Research Projects

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:

PMSJ research project report (January 2023)
A comprehensive report detailing the methodology and findings.

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 other 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

The critical role of teacher educators in promoting socially just mathematics teaching (Wright et al., 2026)
Open access journal article published in British Educational Research Journal

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)