Maths lecturer set to become sector Trailblazer

13th July 2023

A Maths lecturer from Solihull College & University Centre is delighted to be representing the College nationally as a Trailblazer.

Holly Bayliss has been selected as part of the Trailblazer project which has been set up by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) to improve how maths is taught at Further Education (FE) Colleges across the country.

The project aims to build on the success of the Primary and Secondary Mastery Specialist Programmes which have been running for several years and have trained hundreds of teachers across England as experts in teaching for mastery approaches. The phrase ‘teaching for mastery’ describes the elements of classroom practice and school organisation that combine to give pupils the best chances of mastering maths.

Maths teacher Holly working with a student in the classroom
Holly recently attended the first residential trip meeting the other FE Maths Trailblazers from around England

Post-16 GCSE/FSQ Mastery Specialists are part of a brand-new programme specifically designed for teachers of compulsory maths in Further Education settings. Its focus is to develop the mathematical skills and confidence of students aged 16-19.

The Trailblazers will have a fundamental role in the development of the programme, trial and evaluate the materials, and be advocates for teaching in FE. They were chosen to represent a cross-section of teachers and establishments who deliver compulsory maths to 16-19 year olds and bring with them a wealth of FE-specific experience and knowledge.

Holly comments: “I am proud to be part of this project as I believe it can make a real difference to how maths is taught and in turn help thousands of students across the county. I am excited to get started and look forward to working through ideas with my Trailblazer colleagues.”

The first full cohort of 40 Post-16 Mastery Specialists will begin their journey in the autumn of 2023, following the lead of the initial Trailblazers.

Find out more about the College’s Maths courses: Maths