On Saturday 30th August 2025, Wallace High School was proud to welcome approximately 120 Mathematics teachers and educators from across Northern Ireland for the first-ever NI Maths Teachers’ Association (NIMTA) conference. With delegates travelling from as far afield as Cookstown and Portstewart, the event brought together professionals from a wide range of schools and educational contexts for a morning of networking, professional learning, and sharing of best practice.
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The atmosphere throughout the morning was one of collaboration and enthusiasm, with teachers eager to reconnect after the summer break and gain new ideas and strategies to take into the classroom. The event also provided an opportunity to highlight the role and future ambitions of the newly formed NI Maths Teachers’ Association, which aims to foster professional dialogue, subject-specific CPD, and a supportive community for Mathematics educators across the region.
Keynote Address: Cognitive Science Meets Classroom Practice
The keynote address was delivered by Amarbeer Singh Gill, Assistant Director at Greenshaw Research School. A well-regarded contributor to InnerDrive and a regular speaker at ResearchED conferences, Singh brought a wealth of expertise in educational psychology and cognitive science. His presentation focused on strategies to reduce cognitive load and improve memory retention when teaching mathematics. By placing teachers in the position of learners, he effectively illustrated the mental effort required to process unfamiliar concepts, and the importance of instructional clarity. His keynote explored research-based approaches such as example-problem pairs, partially completed examples, and techniques to minimise split attention, all tools that can significantly improve student understanding and long-term retention.
Workshops: Practical Strategies and Pedagogical Exploration
Following the keynote, delegates took part in three interactive and thought-provoking workshop sessions across the morning. Each session was designed to offer practical, classroom-ready strategies while also engaging with the latest educational research.
In the first round of workshops, attendees explored a diverse range of topics, including Metacognition in the Maths classroom, Mathematical Modelling, teaching A-Level Statistics, and Immersive Strategies to enhance student engagement. These sessions were led by respected practitioners and researchers including Dr Shauna McGill (Ulster University) and Nathan Burns, both of whom drew on their extensive experience to demonstrate how thoughtful lesson design and reflective teaching can improve outcomes for learners.
The second workshop session invited teachers to consider more philosophical and pedagogical questions. Sessions included discussions on Pattern Breaking, fostering a love of Mathematics in pupils, and how the very nature of Mathematics as a subject can shape the way it is taught. Speakers for this session included keynote speaker Amarbeer Singh Gill, Dr Andrew Brown (Queen’s University Belfast), and Dr William Kitchen (Stranmillis University College), each of whom provided a unique lens through which to consider their topics.
The final session of the morning focused on tools and techniques to enhance classroom practice. Topics included Retrieval Practice to strengthen memory recall, the application of the Grid Method in teaching Algebra, and innovative uses of online platforms to support assessment and feedback. Experienced educators Brian Stevenson, Esther Stevens, and Natalie Butler led these sessions, offering practical guidance drawn from their own teaching experience, as well as tips for implementation in a range of classroom contexts.
Reflections and Future Vision for Maths Education
As the conference came to a close, attendees were asked to reflect on what they would take away from the morning’s sessions. One comment in particular captured the spirit of the day:
“I’ve been reminded why I love Maths and can’t wait to share that passion with my classes this year.” This sense of renewed inspiration and shared purpose was a common theme in the feedback, as teachers left with fresh ideas, strengthened professional connections, and a deeper sense of community within the subject.
The conference marked an important moment for Mathematics education in Northern Ireland. It was subject-specific, practical and tailored to the everyday needs of Mathematics teachers. The ideas explored will undoubtedly be carried into classrooms across the country in the coming term and beyond. The NI Maths Teachers’ Association remains committed to supporting the professional development of Mathematics educators throughout the academic year.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Maths Department and Head of Maths, Mr J English, for organising this outstanding conference. We also gratefully acknowledge the support of the EA in helping to fund this valuable professional development event.
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Last modified: September 19, 2025
