The Primary Maths Podcast

Welcome to Episode 14 of the Primary Maths Podcast. This week we’re joined by Lewis Horsley, who somehow manages to juggle teaching Year 2, leading maths and KS1, sitting on SLT, supporting ITT students, being a Primary Mastery Specialist with the East Midlands West Maths Hub, and facilitating the NPQLPM course… all while also completing his NPQH.Lewis sat down with us to talk about the joys and challenges of teaching and leading maths in primary school. We cover:What makes maths lessons engaging for both pupils and teachers Why a noisy classroom can actually be a productive one and how purposeful talk builds mathematical thinkingHow collaborative planning can transform professional development for teachers, and Lewis’ top tips for making a session truly effectiveThe importance of doing the maths yourself first and how it helps uncover misconceptions before pupils face themThe four golden questions Lewis always comes back to when planning lessons (and why they work for every subject, not just maths)We also get into why pupils need to hear that getting things wrong is not only inevitable but essential, how to avoid staff meetings where everyone is laminating instead of listening, and why “accidental teaching” is sometimes the most powerful kind.Lewis has started sharing his thinking in a new blog series called Plan Maths, hosted by Derby Research School. You can find the first instalment here: Plan Maths – Derby Research School. Keep an eye out for part two coming soon.As always, Becky and I unpack the key takeaways in our debrief after the interview. From purposeful talk to remembering the value of doing the maths yourself, there’s plenty here to spark reflection and maybe even change what you do in class tomorrow.If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your podcast app of choice, and share it with a colleague who loves (or maybe needs to love) maths as much as we do. You can also leave us a rating or a review — it really helps others to find the show.And finally, we’d love to hear from you. What are your favourite non-standard units of measurement in everyday life? Drop us a message at primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk or in the YouTube comments.#twinklmaths

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 necessaryThe 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 practiceWhy information should flow both ways between schools How the Key Stage 2 curriculum might need “thinning out” to ensure depth over coverageAs 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

In the final episode of our summer specials, Jon and Becky wrap up the holidays with a mix of puzzles, pop culture, and polygon talk.Becky recounts her weekend at the Rubik’s Cube UK Championship, where maths hides in everything from official timing rules to the mysterious “God’s Number.” Jon takes us from the beach (counting grains of sand!) to the history of charity singles, comparing Band Aid’s millions in the 1980s with LadBaby’s record-breaking - yet surprisingly modest - fundraising totals.We also launch a brand-new feature: Ety-math-ology. Becky digs into the origins of shape names like polygon, rhombus, and diamond, uncovering some surprising stories about the language of geometry and how it can trip us up in the classroom.It’s been a fun run of summer specials, but from next week the Primary Maths Podcast returns to its usual format: interviews with experts in maths education. Don’t forget to subscribe and share the podcast with a colleague as the new term begins.#twinklmaths

This week’s bite-sized summer special takes us from the sun-drenched costas of Spain to the seagull-infested arcades of Whitby, with some fascinating insights into how young children record their maths along the way.Jon and Becky swap holiday stories and uncover the surprising maths that follows you everywhere – even when you’re meant to be switching off. From suitcase scales gone wrong (pounds versus kilos, anyone?) to crazy golf “unitising,” estimating watermelons, and the enduring mystery of why the furthest you can get from the sea in the UK is only ...(spoilers!), it turns out that holidays are full of mathematical moments.Jon also introduces a new segment: Research in 60 Seconds (ish), sharing a fresh study about how young children represent quantity and order in their early notations – and why we should never dismiss unconventional jottings.Expect classic British seaside nostalgia, a dash of self-deprecating humour, and plenty of practical ways you can bring real-world maths (and early maths research) into your classroom.If you enjoy the show, please share it with a colleague and leave us a rating or review – it really helps other teachers find us. #twinklmaths #twinklprimarymaths

In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky celebrate the role of the maths subject leader. Whether you’ve been leading maths for years or have just been handed the responsibility as September looms, this conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of the role.Jon shares his own journey of unexpectedly becoming a maths lead during his NQT year, while Becky reflects on her experiences leading maths in a large junior school. Together they consider how subject leaders can shape school culture, raise the profile of maths, and drive meaningful change in teaching and learning.This week’s Maths of Life takes us on a journey from Ancient Rome to Renaissance Italy to uncover the origins of percentages, why we use them instead of fractions in shops, and why “25% off” feels like more of a bargain than “a quarter off.”Topics covered include:Why percentages became the language of bargainsThe commutative property of percentages (and why it matters)First steps for new maths leads in SeptemberBuilding a positive maths culture in your schoolPractical ideas for parental engagementWhere to find support, training, and inspirationIf you’re stepping into maths leadership this year, or simply want to reflect on your own practice, this episode offers encouragement, practical strategies, and a reminder that you are not alone in the role.#twinklmaths #twinklprimarymaths

