Association for Mathematics Education (ACE)

We are pleased to announce that there has been an exciting development for the community of those involved, or interested in, mathematics education for students of any age or level. Plans are reaching a crucial stage in the creation of a single mathematical subject association, the Association for Mathematics Education (AME).  Currently there are five associations and many teachers, or others, are not sure which one to join.  We hope that this will not be a problem in the future as there will be a new single charity to represent the whole sector.

Whether you teach mathematics full-time or part-time, specialising or teaching it alongside other subjects or whether you just have an interest in mathematics education, this new association will be for you.  Your institution will also be able to join.

Mathematics is taught in a wide variety of settings: early years, primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, secure estates, adult and community education, higher education and through private training providers.  How brilliant it would be if all these sectors were represented by one organisation which could speak independently, but with a richness of input, on behalf of the whole community.

Discussions have been taking place for some time between the Association of Mathematics Education Teachers (AMET), the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM), the Mathematical Association (MA), the National Association of Mathematical Advisors (NAMA) and the National Association for Numeracy and Mathematics in Colleges (NANAMIC). These associations have different emphases which will continue to be valued by the new charity.  As part of the initial structure, Special Interest Groups will maintain these emphases.

The next stage is for each organisation to commit to moving forwards and then produce a ‘due diligence’ report to ensure that it is in the best interests of their members to proceed with transferring memberships, funds and other resources to the new charity. A proposal will then go to the relevant trustees for their approval before it is presented to the members of each organisation.

This is a thrilling opportunity for the mathematics education community to work together to impact mathematics teaching and policy for many years to come. Diversity within unity is strength.