Louise Freir's Background
Personal Profile
Having idealised about being a teacher from the age of 5, Louise was never without a 'group' to lead - from the Red Cross Club at the age of 10, a young leader for guides at 16 to leading a village playscheme for almost 100 children at the age of 18. A' Levels were taken; art, music and maths (at Invicta Grammar School for Girls) then the next step was Teacher Training College (at West Sussex Institute of Higher Education). It was here that she successfully achieved a Bachelor of Education with Music degree.
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Music, art and maths continue to be her passion and now her two businesses are focussed on art (Strawberry Cottage Studio) and maths (Freir Maths). She continues to learn herself and has accreditations with the NCETM for the roles of Teaching for Mastery Specialist, Professional Development Lead, and School Development Lead. She also works freelance with other companies across England to support the development of mathematics in primary schools.
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Louise is a caring individual with a good listening ear and a dedication to making learning enjoyable for all. Please see below for Louise's employments and experiences linked to maths education.
Education & Experiences
See areas highlighted in bold for current work.
1986 - 1990
West Sussex Institute of Higher Education
Achieved B.Ed. Honors Degree with Music
1990 - 2021
Class Teacher
Maths Lead
Computing Lead
Taught in a variety of settings such as junior schools, first schools, middle schools, primary schools.
Taught pupils from Reception to Year 8 including many with special needs. Taught single age and mixed-age classes.
2015 - 2020
Specialist Leader of Education
As a maths specialist, supported schools and academies to improve their teaching and learning.
2017 - 2018
School Improvement Team - Maths Specialism:
Wimborne Academy Trust
As a maths specialist, supported schools within the academy to improve their teaching and learning. Led mathematics moderation for EYFS to Y8 for Dorset schools.
2023 - 2024
Primary Maths ITT Programme Designer: SWIFT
Designed the new Initial Teacher Training programme for maths based on revised Early Career Framework.
2017 - current
Maths Interventions & Tutoring
Creates bespoke support for pupils with special needs or for those who needed catch-up following lockdown. Teach the aforementioned pupils individually or in small groups.
2024 - current
NPQLPM Facilitator: South Central Teaching School
Co-lead the UCL NPQLPM qualification courses in Dorset.
2023 - 2024
NPQLPM Author: LLSE
Co-wrote the NPQLPM qualification programme.
2018 - current
Trainer, editor & author: Maths - No Problem!
Leads professional development in schools in the South of England, London and Wales.
Edits and authors MNP textbook and workbook material for the New Zealand programme.
2020 & 2024
Professional Development Lead Accreditation: NCETM
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2022 - 2023
Teaching for Mastery Specialist Accreditation: NCETM
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2024 - 2025
School Development Lead Accreditation: NCETM
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2018 - current
Work Group Lead
Bespoke School Support: Jurassic Maths Hub, NCETM
Leads Work Groups such as SKTM Primary Teachers, Readiness, Developing, Embedding, Sustaining Teaching for Mastery. Targeted Support for Schools - bespoke work.
Keeping
Up-to-Date
Courses Attended:
Professional Development
2018
Professor Daniel Muijs, Dr Jennie Golding, Andy Samways, Joshua Perry, Alison Ryan, Dr Lauren Bellaera, Lucy Rycroft-Smith, Gareth Conyard: Developing Evidence Informed Teaching: Westminster Forum
Steve Chinn, Brian Butterworth, Pete Jarret, Jane Emerson: Dyscalculia
Mike Askew: The Heart of Reasoning
2019
Manipulatives: EEF
Mike Askew & Craig Barton: Mathematical Reasoning - Boolean Conference
Ban Har MNP train the trainer
Local Leaders of Mathematics Education: Jurassic Maths Hub
Professional Development Lead Accreditation Programme
Akihiko Takahashi Japanese Lesson Study
Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) training
2020
Robin Alexander: Dialogic Teaching
Local Leaders of Mathematics Education: Jurassic Maths Hub
​Professional Development Lead Accreditation Programme
Ben Smith: 401 Challenge
Sue Gifford: Priorities, predictors and pedogogy
2021
Autism
Local Leaders of Mathematics Education: Jurassic Maths Hub
Professional Development Leads: Jurassic Maths Hub
Geoff Wake, Akihiko Takahashi, Sue Gifford: Number Lines
2022
Professional Development Providers Conference: Geometry
Foundation Stage Maths: MNP
Local Leaders of Mathematics Education: Jurassic Maths Hub​
Camilla Gilmore: Reading about Research
Mike Askew: Equitable Classrooms - Visualisation
2023
Local Leaders of Mathematics Education: Jurassic Maths Hub
Anne Watson, Ruth Trundley: Equitable Classrooms:
​Professional Development Lead Accreditation Programme
South West Maths Network
Helen Williams: Developing Young Mathematical Thinkers
2024
Local Leaders of Mathematics Education: Jurassic Maths Hub​
Lesson Study event by Japanese Tsukuba University Elementary
​Professional Development Lead Accreditation Programme
School Development Lead Accreditation Programme
Professor Lee Elliot Major: Levelling the playing field - Equity in Education
2025
Sue Gifford: Spatial Reasoning and Problem Solving
Geoff Wake: Lessons for Mathematical Problem Solving
Tom Rainbow: Teaching Maths through Context: Core Maths
School Development Lead Accreditation Programme