What we mean by professional development
When we talk about teacher and school professional development or CPD, we mean the ongoing activities that teachers undertake both to develop their classroom practice and to improve maths teaching in a department or school. Whether CPD is individual or collaborative, the ultimate wider objective, of course, is school-wide, lasting improvements to pupil learning.
We believe this process is more likely be successful if the professional development experience involves teachers working with peers in other schools as well as their own, led by someone with expertise in a particular field.
- NCETM Professional Development Lead Programmes support individuals to develop and embed expertise in leading maths professional development and knowledge of how teachers of maths learn and develop.
Become an NCETM accredited PD Lead
Who can take part?
These phase-specific programmes are for expert teachers of maths (all phases from Early Years to post-16) who have existing commitments and responsibility for designing, leading and evaluating maths teacher professional development, and who will lead maths professional development beyond their own institution.
Learn what's involved in the application process by downloading this Information Sheet.
What is involved?
The PD Lead Programme is designed for participants who are working with other teachers to enhance teaching and learning of maths.
Participants benefit from the equivalent of three one-day workshops (face-to-face and online). Participants will design, lead, review and refine a programme of support for maths teacher professional development, drawing upon a range of evidence-informed models and activity. The completion of an Accreditation Evidence Document, which facilitates critical reflection on participants’ learning over the duration of the programme is required.
What will you learn?
- You will develop a refined rationale for the Professional Development you are leading and for the range of professional activity within the programme
- You will critically evaluate your own professional development programme against your intended outcomes
- You will identify key principles of maths CPD design and the implications of these for the programme you design
- You will recognise the key distinction between teachers’ knowledge of maths, and teachers’ knowledge of teaching maths
Participants will also have the opportunity to gain an academic award (PG Cert) for completing an enhanced version of the programme, which will be available for an additional fee.
What is the cost?
The Professional Development Lead Programmes are fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so are free to participants and their schools.
APPLICATIONS FOR 2026/27 OPEN
Please read this document before applying
Axis is the portal where you can access information about, and apply for, certain NCETM and Maths Hubs programmes and events, and their associated resources. You need to login to use it, and if you apply for or are part of an eligible programme or attending a particular event, you will have been given registration details.
