Support your teaching and learner outcomes with Can-Do Maths 

Are you looking for ways to support your GCSE maths re-sit students in General Further Education colleges? Join the pioneering Can-Do Maths project – funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), designed and delivered by ETF, and evaluated by University College London (UCL). The project is designed to give you valuable tools, strategies, and support to help you effectively motivate and engage your learners.   

Sign up today to be part of a national movement that aims to improve resilience and success in GCSE maths re-sits. 

Teacher giving maths lesson to small group of students

What is Can-Do Maths? 

Can-Do Maths is a classroom-level programme which aims to improve the engagement and resilience of 16-19-year-old learners in GCSE maths re-sit classes in General Further Education colleges.   


Why should I take part? 

You will learn strategies that will transform your approach to teaching maths and make a difference in students’ lives.  

You will also receive: 


What does the programme involve, and how much time do I need to commit? 

You will receive a professional development programme alongside ongoing specialist support from a dedicated expert practitioner to deliver a series of intervention activities in your GCSE re-sit classroom.  

The programme outline is detailed below. 

Professional development

You will attend two half-day professional development training sessions in June/July 2025, and another half-day session in early September 2025. The aim of these sessions is to help you become familiar with the intervention activities and the theory which informed their design, as well as to plan how you will deliver the intervention in your setting.

Intervention period one

Intervention period one will begin in October 2025. In this period, you will deliver four intervention activities over seven weeks with at least one of your GCSE maths classes. The intervention activities are designed to be delivered in your maths lessons and should take approximately 20 minutes per activity. During this period, you will participate in five two-hour online collaborative planning group sessions as well as receiving an in-person visit and ad hoc support from an expert practitioner.

Support sessions

Between December 2025 and January 2026, you will join two one-hour online group sessions and an individual support session to reflect on how the activities worked with your classes and to support you to plan for intervention period two.

Intervention period two

Intervention period two will begin in January 2026. During this period, you will deliver the tailored intervention activities over a further seven weeks. You will receive a further three collaborative planning group sessions, four individual support sessions and continuing ad hoc support from an expert practitioner.

Evaluation

You and your learners will complete a survey at the beginning and end of the intervention. You may be invited to take part in focus group discussions and will complete evaluation activities. College leaders will complete a survey at the end of the programme, and six colleges will be selected as case-studies which will involve lesson observations and senior leader interviews. These activities will be conducted by UCL, an independent evaluator.


Who can apply? 

This programme is open to teachers and General Further Education colleges in England who: 

  • teach GCSE maths re-sit classes to learners aged 16-19
  • did not participate in the Motivation and Engagement large scale action research (CfEM)
  • are not participating in any other maths evaluation or trial. 

What do I have to do to get involved? 

Fill in our simple expression of interest form by 27 January 2025, and then we’ll get in touch to discuss the programme with you. 


Information webinar

Join one of our upcoming information webinars to find out more about the Can-Do Maths programme. 


What should I tell my employer about Can-Do Maths? 

As well as positioning their staff at the front of maths re-sit research, colleges will receive a remission payment of £2,057 per participating teacher to cover their time in delivering this intervention. This is equivalent to one hour per week for 36 weeks. 


Who can I speak to for more information? 

To speak to someone about this opportunity, please email candomaths@etfoundation.co.uk