Some reflections on the history, life and growth of the maths hub

By Cordelia Myers

December 2025

It has been my privilege to lead Cambridge Maths Hub for the last 10.6 years. This blog

contains some reflections of those interesting and challenging 10 years.

Key people

Somewhat alarmingly (in retrospect) one of my first tasks in April 2015 was pivotal for the future life of the maths hub. I was asked by the NCETM to appoint four high quality primary teachers willing and able to be enrolled on the initial mastery specialist programme. As a secondary teacher new to the role, I sought the advice of the local authority and am very grateful for their wisdom. This collaboration, with the LA and, over time, many others, has been a key feature of the ongoing life of the maths hub. Two of this first cohort of specialists are now Maths Hub Lead and Deputy Maths Hub Lead. Their expertise, vision and commitment have been deeply formative for our maths hub.

One thing leads to another

An early highlight was the Shanghai exchange. Primary and secondary colleagues watched lessons in Chinese classrooms and had the opportunity to discuss the pedagogy they saw. They returned inspired. Back home, they developed Teaching for Mastery within their own schools and the benefits to learning and closing gaps was soon evident. One of the secondary teachers who participated is now our Deputy Maths Hub Lead and her leadership and inspiration has guided and deeply influenced our Secondary programme.

The transformation she brought to her own classroom and then her department was soon noticed by her Trust’s leadership, and she was appointed as the Trust’s maths lead. The convergence of the two roles, her maths hub role and Trust maths lead, has proved mutually beneficial.

LLME

Professional development provides space and time to think creatively about how we can improve our practice and, in consequence, improve student learning. It is an essential element of enabling professionals to thrive. According to a recent report about effective PD from TDT “New ideas need to be put in to practice, observed, discussed and re-evaluated. Teachers need to work in groups to share ideas, breakthroughs and problems.”

The maths hub has a community of Local Leaders of Maths Education (LLME) who lead our professional development (Work Groups). They lead groups of teachers creating space to think about their practice and develop new ideas. These 47 LLME represent 43 schools across the region.

Seeing our LLME thrive has been a delight and privilege. I recently received an email from one who has just been given a local teaching award. She writes of the significance of the pedagogical training and leadership development received through her work with the maths hub. This has enabled her to support teachers in other local schools.

Our LLME speak of the sense of worth their maths hub role brings. The community brings opportunities beyond the classroom for those who want to specialise in pedagogy. In England we currently don't have many options for career development that focus back on the classroom and not on management. And yet teaching and learning is at the heart of a school. We have created an LLME community of teachers and school leaders progressing in their careers and at the same time schools are receiving high quality professional development. We should treasure and use this provision. The model is established in other countries (eg Singapore) and, I feel, worth serious consideration (beyond just maths) in our own.

Added to this, our LLME community supports retention. Nationally, we are currently in a situation in which “Almost one in three teachers leave within their first five years of teaching, rising to 43% within ten” (EEF summary on R&R). Our LLME constantly tell us that this route keeps them in teaching and offers challenge and joy beyond the classroom. They feel valued because their expertise is being used to enrich other teachers and other schools.

Learning together 

I’m aware of how much I too have grown professionally. The maths hub leadership team has evolved and I’ve loved the way we have grown through rich discussions, facing challenges together and thinking deeply about maths. It has been a joy to work with the past and present teams. The different ways of thinking and push-and-pull discussions have enriched us. Together we have formed a thriving maths hub; each person has added their own unique skills and experiences and helped to mould us. I am grateful for efficient and kind Project Managers and admin teams who have made such a difference to our effectiveness as well as being a joy to work with.

I have had the huge privilege of meeting teachers and Headteachers across the region. I have visited many of our 500+ schools and watched many amazing lessons. The conversations have helped develop my understanding of the challenges faced by Heads and these have influenced the management and practice of the Hub. It has been an immense joy to hear of the impact of our programmes in schools and I have deep respect for the teachers and leadership in schools who have worked so hard to ensure higher quality teaching of maths. Hearing from them of the impact our work has had is exciting and humbling. There’s still plenty to do but we are in a very different place to ten years ago.

And now into retirement 

As I close this chapter of my life, I do so with absolute confidence in the future of our maths hub. It is led by two competent and committed Maths Hub Leads. I know they will support and be supported by the LLME and our administrative team, along with the Strategic Board, so the hub can continue to offer strong maths support to our schools.

And as I reflect: would I do anything differently? Yes, of course, lots of things. Am I glad I went into teaching? Without a doubt. In my small way, I know I have made a difference to many children and now, some adults. I have found classroom teaching to be a wonderful career; seeing young people gain confidence and flourish must be one of the greatest joys a career can bring. To see this year after year is the privilege of a teacher and I am so grateful for it. And now, added to this, we have the joy of seeing teachers flourish through our maths hub leadership community.

I am beyond grateful for my wonderful, thoughtful and talented colleagues and for the thousands of young people who have sat in my classroom and learnt (or not!) to master Pythagoras’ theorem.