John Westwell
@johnwestwell.bsky.social
Director for System Leadership. #NCETM #MEI #MathsHubs. Teacher of mathematics. Chair of Governors. St John with St Mark's CE Primary, Bury
I am loving the fact that Lucy Bronze is not just a great role model as a sportswoman but now also an advocate for the importance of mathematics!
Lucy Bronze on how she decided to blast her penalty down the middle (and score).
“Statistically it’s risky for the goal keeper to stand still… so yeah, I love maths”.
“Statistically it’s risky for the goal keeper to stand still… so yeah, I love maths”.
July 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I am loving the fact that Lucy Bronze is not just a great role model as a sportswoman but now also an advocate for the importance of mathematics!
I can confirm that the cast and crew in Maths Hubs and the NCETM are definitely worth celebrating. It is such a joy to work with so many people committed to playing their part in supporting maths education across our whole system.
🎞️ They don’t seek the spotlight, but they shape the future of maths every day.
As another academic year ends, we want to celebrate EVERYONE across the 40 Maths Hubs who has worked tirelessly to make the programme a continuing success 👏
#Maths #EduSky #UKMathsChat
As another academic year ends, we want to celebrate EVERYONE across the 40 Maths Hubs who has worked tirelessly to make the programme a continuing success 👏
#Maths #EduSky #UKMathsChat
July 18, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I can confirm that the cast and crew in Maths Hubs and the NCETM are definitely worth celebrating. It is such a joy to work with so many people committed to playing their part in supporting maths education across our whole system.
Thank you @keziah70.bsky.social for your important emphasis on collaboration. "It doesn’t just take a village to raise a child; it takes the whole country to educate them at the moment - and this is possible through collaboration." Let's have a system in which deep collaboration is the norm for all.
"it is not the structure itself that determines practice, it is the people leading who create the culture and climate," argues @keziah70.bsky.social who adds we should be focusing debate on metrics like P8 that hinder collaboration
Instead of arguing about trusts vs maintained schools, let’s focus on collaboration between all schools, ‘which happens organically when we are not pitted against each other through league tables, Progress 8 and Ofsted banners,’ writes @keziah70.bsky.social ⬇️
January 15, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Thank you @keziah70.bsky.social for your important emphasis on collaboration. "It doesn’t just take a village to raise a child; it takes the whole country to educate them at the moment - and this is possible through collaboration." Let's have a system in which deep collaboration is the norm for all.
Always welcome false dichotomies being challenged and this blog post got me thinking. There you go....that's told you.
Happy New Year! And a new blog post as a treat (a week earlier than planned).
NEW Blog Post: ‘Stop asking if we should tell and start asking how’
Why does telling remain such a charged issue in mathematics teaching? Reframing telling through its functions rather than its form offers a way forward.
NEW Blog Post: ‘Stop asking if we should tell and start asking how’
Why does telling remain such a charged issue in mathematics teaching? Reframing telling through its functions rather than its form offers a way forward.
Stop asking if we should tell and start asking how
Why does telling remain such a charged issue in mathematics teaching? Reframing telling through its functions rather than its form offers a way forward.
amiealbrecht.com
January 8, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Always welcome false dichotomies being challenged and this blog post got me thinking. There you go....that's told you.
Yes, that's right. Maths Hubs exist to work with and support all schools and colleges in England.
🤔 What's so good about Maths Hubs?
🤷 How do I even join?
Here are 10 hub leads telling us one word about why hubs are great! No need to join - if you teach in a state-funded school in England, you're already in one!
#Maths #EduSky #UKMathsChat #MathsHubs10Years
www.ncetm.org.uk/maths-hubs/f...
🤷 How do I even join?
Here are 10 hub leads telling us one word about why hubs are great! No need to join - if you teach in a state-funded school in England, you're already in one!
#Maths #EduSky #UKMathsChat #MathsHubs10Years
www.ncetm.org.uk/maths-hubs/f...
January 7, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Yes, that's right. Maths Hubs exist to work with and support all schools and colleges in England.
