Catherine Foley is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Reading. Prior to this, she was a primary school teacher in West Berkshire and Oxfordshire and subsequently became a leading mathematics teacher and local authority consultant. After several years working for the Primary National Strategy as a senior adviser in the mathematics team she moved to her current role in initial teacher training, teaching across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She currently leads the school-based Primary School Direct programme and leads the mathematics teaching within primary post-graduate initial teacher training. Her doctoral research focused upon the study of girls’ perceptions of mathematics, and she continues to work closely with schools.