Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Mathematics Mastery is based on a simple way to teach mathematics originally developed by the Singapore Ministry for Education. The Mathematics Mastery model is distinctive in two ways. First, it aims to give pupils a thorough understanding of mathematical concepts, rather than a set of techniques or routines to get to the right answer. Mathematics Mastery shows that problems can be solved in a variety of ways, and ensures that pupils learn in sequence first by manipulating real objects, then by drawing pictorial representations, and ultimately by using mathematical symbols. Second, Mathematics Mastery uses a 'mastery' approach, in which teachers do not move on until all pupils have acquired a basic understanding of the current topic. Additionally, the course is designed so that more able pupils can explore each topic in depth, and therefore remain engaged.
Who can participate?
We are currently asking schools to volunteer to participate in the Maths Mastery programme. In London there are only 25 funded places available in the programme and so volunteer schools will enter a lottery to determine which school is awarded a place in the programme.
What does the study involve?
For the 25 successful schools, the programme will begin in September 2013 following a summer of training teachers in Maths Mastery. Initial follow-up testing will take place in June 2014, with a further follow-up in June 2018 (childrens GCSE test scores). Only schools with a high number of disadvantaged pupils will be invited to take part (as either intervention or control schools).
We will be evaluating the effectiveness of the programme and to do that we will ask schools that are not successful in the lottery to remain involved as a comparison group. All pupils in year 7 in the schools that initially volunteered to take part will be tested in June 2014 for their understanding of mathematics (both treatment and control groups). Childrens Key Stage 2 test scores shall be used as baseline controls. Note that participation in this programme (even if schools are not successful in the lottery) will meet OFSTED requirements for schools to participate in research. We will also be able to certify schools co-operation and involvement with the Education Endowment Fund.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The participation of all schools (whether they receive one of the lottery places or not) is critical to the success of the programme. All schools, even those not introducing Maths Mastery, will receive feedback at the end of the year on the level of understanding of mathematics of each child tested and the progress they have made. We are therefore hopeful that this information can be used by the school for formative purposes.
The test will take approximately one hour. The test will simply be used to measure the effectiveness of the Maths Mastery approach and not the effectiveness of any individual teacher.
Where is the study run from?
The programme will be run by the charity ARK (http://www.arkschools.org/). A team from the Institute of Education will be evaluating the impact of Maths Mastery on pupils understanding of mathematics.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The programme will begin in September 2013 following a summer of training teachers in Maths Mastery. Initial follow-up testing will take place in June 2014, with a further follow-up in June 2018 (GCSE test scores).
Who is funding the study?
Education Endowment Fund, UK.
Who is the main contact?
Dr. John Jerrim
J.Jerrim@ioe.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr John Jerrim
ORCID ID
Contact details
Institute of Education
20 Bedford Way
London
WC1H 0AL
United Kingdom
J.Jerrim@ioe.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Maths Mastery secondary school evaluation: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
That the Maths Mastery programme will have a positive impact (on average) on pupils maths test scores after (i) one year and (ii) after five years.
Ethics approval
Not provided at time of registration
Study design
Cluster randomised controlled trial, with random allocation at the school level
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Maths skills
Intervention
The Maths Mastery programme aims to give pupils a thorough understanding of mathematical concepts, rather than a set of techniques or routines to get to the right answer. Mathematics Mastery shows that problems can be solved in a variety of ways, and ensures that pupils learn in sequence first by manipulating real objects, then by drawing pictorial representations, and ultimately by using mathematical symbols. Second, Mathematics Mastery uses a 'mastery' approach, in which teachers do not move on until all pupils have acquired a basic understanding of the current topic. Additionally, the course is designed so that more able pupils can explore each topic in depth, and therefore remain engaged.
Teachers in the intervention group will receive training in the maths mastery programme prior to the start of the September 2013 school year.
Those in the control group will not receive any intervention.
The skills teachers learn in Maths Mastery will then be applied throughout the school year.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Current primary outcome measures as of 29/04/2013:
The primary outcome we will consider is childrens overall performance on the maths test children will sit at the end of year 7.
Previous primary outcome measures until 29/04/2013:
Scores on a standardised maths test at the end of year 7
Secondary outcome measures
Current secondary outcome measures as of 29/04/2013:
For secondary outcomes, ARK (the intervention provider) will identify particular questions / sub-scales of interest that they believe the Maths Mastery programme will particularly influence. They will inform the Institute of Education of these before they conduct any analysis of the test score data. The Institute of Education will then compare childrens performance on these questions / sub-scales as secondary outcomes. Corrections for multiple testing will be applied if appropriate. GCSE test scores (follow-up in June 2018) will also be a secondary outcome.
Previous secondary outcome measures until 29/04/2013:
GCSE grades / performance in national math exam at age 16
Overall trial start date
01/09/2013
Overall trial end date
01/09/2018
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Sampling frame are the ARK schools within certain geographic areas (mainly London and the West Midlands). These are mainly schools with a high proportion of children receiving free school meals. All children within a school are included.
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
50 schools (25 intervention and 25 control). All pupils within the chosen school. Approximately 2000 pupils.
Participant exclusion criteria
Those who are absent from school on the day of the test
Recruitment start date
01/09/2013
Recruitment end date
01/09/2018
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Institute of Education
London
WC1H 0AL
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Education Endowment Fund (UK)
Sponsor details
9th Floor
Millbank Tower
21 24 Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
Charity
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
Education Endowment Fund (EEF) (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list