Reposted by John Westwell
'Unfortunately the truth is, that not everyone has good reason to be happy at Christmas time, no matter how much you cover your corridors in tinsel.'
A short Christmas story to remind us what it's really all about.
READ:
everythingisgoingtobealright.webflow.io/santa-please...
A short Christmas story to remind us what it's really all about.
READ:
everythingisgoingtobealright.webflow.io/santa-please...
December 3, 2024 at 10:37 AM
'Unfortunately the truth is, that not everyone has good reason to be happy at Christmas time, no matter how much you cover your corridors in tinsel.'
A short Christmas story to remind us what it's really all about.
READ:
everythingisgoingtobealright.webflow.io/santa-please...
A short Christmas story to remind us what it's really all about.
READ:
everythingisgoingtobealright.webflow.io/santa-please...
With all of these indications of improvement, it's encouraging to see the overall data. But more than that, it represents a lot of maths teacher and leader effort over a sustained period trying to incrementally improve things for their students. And for that I am always encouraged.
Further evidence of England's improvement in maths today with the release of the TIMSS 2023 test which allows for comparisons across countries.
Particularly good news at year 9 (13 year olds) where we've seen a decent jump despite the pandemic (unlike other countries).
Particularly good news at year 9 (13 year olds) where we've seen a decent jump despite the pandemic (unlike other countries).
December 4, 2024 at 5:53 PM
With all of these indications of improvement, it's encouraging to see the overall data. But more than that, it represents a lot of maths teacher and leader effort over a sustained period trying to incrementally improve things for their students. And for that I am always encouraged.
Reposted by John Westwell
Further evidence of England's improvement in maths today with the release of the TIMSS 2023 test which allows for comparisons across countries.
Particularly good news at year 9 (13 year olds) where we've seen a decent jump despite the pandemic (unlike other countries).
Particularly good news at year 9 (13 year olds) where we've seen a decent jump despite the pandemic (unlike other countries).
December 4, 2024 at 10:15 AM
Further evidence of England's improvement in maths today with the release of the TIMSS 2023 test which allows for comparisons across countries.
Particularly good news at year 9 (13 year olds) where we've seen a decent jump despite the pandemic (unlike other countries).
Particularly good news at year 9 (13 year olds) where we've seen a decent jump despite the pandemic (unlike other countries).
Reposted by John Westwell
Something positive is happening in maths education in England. @ncetm.bsky.social Director of Secondary, Carol Knights, talked to secondary school leaders yesterday, about how to ensure the conditions in schools might support teaching for mastery.
December 3, 2024 at 11:23 AM
Something positive is happening in maths education in England. @ncetm.bsky.social Director of Secondary, Carol Knights, talked to secondary school leaders yesterday, about how to ensure the conditions in schools might support teaching for mastery.
Really looking forward to reading this. It seems as though this is an important moment where we as a profession could reimagine accountability so that it both gives confidence to those we serve, and treats leaders and teachers with respect and kindness.
Off to the printers today. Thank you @alisonpeacock.bsky.social for your kind words.
Thanks also to contributors such as @edmund-b-w.bsky.social, @jillberry102.bsky.social, @calmleadership.bsky.social, @annafazack.bsky.social,
@stevewillshaw.bsky.social, @schoolsoftomorrow.bsky.social etc… 1/2
Thanks also to contributors such as @edmund-b-w.bsky.social, @jillberry102.bsky.social, @calmleadership.bsky.social, @annafazack.bsky.social,
@stevewillshaw.bsky.social, @schoolsoftomorrow.bsky.social etc… 1/2
December 2, 2024 at 11:05 AM
Really looking forward to reading this. It seems as though this is an important moment where we as a profession could reimagine accountability so that it both gives confidence to those we serve, and treats leaders and teachers with respect and kindness.
Really interesting work from @jackworth.bsky.social and the NFER team on graduate numbers by subject and what subjects they might go on to teach. Highly relevant to the challenges we face in mathematics teacher supply.
