Research School Network: Delving in to the evidence: KS2/3 maths

In her first blog, Anna Tapper, Primary Maths Lead at Unity Schools Partnership reflects on her experiences at two insight-full days at the EEF.

As someone who is new to the Research Schools Network (I joined Unity Schools Partnership in September) I found the ​‘KS2/3 Maths Train the Trainer’ day and associated ​‘Evidence’ day fascinating.

These opportunities provided significant professional reflection and learning; they’ve have been invaluable in unpicking the recommendations from the Improving Mathematics in Key Stages 2 and 3 Guidance Report (published in November 2017). They have also been highly formative in supporting our plans for implementation of our school improvement and development work in schools across the trust, teaching alliance and wider Research School network.

I’ve always been passionate about learning, mathematics and teacher education so to come away from these days feeling even more inspired was amazing and testament to the expert facilitation by EEF and RS colleagues. Suffice to say I’m now brimming with ideas of how I might utilise the findings and report itself to support our project work, informing planning, training, coaching and signposting colleagues to dig deeper into the hows and whys of the recommendations.

It was great to be given the opportunity to delve into the evidence used for the meta-analysis that formed the guidance report and to develop my ability to critique the evidence available. Through the process I realise just how useful the associated literature review is to really understand the evidence linked through to the guidance report.

Often for colleagues, the most challenging aspect is when our experience is not confirmed by the evidence. Peter and Stuart challenged us with evidence in this way and guided us into how we could support colleagues facing this situation.

For ease, the Improving Mathematics in Key Stages 2 and 3 Guidance Report is here and the summary of recommendations posterhere. The RAG resource also linked here is a great way to engage with the recommendations and well worth a look.

I’m really looking forward to my next opportunity, the dive into the evidence day for metacognition! I can’t wait to explore further how we can make best use of the recommendations and strengthen the golden threads between these two invaluable guidance reports.

Anna will share more on her work utilising evidence in supporting teachers over the course of this year and her continued adventures in delving in to the evidence herself.