From Year 6 to Year 7: Why Transition Matters in Maths with Pete Mattock

In this episode of the Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky are joined by a special guest to help tackle one of the perennial challenges in maths education: the transition from primary to secondary. Why does it so often feel like pupils are treading water in Year 7, revisiting content they’ve already covered? And how can schools work together to make that move a smoother, more purposeful step forward?

Jon is joined by his Twinkl colleague Pete Mattock: teacher, leader, prolific speaker, and author of Visible Maths, Conceptual Maths, and Leading Maths. As National Education Lead for Secondary Maths, Pete brings the secondary perspective on why the step into Key Stage 3 can be such a tricky one, and what practical steps could help bridge the gap.

We discuss:

• Why Year 7 often feels like a reset button and whether that’s always necessary
• The role of baseline tests, schemes of work, and different representations in fuelling the sense of “starting again”
• What stronger collaboration between primary and secondary teachers could look like in practice
• Why information should flow both ways between schools
• How the Key Stage 2 curriculum might need “thinning out” to ensure depth over coverage

As ever, Jon and Becky also bring you a Maths of Life detour: this time exploring the bizarre history of BBC maths sitcoms (yes, really), and imagining what a 2020s revival might look like, with a possible cameo for Carol Vorderman…

Whether you’re a Year 6 teacher preparing pupils for the big step, a subject leader writing action plans, or a secondary colleague wondering how best to build on Key Stage 2, this episode is packed with insights, challenges, and ideas to take forward.

To get in touch, contact us at primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk