department developing a curriculum informed by a clear set of principles, policies, practices and systems which support a teaching for mastery approach, as set out in the 2021 DfE Key Stage 3 non-statutory guidance
• the teachers in the department (including the Specialist) developing a deep understanding of the principles and pedagogies underpinning teaching for mastery, and acquiring enhanced maths specialist knowledge with a particular emphasis on progression within key areas of maths
• the growth of teachers’ collaborative work, through which planning, teaching and assessment practices are developed
• the Specialist developing their own understanding and practice in supporting collaborative professional development within their school
• the department making effective use of materials and resources, to support the design of well crafted lessons.   Developing teaching for mastery approaches takes time and is not a ‘quick fix’, but the intention is that students develop a deep understanding of the mathematical ideas they are taught so that they fully meet the aims of the national curriculum; show a positive attitude towards maths and demonstrate a growth mindset, leading to improved outcomes.

The Secondary Mastery Specialist Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.

The national recruitment window has now closed for 2025/26, but if you are still interested, or want to find out more, please contact us as there may still be places available.