We have been looking at the recent trends in graduate numbers by subject and thinking about what it might mean for the supply of potential teachers
The trends are actually quite positive overall, including for STEM 📈! (But not for languages 😬)
www.nfer.ac.uk/blogs/what-r...
The trends are actually quite positive overall, including for STEM 📈! (But not for languages 😬)
www.nfer.ac.uk/blogs/what-r...
What recent trends in graduate numbers could mean for the future of teacher supply
NFER School Workforce lead Jack Worth has blogged about what recent trends in graduate numbers could mean for the future of teacher supply.
www.nfer.ac.uk
November 29, 2024 at 4:55 PM
Really interesting work from @jackworth.bsky.social and the NFER team on graduate numbers by subject and what subjects they might go on to teach. Highly relevant to the challenges we face in mathematics teacher supply.
Great to be at the Compassionate Leadership event today, so well facilitated by Maggie Farrar and Steve Elliott and to join @alisonpeacock.bsky.social and @carolinelucas.bsky.social and many educational leaders committed to shaping a compassionate culture. I am hopeful for our schools.
November 22, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Great to be at the Compassionate Leadership event today, so well facilitated by Maggie Farrar and Steve Elliott and to join @alisonpeacock.bsky.social and @carolinelucas.bsky.social and many educational leaders committed to shaping a compassionate culture. I am hopeful for our schools.
Sustaining school leadership is vital so the research here that supports our understanding in this area is well worth supporting.
What drains you & what sustains you in your leadership? Pls complete this UK Sustainable School Leadership survey to tell us your experiences. Part of a big & important 3-year study by @patthomson.bsky.social @twperry1.bsky.social Mike Collins & me! Pls RT
warwick.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
warwick.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
UK Sustainable School Leadership Survey 2024
This survey focuses on your experiences of, and views on, contemporary school leadership. This includes questions relating to your professional role and identity, wellbeing, and career experiences an...
warwick.co1.qualtrics.com
November 19, 2024 at 10:54 PM
Sustaining school leadership is vital so the research here that supports our understanding in this area is well worth supporting.
Reposted by John Westwell
Marie Joubert and I are delighted to share our report for the JMC building on the Royal Society‘s Mathematical Futures thinking.
A vision for meaningful data education across the four nations of the UK.
It’s a vision, it’s ambitious! Link and 🧵👇🏽
A vision for meaningful data education across the four nations of the UK.
It’s a vision, it’s ambitious! Link and 🧵👇🏽
November 19, 2024 at 1:08 PM
Marie Joubert and I are delighted to share our report for the JMC building on the Royal Society‘s Mathematical Futures thinking.
A vision for meaningful data education across the four nations of the UK.
It’s a vision, it’s ambitious! Link and 🧵👇🏽
A vision for meaningful data education across the four nations of the UK.
It’s a vision, it’s ambitious! Link and 🧵👇🏽
Thanks @jonsevers.bsky.social for this. Big thanks @jonnyuttley.bsky.social for insight into the important aspect of the speech. Political leadership that says a competitive rather than collaborative model ends now is a great start, but needs careful system design. Teachers and leaders are ready.
"That chase for a narrow shadow of excellence... that only succeeds by pushing problems on to others - that ends now"
@jonnyuttley.bsky.social on why two sentences in a Bridget Phillipson speech last week are the most important of the past 15 years
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
@jonnyuttley.bsky.social on why two sentences in a Bridget Phillipson speech last week are the most important of the past 15 years
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
This is the moment schools have been waiting 15 years for
Two sentences spoken by the education secretary in a speech last week will be critical to building a system in which every child can thrive, says trust leader Jonny Uttley
www.tes.com
November 16, 2024 at 12:05 PM
Thanks @jonsevers.bsky.social for this. Big thanks @jonnyuttley.bsky.social for insight into the important aspect of the speech. Political leadership that says a competitive rather than collaborative model ends now is a great start, but needs careful system design. Teachers and leaders are ready.
