Led by NACE Associate Rob Lightfoot, this new one-day course offers practical guidance and examples for heads of department seeking to ensure their KS3 maths curriculum offers sufficient challenge for all learners. Delegates will leave with a refreshed understanding of how best to support the most able mathematicians; a suite of strategies, examples and ideas to share with colleagues; and clear next steps for departmental curriculum development and implementation.

This workshop is aimed at:

• Current heads of department
• Senior maths teachers and aspiring heads of department

9.00am: coffee and registration

9.30am: Session 1

Outcomes for the day

The mind of a more able mathematician

• Cognitive Load Theory
• Expertise Reversal Effect
• Bjork’s Theory of Disuse and Ebbingham’s Curve
• Working memory and long-term memory

10.30am: break

10.50am: Session 2

Ensuring sufficient depth at KS3 whilst maintaining coverage of the curriculum

• Distributed learning and problem solving
• Goal-free problems
• Doctor Frost, Don Steward, NRICH

12.30pm: lunch

1.15pm: Session 3

Enriching the more able student in mathematics

• UKMT challenges
• Maths Inspiration
• University links
• Bletchley Park
• Reading lists and websites

Reflections and action planning

3.15pm: close