One of the aims of the TMSJ Network is to foster, support and disseminate collaborative research projects. Below are details of two projects that grew out of discussions between members of the network.
- Primary Maths & Social Justice research project
- Promoting Socially Just Maths Teaching research project
Primary Maths & Social Justice
The Primary Maths and Social Justice (PMSJ) research project involved Caroline Hilton (UCL Institute of Education), Joel Kelly (The Blue School, CofE), Pete Wright (University of Dundee) and six teacher researchers from two primary schools in Greater London. The main aims were to explore how primary school teachers can maintain and build upon their initial interest in addressing social justice issues through their teaching of mathematics and to consider how to help students develop their critical understanding of mathematics and collective mathematical agency.
Findings from the PMSJ research project
Mathematics teachers and learners as collective agents of change (Wright, Hilton & Kelly, 2024)
Open access journal article published in London Review of Education
Three papers included in the proceedings from CERME 13 (European maths education research conference) held in July 2023 in Budapest, Hungary:
- The development of socio-mathematical agency (Wright, Hilton & Kelly, 2023)
- Creating space for socio-mathematical agency in the primary classroom (Kelly, Hilton & Wright, 2023)
- How teaching mathematics for social justice can support inclusive practices in the elementary mathematics classroom (Hilton, Kelly & Wright, 2023)
PMSJ research project report (January 2023)
A comprehensive report detailing the methodology and findings.
Primary school teachers, mathematics and social justice
PowerPoint presentation used at the SERA Conference (November 2024)
Primary school teachers tackling social justice issues through teaching mathematics
PowerPoint presentation used at the BSRLM Conference (March 2024)
Primary Maths & Social Justice (PMSJ) research project
PowerPoint presentation used at the BERA PRiME Conference (February 2024)
Primary school students using mathematics to argue collectively for social change
PowerPoint presentation used at the SERA Conference (November 2023)
Considering the efficacy of a quantitative survey in measuring socio-mathematical agency
PowerPoint presentation used at the BSRLM Conference (June 2023)
Primary school teachers tackling social justice issues whilst teaching mathematics
PowerPoint presentation used at the BSRLM Conference (March 2023)
Conceptualising and operationalising socio-mathematical agency
CERME 2022 Conference paper explaining the theory underlying the project
Promoting Socially Just Maths Teaching
The Promoting Socially Just Mathematics Teaching (PSJMT) research project involved Pete Wright (University of Dundee) and fourteen teacher educators from universities across England and Scotland. The project set out to explore how mathematics teacher educators can promote socially just pedagogies and practices amongst the student teachers and experienced practitioners they work with. This included developing a series of professional development workshops freely available on the Professional Development page of this website.
Findings from the PSJMT research project
PSJMT research project report (September 2025)
Promoting socially just mathematics teaching practices: Exploring and enhancing the role of teacher educators. BERA publication.
Exploring and enhancing the role of teacher educators in promoting socially-just teaching practices (workshop)
PowerPoint presentation used at the BERA Conference (September 2025)
The Teaching Maths for Social Justice Network 