Reposted by John Westwell
🗼Blast Off!🗼Maths Week England has launched today and here is the link to the first video from Alex Bellos mathsweekengland.co.uk?page_id=7470. There will be a daily puzzle via our socials or you can view the puzzles and solutions on the website www.mathsweekengland.co.uk #MWE24 #MathsToday
November 11, 2024 at 5:44 PM
🗼Blast Off!🗼Maths Week England has launched today and here is the link to the first video from Alex Bellos mathsweekengland.co.uk?page_id=7470. There will be a daily puzzle via our socials or you can view the puzzles and solutions on the website www.mathsweekengland.co.uk #MWE24 #MathsToday
Very good to join @greatnorthmathshub.bsky.social #LLME community as they thought deeply about the #systemleadership role of local leaders of maths education. This community is making a real difference as they work alongside hundreds of schools from Sunderland to Berwick
November 11, 2024 at 8:38 PM
Very good to join @greatnorthmathshub.bsky.social #LLME community as they thought deeply about the #systemleadership role of local leaders of maths education. This community is making a real difference as they work alongside hundreds of schools from Sunderland to Berwick
Reposted by John Westwell
🌎In a world that is increasingly driven by maths and data, could the secondary maths curriculum be improved?
Part one of NCETM's Charlie Stripp and Carol Knights' blog post is out now, full of thought-provoking ideas. Don't miss it!
#Maths #EduSky #UKMathsChat
Part one of NCETM's Charlie Stripp and Carol Knights' blog post is out now, full of thought-provoking ideas. Don't miss it!
#Maths #EduSky #UKMathsChat
Aligning curriculum and assessment reform with teaching for mastery in secondary maths
Charlie Stripp and Carol Knights suggest ways in which the curriculum and assessment of secondary mathematics might be improved
www.ncetm.org.uk
November 8, 2024 at 2:42 PM
🌎In a world that is increasingly driven by maths and data, could the secondary maths curriculum be improved?
Part one of NCETM's Charlie Stripp and Carol Knights' blog post is out now, full of thought-provoking ideas. Don't miss it!
#Maths #EduSky #UKMathsChat
Part one of NCETM's Charlie Stripp and Carol Knights' blog post is out now, full of thought-provoking ideas. Don't miss it!
#Maths #EduSky #UKMathsChat
Reposted by John Westwell
The opportunity to become a Local Leader of Maths Education - a system leader for the Maths Hubs Programme - can help to retain teachers of maths in the profession.
Read the @ncetm.bsky.social report about the Maths Hubs Programme here: www.ncetm.org.uk/media/zmnnhg...
@johnwestwell.bsky.social
Read the @ncetm.bsky.social report about the Maths Hubs Programme here: www.ncetm.org.uk/media/zmnnhg...
@johnwestwell.bsky.social
November 6, 2024 at 5:23 PM
The opportunity to become a Local Leader of Maths Education - a system leader for the Maths Hubs Programme - can help to retain teachers of maths in the profession.
Read the @ncetm.bsky.social report about the Maths Hubs Programme here: www.ncetm.org.uk/media/zmnnhg...
@johnwestwell.bsky.social
Read the @ncetm.bsky.social report about the Maths Hubs Programme here: www.ncetm.org.uk/media/zmnnhg...
@johnwestwell.bsky.social
Reposted by John Westwell
Could you be an LLME?
🌟'My role is so much more than delivering training...it’s about developing knowledge and skills in maths teaching'💪
Kate started as a participant and now leads Early Years CPD with her local Maths Hub. Read the full story...
#UKMathsChat #EduSky #PrimaryMaths
🌟'My role is so much more than delivering training...it’s about developing knowledge and skills in maths teaching'💪
Kate started as a participant and now leads Early Years CPD with her local Maths Hub. Read the full story...
#UKMathsChat #EduSky #PrimaryMaths
Spotlight on LLMEs – Early Years SKTM
Hear from a Cohort Lead on the Early Years Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics Programme
www.ncetm.org.uk
October 16, 2024 at 8:11 AM
Could you be an LLME?
🌟'My role is so much more than delivering training...it’s about developing knowledge and skills in maths teaching'💪
Kate started as a participant and now leads Early Years CPD with her local Maths Hub. Read the full story...
