My profile

Biography

I have had 18 years’ experience working in Secondary schools where I have experienced a range of roles including Head of Mathematics. I have also worked on a number of initiatives with MMU in my own classroom and in 2006 I joined the MMU team in a permanent capacity.

Since 2003, I have worked extensively on the development of a classroom approach based upon Realistic Maths Education (RME). This has taken the form of two funded projects: ‘Developing maths in context’ and ‘Making Sense of Maths’, both of which involved ongoing CPD for teachers and measuring the effects of such an approach on pupils. I am currently writing materials at GCSE Higher level, which are then trialled in local schools.

My research interests focus mainly on RME and I am currently writing my Masters dissertation looking at the issues associated with trainees developing an RME approach to teaching fractions in their own classroom.

I teach on the one, two and three year secondary mathematics programmes and I have delivered units on the masters programme.

Research outputs

  • Books (authored/edited/special issues)

    Dickinson, P., Gough, S., Hough, S., Eade, F., Dudzic, S. (2013) Making Sense of Maths-Sorting letters. Hodder Education.

    Dickinson, P., Gough, S., Hough, S., Eade, F., Dudzic, S. (2012) Making Sense of Maths-Fitting in. Hodder Education.

    Dickinson, P., Gough, S., Hough, S., Eade, F., Dudzic, S. (2012) Making Sense of Maths-Picturing Data. Hodder Education.

    Dickinson, P., Gough, S., Hough, S., Eade, F., dudzic, S. (2012) Making Sense of Maths-Fair Shares. Hodder Education.

    Dickinson, P., Gough, S., Hough, S., Eade, F., Dudzic, S. (2012) Making Sense of Maths-All things equal. Hodder Education.

    Dickinson, P., Gough, S., Hough, S., Eade, F., Dudzic, S. (2012) Making Sense of Maths-The Power of Number. Hodder Education.

  • Chapters in books

    Dickinson, P., Eade, F., Gough, S., Hough, S., Solomon, Y.J. (2019) 'Intervening with Realistic Mathematics Education in England and the Cayman Islands—The Challenge of Clashing Educational Ideologies.' In Van den Heuvel-Panhuizen, M. (ed.) International Reflections on the Netherlands Didactics of Mathematics. Springer, pp. 341-366.

  • Reports

    Hough, S., Solomon, Y.J., Dickinson, P., Gough, S. (2017) Investigating the impact of a Realistic Mathematics Education approach on achievement and attitudes in Post-16 GCSE resit classes. Manchester Metropolitan University.

  • Journal articles

    Hough, S., Solomon, Y. (2023) 'Teacher development for equitable mathematics classrooms: reflecting on experience in the context of performativity.' Education Sciences, 13(10) pp. 993-993.

    Solomon, Y., Hough, S., Gough, S. (2020) 'The role of appropriation in guided reinvention: establishing and preserving devolved authority with low-attaining students.' Educational Studies in Mathematics: an international journal, 106(2) pp. 171-188.

    Gough, S.J., Hough, S. (2007) 'Realistic Mathematics Education.' Mathematics Teaching 203,

  • Conference papers

    Dickinson, P., Hough, S., Gough, S.J. 'Using Contexts and models at Higher Level GCSE: adapting Realistic Mathematics Education for the UK curriculum.' In Proceedings of the 8th British Congress of Mathematics Education 2014.

    Hough, S., Gough, S., Solomon, Y. (2018) 'Connecting the everyday with the formal: the role of bar models in developing low attainers’ mathematical understanding.' In Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME11). Utrecht, The Netherlands, 6/2/2019 - 10/2/2019.

    Solomon, Y.J., Hough, S., Dickinson, P., Gough, S. (2016) 'GCSE resit: What’s in a C?.' In British Educational Research Association. Leeds, 13/9/2016 - 15/9/2016.

    Palmer, P.M., Hough, S., Kennedy, J., Pope, S. (2016) 'A mathematics intervention project: A level students working with children in years 5 -8.' In BSRLM One day conference. 36. Manchester Metropolitan University, 27/2/2016 - 27/2/2016.

    Solomon, Y.J., Hough, S., Dickinson, P., Gough, S., Eade, F. (2016) 'Counteracting failure – using a Realistic Mathematics Education approach with examination retake students.' In International Congress on Mathematical Education. Hamburg, 24/7/2016 - 31/7/2016.

    Hough, S., Solomon, Y.J., Dickinson, P., Gough, S. (2015) ''Maths isn't supposed to make sense' - working with GCSE resit students to change attitudes and achievement through a Realistic Mathematics Education-based intervention.' In British Educational Research Association. Belfast, 7/9/2015 - 9/9/2015.

    Solomon, Y.J., Hough, S., Dickinson, P., Gough, S. (2015) '‘Joel’s getting left behind’: dilemmas for students and teachers in GCSE resit classes.' In British Society for Research in Learning Mathematics. Dublin, 8/2/2015 - 8/2/2015.

    Hough, S.J., Dickinson, P. (2013) 'Exploring the challenges for trainee teachers in using a Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) approach to the learning of fractions.' 33(2).

    Hough, S.J., Dickinson, P. (2012) 'Investigating secondary mathematics trainee teachers' knowledge of fractions.' In BSRLM. 32. Cambridge, 17/11/2012 - 17/11/2012.

    Hough, S.J., Dickinson, P., Gough, S., Eade, F. (2010) 'Using Realistic Mathematics Education with low to middle ability attaining pupils in secondary schools.' In BSRLM. Manchester, 4/2010 - 4/2010.