Secondary Mastery Specialist application deadline extended - 28 April 2025
"The best CPD I've ever, ever had”. Clare Papper, Second in Maths, Stroud High School.
Want to support your own school to develop teaching for mastery approaches?
Starting in Autumn 2025, our Secondary Mastery Specialist (SMS) programme offers fully-funded professional development from experts, to enable you to develop your own expertise, and then to support others within your department.
What's involved?
If you're a secondary maths teacher, the SMS programme will enable you to become an expert in teaching for mastery, with the aim of developing your own maths departments to be well-led, high-performing and supported by high-quality professional development through collaborative working. In the first two years, you'll focus on building your own understanding and practice, and then work with members of your own department to develop teaching for mastery.
In year three and beyond, your school will join a Secondary Teaching for Mastery Work Group, to continue to develop specific elements of teaching and practice across your department. For a full overview of the programme structure and requirements, download this information document.
Clare’s story
Clare Papper is a local secondary maths teacher who started her Mastery Specialist training earlier this year (Autumn 2024). Watch our GLOWcast to see and hear Clare explain what first interested her in becoming an SMS, what the training really involves and how it’s already making a difference for her professional development, her maths department and for her students.
How to apply
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.