The National Conference is the highlight of the FTS calendar, providing an insightful CPD programme for early career teachers in maths and physics.

This year’s conference featured FTS’ largest line-up of speakers yet, whose session topics were largely guided by what Scholars wanted to develop further. This included sessions on:

• creating a positive behaviour culture,
• use of AI,
• developing independence in KS4 and A-level,
• technology in the classroom,
• sparking wonder in physics.

We are incredibly proud that alumni from the FTS programme were included in this speaker line-up. As alumni, these talented teachers connect with Scholars in a unique way and can share their experience as teachers beyond the early career framework.

Alumni roundtable discussion

During the conference, we sat down with three of our alumni for a roundtable discussion. This peer-to-peer setting facilitated a lively discussion with topics including classroom technique and pedagogy, navigating exam season, and student success stories. Participating in this roundtable were:

• Tom, a maths and computer science teacher at a sixth form academy
• Chloe, a maths teacher at a large comprehensive
• Ashley, a maths teacher at a school based in Scunthorpe.

Speaking about how the FTS National Conferences have supported their teaching career, Ashley noted that much of the CPD provided has been both interesting and immediately actionable in the classroom. “A lot of the things that they go through, I think ‘that makes a lot of sense’ and I can use [the CPD] straight out the gate – a lot of it is really applicable.”

Tom added to this by highlighting how inspirational the conferences are. “[The speakers] give you some really good techniques – but it’s the inspiration as well. Because I’m now in a building full of people who all love teaching and they’re really enthusiastic about maths. And this is why I’m here; this is why I want to continue this job.”

On discussing student successes, Chloe spoke about helping several female students find their confidence with maths – and achieve improved outcomes as a result. “These girls have been working so hard all year, and in their recent [exam] they scored the highest of the group,” Chloe mentioned.

“In lessons, they’re now the ones that answer questions and use the correct language. Their confidence is amazing, and I feel like they’re starting to think: ‘I can do maths and I enjoy maths’ “.

We have made several extended clips from our alumni roundtable available to our Scholars. These can also be accessed below.

How the National Conferences impacted their teaching journey (4 mins)

Supporting students during exam season and results day (5 mins)

Classroom techniques that have had a positive impact (6 mins)

Recent student successes (8 mins)

The FTS team would like to extend a massive thank you to each of our National Conference session speakers, and to our Scholars for joining us during a weekend. Our next National Conference will be held in May 2025.