Accelerating progress in mathematics in Years 7 & 8
Tracks
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| Wednesday, April 8, 2026 |
| 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM |
| Kāpua (First Floor) |
Overview
(Years 7-8)
Details
The Year 7–8 Maths Acceleration Programme 7 & 8 provides targeted support for students not yet ready to access Phase 3 of the Mathematics and Statistics learning area of the New Zealand Curriculum.
This workshop will introduce the 12-week acceleration programme developed following the successful 2025 national tutoring trial. Participants will explore the key learning areas identified as critical for accelerating progress: number structure and operations, multiplication and division fluency, rational numbers (fractions, decimals and percentages), and strategies for reasoning and solving word problems.
We will share insights from the nationwide trial involving nearly 3,000 students, where targeted small-group tutoring led to significant learning gains—up to two years’ progress in just 12 weeks.
Join this session to learn about the programme design, evidence of impact, and practical approaches for accelerating maths and pāngarau learning for Year 7–8 students.
Speaker
Mrs Heather Lewis
Project Lead
Evaluation Associates
Accelerating progress in mathematics in Years 7 & 8
Biography
Heather Lewis is an experienced mathematics education leader with extensive experience leading Ministry initiatives, including the Accelerated Maths Tutoring Trial (Years 7–8), the Maths Accelerated Programme (Years 0-6) and leads the Maths Years 7–8 Intervention. She has also authored Accelerating Progress in Mathematics and Statistics – Teacher Guidance on Tāhūrangi, which supports targeted teaching and effective assessment. Formerly the National Leader of Programmes for Students (ALiM and MST), Heather has deep expertise in acceleration, explicit teaching, and data-informed practice. She is currently contracted by the Ministry of Education as National Lead for Mathematics, working in partnership to shape professional learning for the updated mathematics and statistics curriculum.