#UKMathsChat #EduSky #PrimaryMaths
🌟'My role is so much more than delivering training...it’s about developing knowledge and skills in maths teaching'💪
Kate started as a participant and now leads Early Years CPD with her local Maths Hub. Read the full story...
#UKMathsChat #EduSky #PrimaryMaths
Absolutely. Thank you @alisonpeacock.bsky.social. Wouldn't it be great if a new metric in schools was joy. Perhaps, we could all pay more attention to the levels of joy of the students, teachers, and leaders that we find in our schools.
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
Dame Alison Peacock: ‘Create a place where joy can happen’
Our How I Lead series asks education leaders to reflect on their careers, experience and leadership philosophy. This month, we talk to Dame Alison Peacock, CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching
www.tes.com
October 16, 2024 at 6:06 PM
Absolutely. Thank you @alisonpeacock.bsky.social. Wouldn't it be great if a new metric in schools was joy. Perhaps, we could all pay more attention to the levels of joy of the students, teachers, and leaders that we find in our schools.
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
Great to join the Abacus NW Maths Hub #LLME as they reflected on 10 years of Maths Hubs. They're 1 of 40 professional communities of local leaders of maths education in England. Committed to supporting pupils and teachers in schools in their area, they exemplify humble #systemleadership at its best.
October 15, 2024 at 1:27 PM
Great to join the Abacus NW Maths Hub #LLME as they reflected on 10 years of Maths Hubs. They're 1 of 40 professional communities of local leaders of maths education in England. Committed to supporting pupils and teachers in schools in their area, they exemplify humble #systemleadership at its best.
Thanks Richard. We used to talk about the importance of lessons having pace. If mathematics learning is more like a marathon than a sprint, perhaps the Japanese (who have a strong tradition in the marathon) have something to teach us about pace in mathematics lessons as well.
Worth a read…https://www.linkedin.com/posts/geoff-wake-874262a3_slow-maths-this-morning-i-arrived-at-a-village-activity-7250521653359583233-a8Z2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Geoff Wake on LinkedIn: Slow maths
This morning I arrived at a village hall in Devon, to meet up…
Slow maths
This morning I arrived at a village hall in Devon, to meet up with about sixty other teachers, educators, and overseas visitors from Japan, Ireland…
www.linkedin.com
October 14, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Thanks Richard. We used to talk about the importance of lessons having pace. If mathematics learning is more like a marathon than a sprint, perhaps the Japanese (who have a strong tradition in the marathon) have something to teach us about pace in mathematics lessons as well.
Agree @tobygreany.bsky.social Great article. @lizrobinson.bsky.social and Nicola Noble are surely right that we need to re-imagine #systemleadership. Strong parallels to @leoracruddas.bsky.social CST work on civic leadership. So we need to consider how the system enables the leadership they describe
Great piece by Liz and Nicola - really important argument about the importance of place and what can be done schoolsweek.co.uk/three-ways-l...
Labour must remove obstacles to place-based leadership
To deliver a locally responsive education system, Labour must reform potent incentives that work against it
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 12, 2024 at 10:13 AM
Agree @tobygreany.bsky.social Great article. @lizrobinson.bsky.social and Nicola Noble are surely right that we need to re-imagine #systemleadership. Strong parallels to @leoracruddas.bsky.social CST work on civic leadership. So we need to consider how the system enables the leadership they describe
Worth a read especially the reflections on curriculum reform. E have been working with 1000s of primary schools within the current curriculum and so can see some reform that could really help.
Our Primary Round-up for October: celebrating ten years of Maths Hubs, Debbie Morgan and Charlie Stripp on curriculum reform, Early Years subject knowledge CPD, and more #Maths #EduSky
Primary Round-up - October 2024
Our latest Primary Round-up is now available
www.ncetm.org.uk
October 11, 2024 at 2:55 PM
Worth a read especially the reflections on curriculum reform. E have been working with 1000s of primary schools within the current curriculum and so can see some reform that could really help.