Strategies and reports

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) is piloting a Stage 6 course for students who need further opportunities to develop numeracy skills. It builds these skills using real-life scenarios.

All students have the opportunity to develop numeracy skills. Teachers are equipped to support a range of student learning needs.

This initiative contributes to Student engagement and outcomes in mathematics and Higher-quality teaching of mathematics in NSW public schools through the specific outcomes:

• All Stage 6 students choose to do mathematics.
• Teachers of mathematics have improved access to and participate in quality professional learning opportunities for teaching mathematics.

This initiative will develop existing primary teachers with expertise in teaching mathematics and will support new graduate teachers with a specialisation in mathematics to develop their capability in the teaching of mathematics. This will support students to build strong mathematical foundations in primary school.

NSW experiences sustained, continued improvement in teaching capability and student outcomes in mathematics.

This initiative contributes to Higher-quality teaching of mathematics in NSW public schools through the specific outcomes:

• Teachers of mathematics feel more confident in teaching mathematics.
• NSW public schools have more specialist mathematics teachers.
• Teachers of mathematics have improved access to and participate in quality professional learning opportunities for teaching mathematics.

The teach.MathsNOW scholarship program is designed to attract the mathematics teachers of tomorrow and strengthen the mathematics teaching workforce.

New mathematics-trained secondary teachers support improvement in student learning outcomes in mathematics.

This initiative contributes to Higher-quality teaching of mathematics in NSW public schools through the specific outcome:

• NSW public schools have more specialist mathematics teachers.

This initiative in collaboration with NSW universities will seek to encourage greater student participation in higher-level HSC mathematics subjects. A key outcome through surveys and research is to develop a greater understanding of best practice mathematics outreach and support programs for schools, universities, students, teachers and communities.

An increased number of students completing higher-level mathematics subjects, resulting in students who are better equipped to employ the range of mathematical skills required in their chosen careers.

This initiative contributes to Student engagement and outcomes in mathematics through the specific outcome:

• More Stage 6 students choose higher-level mathematics.

A collection of communications initiatives will promote the relevance and lifelong benefits of mathematics for students. A key aim is to help parents and carers to support their children’s mathematics education. A new digital experience for parents and carers will feature online resources for children from Kindergarten to Year 10. The department is also identifying mathematics ambassadors across a range of professions who will highlight the uses of mathematics for everyone, in everyday life and work.

Students will experience increased engagement with mathematics and a deepened understanding of its relevance in school and beyond as a problem-solving skill for life.

This initiative contributes to More positive attitudes to mathematics through the specific outcomes:

• Students, teachers, parents and carers, and social influencers have more positive attitudes towards mathematics.
• Parents and carers feel more confident to support students in learning mathematics.
• Parents and carers access high-quality resources that support effective student learning of mathematics.

This initiative responds to teachers’ need for a consolidated platform for accessing digital teaching and learning resources related to mathematics that are research-based, high-quality, and aligned to the syllabus and curriculum. Additionally the establishment of an Online Learning Tools catalogue will ensure schools have access to quality, curriculum aligned, evidence-based, third-party resources that are compliant with department’s standards.

Improved access for schools and teachers to high-quality teaching resources, software and tools aligned to the syllabus and curriculum.

This initiative contributes to Higher-quality teaching of mathematics in NSW public schools through the specific outcome:

• Teachers of mathematics have improved access to high-quality resources.

This initiative supports the work of other projects by equipping teachers and leaders with access to a broad range of high-quality research to support quality teaching and the development of students’ mathematical thinking. It will use robust frameworks and evidence-based tools and resources to support the adoption and use of high-impact learning strategies.

This initiative will embed evidence-based practices in the teaching of mathematics. It will empower teachers and leaders to make informed decisions about the teaching and learning of mathematics.

This initiative contributes to Higher-quality teaching of mathematics in NSW public schools through the specific outcomes:

• Teachers of mathematics use effective practice.
• Teachers of mathematics have improved access to high-quality resources.
• Teachers of mathematics have improved access to and participate in quality professional learning opportunities for teaching mathematics.

This initiative will lead mathematics professional learning for NSW public school teachers and leaders. It will expand the use of evidence-based materials, tools and practices in the teaching of mathematics. This project stream is a cornerstone to the success and long-term viability of other NSW Mathematics Strategy initiatives, designing and leading the professional learning needed for successful implementation.

NSW will experience improvements in teaching quality at primary and secondary school levels, supported by leadership.

This initiative contributes to Higher-quality teaching of mathematics in NSW public schools through the specific outcomes:

• Teachers of mathematics use effective practice.
• Teachers of mathematics have improved access to and participate in quality professional learning opportunities for teaching mathematics.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) will implement significant improvements in the initial teacher preparation of primary teachers to teach mathematics. It will investigate the effectiveness of standalone mathematics and STEM specialisation courses offered at universities in NSW. It will also implement the Ministerial announcement that students who want to teach mathematics in NSW primary schools will require at least a Band 4 in HSC mathematics or equivalent course standard from 2021.

Primary teachers will be more prepared to teach mathematics in consultation with NSW universities.

This initiative contributes to Higher-quality teaching of mathematics in NSW public schools through the specific outcomes:

• Teachers of mathematics feel more confident in teaching mathematics.
• Teachers of mathematics have improved access to and participate in quality professional learning opportunities for teaching mathematics.
  

The mathematics growth team, a part of the Best In Class Teaching Unit, amplifies the impact of expert mathematics teaching at targeted schools to:

• strengthen mathematics leaders and build a new generation of mathematics teachers across NSW public schools
  
• support the use of evidence-based, best-practice assessment and teaching practices among mathematics educators.
  

Teaching quality and student learning outcomes in mathematics will improve.

This initiative contributes to Higher-quality teaching of mathematics in NSW public schools through the specific outcomes:

• Teachers of mathematics use effective practice.
• Teachers of mathematics have improved access to and participate in quality professional learning opportunities for teaching mathematics.