Maths Support Programme Wales
About us
The Mathematics Support Programme Wales (MSPW) is a Welsh Government funded initiative. The programme is based at the Mathematics Department, Swansea University and works in collaboration with the universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Wrexham Glyndŵr and the University of South Wales. The Programme started in 2010 within South West Wales and has gradually expanded to operate throughout all counties/regions of Wales.
The aims of the MSPW are to:
- raise awareness among students and their parents of the value of studying Mathematics at higher levels
- increase the number of students in Wales studying AS/A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics
- provide Further Mathematics GCE AS/A2 level tuition to students who cannot access Further Mathematics through their local 11-18 schools or colleges.
- increase the number of schools and colleges in Wales offering Further Mathematics
- increase the number of students from Wales applying to study higher education courses in Mathematics and Mathematically-rich subjects such as Engineering, Physics, IT, Finance and Economics
- improve the transition of students from further to higher education courses in Mathematics or courses which have a significant element of Mathematics thus benefiting the wider economy
Towards these aims we:
- Promote Further Mathematics
- Offer Tuition and other student support
- Produce free teaching resources for teachers
- Provide enrichment materials and events
- Provide Professional Learning
- Carry out Research and promote Innovative practice
See What MSPW does for further details of these activities
About our Programme Leader and Area Coordinators
| Sofya Lyakhova | MSPW Programme Leader Associate professor of Mathematics in Swansea University and has been leading the programme from 2010. Holds a PhD in Mathematics from Bristol University and a PGCE from Swansea Metropolitan University. Worked in both industry and education prior to joining Swansea University in 2010. |
| Theresa Hendy | MSPW Professional Learning Lead MSPW West Wales Area Coordinator A teaching career spanning more than 30 years. She initially taught mathematics in a secondary school and continued in Further Education including being a Head of Department and Curriculum Leader for maths and science, as well as teaching basic skills and access to HE courses for adults. Joined the MSPW team in 2010 as a tutor initially, before recently being appointed an Area Coordinator. Holds an MA in Education. She is passionate about encouraging peer-to-peer dialogue in a traditional classroom and worked as a teacher-researcher for the National Network for Excellence in Mathematics in Wales in 2016. |
| Dominic Oakes | MSPW Resources Lead and Action Research Lead MSPW North Wales Area Coordinator Qualified as Mathematics teacher in 1992. Taught in a range of schools – inner city, suburban, rural. Head of Mathematics. Achievement Coordinator KS3. SLT, Assessment & Achievement. Consultancy: CfEM, Tribal, YDP Poland, TES, Primary MAT. Advisor to Mathematics and Numeracy AoLE. Research interests: Connections in Mathematics curriculum design, Flipped Classroom Approach |
| Francis Hunt | MSPW Enrichment Lead MSPW Central South Area Coordinator Worked as a software engineer before teaching maths and doing research at Cambridge University Engineering Department between 1999 and 2006, interviewing engineering students for Newnham and Wolfson colleges. Worked as a maths lecturer at the University of South Wales between 2006 and 2019, before joining the MSPW in 2020. Has given Royal Institution Maths Masterclasses at KS3 and Primary level, tutored at GCSE and A levels, and mentors for the UKMT. Speaks Welsh, but always keen to improve! |
Stephen Earles | MSPW Tuition Lead MSPW Mid and West Wales Area Coordinator (part-time) Qualified as a Mathematics teacher in 1985. Taught in schools across West Wales, Head of Mathematics. Responsible for the introduction of Further Mathematics in the school and links with Oxford University to develop a programme for high achievers. |
Contact a particular office
| Swansea Office Swansea University | Maths Support Programme Wales Room 103 Computational Foundry Swansea University Bay Campus Swansea, SA1 8EN 01792 606845 rhgmc-mspw@swansea.ac.uk |
| Claire Musselwhite | MSPW Project Officer 01792 606845 c.e.musselwhite@swansea.ac.uk |
| Sofya Lyakhova | Area Coordinator Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea, MSPW Programme Leader 01792 602793 s.lyakhova@swansea.ac.uk |
| Cardiff Office Cardiff University | Maths Support Programme Wales Room 1.09 Abacws Cardiff University Senghennydd Road Cardiff CF24 4AG 02922 514591 |
| Bethanie David | Regional Administrative Support 01792 606845 / 02922 514591 b.h.denyer@swansea.ac.uk |
| Area Coordinator South East f.h.hunt@swansea.ac.uk | |
| Francis Hunt | Area Coordinator Central South f.h.hunt@swansea.ac.uk |
| Bangor Office Bangor University | Maths Support Programme Wales Room 114 School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering Bangor University Dean Street Bangor LL57 1UT 01248 382279 |
| Dominic Oakes | Area Coordinator d.r.g.oakes@Swansea.ac.uk |
| Elen Wyn Clode | Regional Administrative Support e.w.clode@bangor.ac.uk |
| Aberystwyth Office Aberystwyth University | Maths Support Programme Wales Room 4.03 Physical Sciences Building Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth Ceredigion SY23 3BZ 01970 622 763 or 01970 622458 |
| Stephen Earles | Area Coordinator Ceredigion and Powys s.n.f.earles@swansea.ac.uk |
| Theresa Hendy | Area Coordinator Ceredigion and Powys theresa.hendy@swansea.ac.uk |
| Hayley Owen | Regional Administrative Support and all Tuition queries hao9@aber.ac.uk |