Evaluating Maths Hubs’ impact with the EEF

In this episode, the NCETM’s Dr Jen Shearman, Paul Rowlandson and Sue Evans discuss the upcoming EEF-funded trials of two important Maths Hubs programmes in 2025/26. The conversation explores the role of external evaluation, the challenges of conducting randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and what the findings could mean for maths education.

A transcript (PDF) of this episode is available to download.

Show notes Taking part in the discussion:

• Jen Shearman, Director for Evaluation and Impact, NCETM
• Sue Evans, Assistant Director for Primary, NCETM
• Paul Rowlandson, Assistant Director for School and Professional Development, NCETM
• Julia Thomson, Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, NCETM.

Episode chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and welcome
• 01:12 Meet the team and overview of the EEF trials
• 01:57 Understanding the EEF and its role
• 03:31 The NCETM's involvement with the EEF
• 06:11 Introduction to the SKTM Secondary Non-specialist Teachers Programme
• 09:28 Introduction to the Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 Programme
• 12:02 Challenges in conducting the trials
• 22:01 Hopes and expectations from the trials
• 31:04 Conclusion and how to get involved.

Useful links

• Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics Secondary Non-specialist Teachers Programme
• Mastering Number at Reception and KS1
• Mastering Number at KS2
• Blog post on the EEF trials: Going for gold standard
• Evaluating our programmes in 2025/26
• EEF trial of the Secondary Non-specialist Teachers SKTM Programme
• EEF trial of the Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 Programme
• TIMMS 2023 Report
• Coordinating mathematical success: the mathematics subject report (2023)
• Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive.