About Solent Maths Hub

The Solent Maths Hub is one of a network of 37 Maths Hubs in England, working together within the Maths Hubs Programme, which began in 2014.  The programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and coordinated by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). Maths Hubs are a structure, within a school-led system, for promoting and connecting different schools and organisations that aim to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics through collaborative CPD.   Find out more about the programme at mathshubs.org.uk

The lead school for the Solent Maths Hub is the Mary Rose Academy.  However, the team are based at Trafalgar School, London Road, Portsmouth PO2 9RJ.  As a Maths Hub. we cover the following geographical region:

  • Hampshire
  • Southampton
  • Isle of Wight
  • Portsmouth

If you would like to find out if your school is in our region, use the following link: http://www.mathshubs.org.uk/maths-hubs-search-tool/

THE TEAM: 

Jess Paul: Maths Hub Lead

Jess Paul is lead for the Solent Maths Hub. I started at University of Sussex training in Mathematics and then went on to complete a PGCE specialising in Mathematics at Exeter University. After graduating, I worked in Aldershot, Hedge End and finally ended up in Portsmouth working at Northern Parade Federated schools. I have recently completed my MA in Education, researching children’s conceptual understanding within mathematics and the link between mathematical thinking and perceived ability. I have worked with the Solent Maths Hub since 2015, running both Primary and Secondary Work Groups. I started as the Teaching for Mastery Lead, moving on to become Maths Hub for Early Years and Primary and I am now the overall Maths Hub Lead.

Pippa Andrews – Assistant Maths Hub Lead (Primary)

I have worked in primary teaching for 16 years. I started at a Junior School in Portsmouth and worked my way up to maths lead and Deputy Headteacher. I then worked as a DHT and maths lead in two more primary schools – one in Portsmouth and one in Hampshire. I now work across the Portsmouth LA offering support and training in a number of curriculum areas. I started working for the maths hub this year, running Primary programmes and support.

Carla Laney – Assistant Maths Hub Lead (Secondary)

Despite not having a background in mathematics, I discovered a passion for teaching maths after completing my PGCE and Masters in Education at the University of Southampton. I began my career working in the New Forest before taking on a leadership role across two schools in Southampton for the cause of school improvement. I now work as Director of Teaching and Learning at St Mark’s Church of England Primary School in Southampton and continue to support schools across the region. I trained as a Mastery Specialist in 2016 and have been working with the Solent Maths Hub ever since.

Lisa Duell – Secondary Mastery Specialist 

I studied Mathematics at Le Saint Union in Southampton Qualifying with a degree in Mathematics with QTS status in 1999. I began my career teaching Primary at Shirley Junior School and then St Luke’s CofE in Sway. I held several different roles within these schools, Maths coordinator, LSA manager and Leader of Key stage 2. During my years as a primary teacher I was a Lead Maths Teacher for Southampton. I also worked closely with Southampton University, teaching part of the PGCE primary maths course and studying for my Masters which I achieved in 2008. I then moved to teaching Secondary maths at Romsey school where I still teach. I have been working with the Solent maths Hub since 2016 and have run the Mathematical Thinking work group and I am now Secondary Mastery Lead.

Sarah Anderson – Primary Mastery Specialist Lead 

I am the Primary Teaching for Mastery Lead for the Solent Maths Hub. I started my career working in a five form entry junior school in Southampton where I was the Maths Lead for four years before becoming the deputy headteacher of a one form entry primary in 2014. In the following academic year, I became a Primary Maths Specialist for the Solent Maths Hub and worked in this role for three years. I became the Primary Teaching for Mastery Lead in 2018 and work alongside the specialists to support schools in their mastery journeys.

Tom Holdstock – Level 3 Lead


In 2004 I started my university life in at the University of Reading where I obtained my undergraduate masters in mathematics and physics (first class). After a bit of mathematics research, I then went on to complete my postgraduate teacher training, again at the University of Reading. I then did 2 years of mathematics teaching in Wokingham before moving down to the south coast where I have continued teaching mathematics in a number of schools. In 2017, I moved to UTC Portsmouth as Head of Department where I am and in January 2020 I have joined the Solent Maths Hub as the Level 3 Lead.

 

Steve Labedz – Executive Head Lead of Salterns Trust 

Amanda Ponsford – Solent Maths Hub Co-ordinator

Strategic Board Members:  

Mike Stoneman, Deputy Director of Children Services 

Professor Paul Glaister, Chair of the Joint Mathematics Council, Reading University 

Peter Ransom, former president of The Mathematical Society & Chair of the Council 

Rod Edwards, Former CEO of Young Engineers

Roz Hyde, Secondary Mathematics PGCE, University of Southampton

David Hardcastle, Area Director, HIA 

Amanda Parry, Director LEaRN Teaching School Alliance (Thornden School)

Phil Thomas, Halterworth Primary School

Heidi Whitney, NCETM Regional Lead 

Steve Labedz, Senior Hub Lead 

Jess Paul, Maths Hub Lead

Our focus areas in this sixth year of Maths Hubs are the Network Collaboration Projects and the Innovation Work Groups for 2019/20.

Network Collaboration Projects:

  • Local Leaders of Maths Education :
    Primary Mastery Specialists Programme
    China-England Exchange 2019-20
    Secondary Mastery Specialists Programme
    NCETM Accredited PD Lead Programme 
    Maths SLE School Improvement Support Network
    Local Leaders of Maths Education Support Network 
  • Early Years :                                                 
    EYFS Transition Work Groups                                         
  • Primary :                                                       
    Teaching for Mastery Mixed Age Work Group
  • Teaching for Mastery Lesson Design
  • Secondary :                                                
    Mathematical thinking for GCSE effectiveness Work Groups 
    Y5-Y8 Continuity Development Work Groups 
    Challenging Topics at GCSE Development Work Groups 
  • Enhancing Specialist Knowledge for Teachers of Mathematics 
    Primary teacher SKE development Work Group
    Teaching assistant SKE development Work Group
  • EYFS SKE development Work Group
  • Post 16 
    Developing A-Level Pedagogy
    Core Maths

Innovation Work Groups:

  • Effective teaching of times tables

Among our key Solent Maths Hub strategic partners are the following:

  • University of Portsmouth
  • University of Chichester
  • University of Southampton
  • University of Winchester
  • Advanced Maths Support Programme
  • MEI (Mathematics in Industry and Education)
  • Portsmouth Education Partnership
  • HISP Research School

Please feel free to contact us on 023 9265 0631 at any time to see how we can help you.

MathsHUBS Solent