Higher-level Maths Achievement

Overview

A new programme offering a collaboration between the AMSP, Maths Hubs and the NCETM. It is designed to support schools with a high proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds with high KS2 attainment, so they achieve grades 7-9 at GCSE Maths.

The Higher Level Maths Achievement Programme is a pilot programme for schools to help them support students to secure top grades at GCSE Maths and progress to study maths at Level 3. Compared with their peers, a far lower proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds who do well in maths at KS2 go on to secure grades 7-9 at GCSE. This new programme will provide teacher professional development and school support alongside student-facing activities designed to increase the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieving high grades in GCSE Maths and progressing to Level 3 maths.

Across England, 400 secondary schools – on average 10 in each Maths Hub area – will be able to take part. Eligible schools will have a higher-than-average proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The programme will involve support for schools, professional development for teachers and events for students. Support will be provided throughout the programme by the Maths Hub and the AMSP Local Lead. The first schools will be invited to participate in the pilot from September 2025.

Book your place now for the 2025/2026 programme.

Reserve your place now for the 2025/2026 programme. We will contact you as soon as the dates and venue are confirmed.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW FOR 2025/2026

Support for schools

For participating schools, the AMSP Local Lead will work with teachers in the maths department (and SLT if required) to devise approaches to improve the achievement at GCSE of high-attaining students from KS2 (with a particular focus on students from disadvantaged backgrounds). The aim is to support schools and maths departments to make sustained positive change.

Professional development for teachers

For participating teachers, materials and resources consistent with teaching for mastery will be signposted, and teachers will have the opportunity to discuss classroom approaches with their peers in Work Groups. Work Groups will be led by the AMSP Local Lead and/or a local leader of mathematics education (LLME) from the Maths Hub. Discussions and activities will focus on how to teach higher level topics to Year 10 and Year 11. In addition to the face-to-face Work Groups, teachers will be encouraged to attend other relevant professional development events available through the AMSP.

Support for students

During the programme, events will be organised for students based on building their confidence in tackling challenging GCSE topics so they can secure grades 7-9. Events may include a masterclass at a local university, or a school-based carousel of activities led by teachers from the local Work Group. Events will be curriculum-focused and will be predominantly for KS4 students, with some aimed at students further down the school to drive their passion for maths from KS3 onwards.

Teachers will be pointed to high-quality resources from Oak, the NCETM and other evidence-based providers. Schools can also benefit from support to run the AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics, designed to help students develop problem-solving skills.

Support for students

The evidence base

The Higher Level Maths Achievement Programme is based on evidence and outcomes from the Stoke-on-Trent Maths Excellence Partnership which, over the course of its lifetime, has already seen:

Students achieving top grades (A/A*/7+) increase from 9.5% to 15.1%
Students achieving grade 5+ increase from 37% to 44%
A level Maths entries increase by 67%
The number of students who achieve 4+ at GCSE Maths and progress to Level 3 maths increase from less than 1 in 6 to more than 1 in 4.

Getting involved

If you want to find out if your school is eligible to participate in this new programme in 2025/26 click here, contact us at the Maths Hub, or speak to your AMSP Local Lead.