Maths
Congratulations on gaining a place on the PGCE Mathematics course. We are very much looking forward to working with you.
We hope that the application process has allowed you to get a sense of the key principles which underpin our course. Our philosophy is that mathematics can, and should, be enjoyed by all children. As a team, we are committed to the view that mathematics should be perceived as a subject which is interesting, creative and challenging and one in which everyone can be successful.
Our courses are designed to challenge you to re-think your ideas on mathematics learning and teaching and to experience and develop for yourself a wide variety of styles and techniques to use in the classroom.
On this page you can find out more about what to expect when you are on the course, as well as what you will need to do before you start.
Your PGCE maths tutors
Claire Clemmet
Mark Simmons
Stef Sullivan
Marc North
Pre-course reading
There is a generic reading list for all PGCE secondary student teachers and a mathematics specific reading list. Both will be shared with you at the start of the PGCE course. In the meantime:
- The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), are an independent charity with the aim to break ‘the link between family income and educational achievement’ using evidence to ‘improve teaching and learning’. Read the EEF document Improving mathematics in Key Stages 2 and 3
Reflect critically on this report.
Are there aspects that you agree/disagree with?
Why?
Use these thoughts, alongside other pre-course experiences you have had, to help when writing the pre-course assignment.
- To enable you to find out more about current debates and changes within education, it is a good idea to begin reading the Times Educational Supplement, Education Guardian or Schools Week. Find them on social media or sign up for regular updates.
- To develop your appreciation of mathematics as a discipline, consider reading a book like:
Fermat’s Last Theorem by Simon Singh
Alex through the looking glass: how life reflects numbers and numbers reflect life by Alex Bellos
Rutherford and Fry’s complete guide to absolutely everything by Adam Rutherford and Hannah Fry
Pre-course tasks
Prior to commencing the course, we would ask that you complete:
- Task 1: Where am I starting from as a Maths teacher?
This task gives you the opportunity to set out your views about what it means to be a teacher before you start the course. It also provides a useful reference point to return to later in the course. This needs to be submitted by email to Claire Clemmet by 9pm on Sunday 8 September 2024. You might find chapters of 'Debates in Mathematics Education' by Leslie and Mendick helpful to read to inform your current views.
- Task 2: Subject knowledge (Didactics) workbook.
This task has a dual purpose: to help you review your own mathematical knowledge and to encourage you to begin to think like a teacher. Work through this workbook to the best of your ability. Do not panic if some of the tasks are too demanding! We would like you to have a copy of this with you on Friday 13 September 2024.