Introducing our full list of speakers

Lynne McClure, OBE

Lynne McClure, is Head of Mathematics Solutions within the Cambridge Partnership for Education. She previously led the Cambridge Maths project, Nrich and Underground Maths and her experience spans primary, secondary and post-16 phases and initial teacher education. Lynne has travelled around the world engaging with teachers, resource designers and policymakers in mathematics education. In the UK, she sits on the board of the Royal Society’s Mathematical Futures programme and is a trustee of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences and National Numeracy. She chairs the governing body of the recently opened Cambridge Maths School and sits on various other advisory boards.

Dr Sue Gifford

Emeritus Fellow, Roehampton University

Dr Sue Gifford works as a primary and early years mathematics consultant with practitioners and various official bodies. Previously a London primary teacher, she has researched early years mathematics and children with mathematics difficulties. She is an Emeritus Fellow of Roehampton University and chairs the Early Childhood Maths Group and the Royal Society ACME Primary Group. She has written and co-authored several books for teachers, including Teaching mathematics 3 to 5: developing learning in the Foundation Stage, and The power of pattern: patterning in the early years. Her current research interests include the development of spatial reasoning and the links between maths and music for children with special needs.

Dr Andy Ash

Dr Andy Ash leads the Cheshire and Wirral Maths Hub, and is the strategic leader of maths across a multi-academy trust in northwest England. He specialises in closing the gap between research and practice and has significant experience helping teachers understand what evidence-informed teaching looks like. With a background in early years maths, Andy now works with primary and secondary school teachers and leads several large-scale school development projects. His research specialism is in classroom-based, ‘close to practice’ sociological study, where he focuses on unpacking the nuances within education research and applying them to the classroom. He has published several papers based on his research and continues to investigate teachers’ use of textbooks in the primary maths classroom. In his spare time, Andy enjoys producing music, painting and rock climbing.

Louise Hoskyns-Staples

Louise Hoskyns-Staples is Maths Subject Specialist at Maths — No Problem! and the author of the Maths — No Problem! Insights Assessment Papers. She is a former researcher for the Department for Education, where she focused on finding methods of assessment that enabled children to demonstrate their understanding. She has worked as an executive headteacher and head of School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT). She led the primary mathematics team at the University of Worcester and has a strong background in continuing professional development. Lou was a lead evaluator for NCETM and an Assistant Maths Hub lead for SHaW Maths Hub.

She has a particular interest in girls’ attainment in mathematics and worked with teachers to research effective teaching methods for girls. In her spare time, Lou enjoys walking her two dogs over the Malvern Hills and is learning Italian.

Helen Hackett

Helen Hackett is the Maths Executive for Excelsior MAT, Mastery Lead for Central Maths Hub and a Cohort One Mastery Specialist Teacher. She has worked with maths hubs since they were first established and with the NCETM. Helen leads on several maths hubs programmes and oversees the work of the other primary mastery specialists. She began her career working with early years, then pupils with SEN, before becoming a primary maths teacher and a subject leader at Parkfield Community School. She is a primary Specialist Leader of Education (SLE), completed the MaST accreditation and is a Professional Development Lead. She combines this work with being a School Development Lead, has an NPQ in Leading Teacher Development and is involved with the delivery of the new Primary Mathematics NPQ. More recently, Helen has focused on research in the areas of early years, SEN and enhancing the opportunities for girls in STEM — passions that are rooted in her own life experiences.

Laurice Prempeh

Laurice Prempeh has served as Assistant Headteacher at Rosetta Primary, an inner-city London school, for 14 years and as Mathematics Subject Leader for the past seven. She has hands-on classroom experience spanning Reception to Year 6. Beyond her school duties, Laurice works as a Primary Mastery Specialist with the London North East Maths Hub, where she helps East London schools implement Teaching for Mastery in their own settings. Laurice is deeply committed to advancing Teacher CPD, and has successfully designed and delivered a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) program over the past three years.

Michael McLoughlin

Michael McLoughlin is a passionate mathematics educator who currently serves as Assistant Headteacher and Maths Coordinator across five mixed-age small schools. With an impressive nine-year tenure using the Maths — No Problem! Programme in diverse educational settings, Michael has honed his expertise in delivering this innovative approach in single-, dual- and mixed-age school environments, ensuring that students receive a top-notch mathematics education that sets them on a path to success.