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Teacher Subject Specialism Training

TSST – Teacher Subject Specialism Training in Mathematics based at The Commonweal School working in partnership with CIMT at Plymouth University

TSST is designed to train teachers with QTS of any subject specialism, to teach mathematics. Currently there is a national shortage of teachers of mathematics and in order to address this issue the government is funding the delivery of TSST courses for state school teachers across the country.  More information can be obtained from the NCTL website

There are two courses available at The Commonweal School, Secondary and Core Maths

Secondary for teachers who would like to teach mathematics at KS3 and KS4 up to an including GCSE. The course is also open to returners to teaching who want to upgrade and revise their mathematical skills and gain up to date teaching experience.

Core Maths for teachers who would like to develop the knowledge and skills to teach this post 16 course or already have sound subject knowledge up to GCSE and want to take this knowledge to a higher level. This course is also open to returners. Core Maths is a course for students who have passed GCSE with grade C or the new grade 4, based on problem solving and using mathematics in context.

The aims of the courses are to:

  • Enhance your mathematical knowledge to give you the confidence to teach mathematics
  • Inspire your enthusiasm for mathematics
  • Provide you with motivating activities and tasks for teaching mathematics
  • Enhance your pedagogical skills in teaching mathematics

Both courses are a combination of face-to-face meetings which take place in twilight sessions on Wednesdays from 4pm – 7pm approximately every 3 weeks. Refreshments, again free of charge, are served in the sixth form café from 3.30pm and are available throughout the session. There are also some half day sessions, those in heavy print on the list of dates, during which participants have the opportunity to observe lessons and also to teach a lesson or parts of a lesson and receive feedback. Participants are assessed via online exercises accredited by Plymouth University to be completed in their own time. Participants receive a certificate of Mastery in Mathematics to show the level of their subject knowledge 60% is a pass, 75% is a merit and 90% is a distinction.

Following successful completion of one of the courses, participants can also undertake modules to receive Masters credits from the University of Plymouth. There are two 30 credit Masters degree modules available Teaching Mathematics through Problem Solving and Teaching Mathematics for Understanding.

For further information please contact

Naomi Sani            naomi.sani@plymouth.ac.uk