Primed for Success

Primed for Success

As announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle MS on her visit to Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Caerau on 3rd June, Primed for Success was launched as part of WG’s Curriculum for Wales Grant Support Programme. Primed for Success is a project of maths support for Years 6 and 7 being delivered by The Learning Partnership.

An ambitious and exciting programme for teachers in Wales.

Aims of Primed for Success:

• Improve the shared understanding of progression in mathematics.
• Increase confidence and competence in teaching using the five interdependent mathematical proficiencies.
• A deep dive into conceptual development in mathematics
• Professional Inquiry and collaboration within and between clusters with a focus on learning and teaching in Year 6 and Year 7.

The overarching aim of Primed for Success is to improve the shared understanding of progression for schools within the same cluster, and more widely, so that the teaching of mathematics is robustly aligned to the five interdependent mathematical proficiencies outlined in CfW.

Curriculum for Wales guidance makes the benefits of cluster collaborations explicit, stating that “To fully support progression along the 3-16 continuum, schools and settings should work collaboratively in their clusters and across wider networks”

By developing a clear focus on the principles of progression and with a clear and intentional emphasis on concepts, how they develop, and their associated language, learners experience connected, coherent and purposeful opportunities within their maths lessons, enabling them to become effective in their understanding and application.

A deep-dive exploration into how concepts develop and extend from understanding at a novice entry point to a high level of proficiency, is a core element of the project.

Model of Working

• Over several months, teachers participate in professional inquiry with support comprising of world-renowned expert input from Prof. Yeap Ban Har, action research and regular touch points with The Learning Partnership.
• Cluster model of secondary schools and their feeder primaries.
• The project offers two cycles per year for the next 3 years – 12 clusters in North/mid Wales and 12 clusters in South/mid Wales reaching 3 clusters in all local authorities in Wales (English and Welsh Medium) resulting in approximately 1000 teachers  being trained.

The project is based on a cluster model, with teachers and leaders from the secondary school and their feeder primaries forming one group within each cohort for professional inquiry. All schools in the cluster must participate. Membership of the group is based on the following:

• Primary – Leaders of Mathematics/SLT and Year 6 teachers (2 teachers per school)
• Secondary – Head of Mathematics/SLT and Year 7 teachers (2 teachers per school)
• The Learning Partnership and partner consultants
• Associate Expert Consultant – Professor Yeap Ban Har for expert input
• Local Authority/Consortia Maths Leads

Using the Schools as Learning Organisations (SLO) model, teachers participate in seven days of paid professional learning over a six-month period (approx.).

Structure of the Programme