Competitive grant opportunity for a New Maths Hub Lead for the Solent Maths Hub

This notice advertises the opportunity for suitable applicants to bid for grant funding to continue and build upon the successful work of the Mary Rose Academy (Solent). All applicants will be subject to meeting Key Stage specific indicators outlined within the ITT documents, and must be state funded and subject to Ofsted ratings and meet specific performance indicators.

Mathematics has a critical role to play in the future of the UK economy. Mathematical and quantitative skills can increase individual productivity, earnings, and employment opportunities, and are increasingly required for a wide range of future careers as well as being important in everyday life.

The Department is investing to support and enhance mathematics teaching across the country through the delivery of The Maths Hubs programme, which began in 2014. The programme aims to enhance the quality of mathematics teaching through a collaborative national network of mathematics education professionals in schools, colleges and Trusts.

There are now 40 such Maths Hubs, each locally led by an inspirational school, college or Trust. This opportunity is to replace one Maths Hub on the programme.

The Maths Hubs work is coordinated and managed by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), who also provide Hubs with specialist advice, training and support to ensure that good practice is shared among the whole network. The Department for Education (DfE) is running a competitive grant process to appoint a new Lead accountable entity (lead school, college or Trust) for The Solent Maths Hub for academic year 2021/22.

The Solent Maths Hub covers the following local authority districts: Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Southampton, East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester. The successful applicant and eligible lead must be located in one of the local authority districts listed above.

The criteria for the schools/colleges, or Trusts, seeking to become the new lead accountable entity for a Maths Hub, are that the named school/college should: - demonstrate strong commitment to teaching for mastery, including, for example, whole class teaching and the use of high-quality textbooks (as outlined in the NCETM principles documents) - demonstrate effective leadership capacity, credibility and commitment - demonstrate partnership and networking credibility and capacity, particularly in the target area - be based in the area where the future hub will work. Additional information: All funding for the Maths Hub programme is subject to internal approval outcomes.

This notice is to provide grant funding for appointment for academic year 2021-22. The Department reserves the right to extend this grant agreement on an annual basis until the end of academic year 2025, subject to good performance and internal approvals.

Grant payments are made up of a fixed leadership and management cost, and a variable amount depending on the number of projects run by the hub and school participation in those projects. In academic year 2020/21 Maths Hubs received funding ranging from £450,000 to £800,000.

Funding amounts will vary each year and will be discussed with the hub in advance of the academic year based on action plans that are agreed with NCETM and the Department. Further information can be found on our provider's website through the following link: https://www.ncetm.org.uk/maths-hubs/.

If you are interested in applying, we also suggest you attend an online briefing held by NCETM on Tuesday 23rd February 2021, 14:00-15:30. Applications will be made using the Department's E-Tendering procurement system using the link below: https://education.app.jaggaer.com.

Please ensure that you have registered on here as a supplier. For any support with registering and finding this opportunity, please use the 'Contact Us' details on the ETendering homepage to contact the E-Tendering team.

Terms and Conditions for DfE grants will apply and it is recommended that all potential bidders review these before making an application. The Department reserves the right to withhold awarding the grant if no applicant meets an expected standard or in the event of a change of Government or in policy direction.