In this bite-sized summer special of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky tackle one of the trickiest topics in primary maths: telling the time. From the quirks of analogue clocks to the ubiquity of digital displays, they explore how our approach to teaching time might need a rethink in light of how children experience the modern world.They discuss:Why telling the time is more cognitively demanding than many realiseThe case for introducing digital time first and why it might make life easier for everyoneHow language, fractions, and number line concepts all come into play when learning analogue clocksWhat other education systems (like Singapore and Shanghai) do differentlyWhy developmental readiness matters more than curriculum speedPlus, in this week’s Maths of Life, Jon dives into the fascinating history of temperature scales from Celsius and Fahrenheit to Kelvin and why zero means very different things depending on the thermometer you’re looking at.Whether you’re teaching EYFS pupils to recognise o’clock, guiding Year 2s through quarter past, or still wrestling with 24-hour conversions yourself, this episode is packed with practical insights and a few laughs along the way.If you’ve enjoyed this summer series, follow the show, leave a review, or share it with a colleague.Listen now and make your next ‘time’ lesson a little less stressful.#twinklmaths #twinklprimarymaths #primarymathspodcast

Summer Special #2: Mastery Schemes vs Teacher Subject Knowledge – and the Maths of Big NumbersThis week, Sally Cole joins Jon as guest co-host while Becky continues her well-earned beach break. Sally is an Education Content Lead at Twinkl, working on digital maths resources including the Twinkl Maths app.In this second summer special, Jon and Sally explore two big ideas:The Maths of LifeHow big is a billion? Inspired by a question from Jon’s daughter, we unpack the history, scale and meaning of this often misunderstood number. From how long it takes to count to a billion, to what it would look like built out of base ten cubes, this is a place value conversation that starts with curiosity and ends with a cube the size of a school building.Main DiscussionCan teachers follow a scheme and still teach responsively?We explore the benefits and challenges of using teaching for mastery schemes in schools, and ask:What do maths schemes of work do well?When might they restrict professional judgement or pedagogical flexibility?How can we make sure that teachers remain confident, responsive and well-supported?If you're planning for September, reflecting on your maths curriculum, or thinking about teacher subject knowledge, this is an episode for you.Get in touch: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.ukFollow Jon on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell/ Leave a review, share with a colleague, or let us know where you’re listening from! #twinklmaths #twinklprimarymaths #primarymathspodcastThe Primary Maths Podcast is designed for teachers, maths leads and school leaders working in UK primary schools. Each episode explores research-informed approaches to maths teaching, subject leadership, curriculum planning and classroom practice. Hosted by Jon Cripwell, with regular guests and special segments including the Maths of Life. Ideal for CPD on the go.

This week on The Primary Maths Podcast, we're kicking off a special run of summer episodes with something a little different.I’m digging into the history of school summer holidays – where they came from, how they’ve changed, and whether they were really designed so children could help with the harvest. (Spoiler: not quite.) Along the way, I explore the rise of seaside holidays, the Grand Tour, and what steam trains had to do with it all.Then, I tackle a great listener question: how do we balance fluency with problem solving in maths? Should one come before the other – or is it more complicated than that? I explain how fluency, reasoning and problem solving each play a distinct role in effective maths teaching, and why they’re best taught in tandem.Whether you're listening from a sun lounger or sorting out your September plans, I hope you're having the best time – and that this episode keeps you company.In this episode:The surprising origins of the school summer breakWhy fluency isn’t just about speedThe case for teaching problem solving early and oftenHow to connect reasoning, fluency and real-world mathsChapters:00:00 – Introduction to Summer Special Episodes01:21 – The History of the School Summer Holidays09:20 – Balancing Fluency and Problem Solving in Maths Education

How do we help children become confident, independent mathematical thinkers, not just answer-getters?In this episode of the Primary Maths Podcast, Jon Cripwell and Becky Brown explore the surprisingly powerful concept of metacognition and what it looks like in real classrooms, from early years to upper Key Stage 2.Jon also explains why a 12-inch pizza is nearly four times the size of a six-inch one, and how that misconception links directly to our work as teachers.Later, Jon is joined by Nathan Burns, also known as Mr Metacognition, to discuss:What metacognition really means, beyond just thinking about thinkingWhy it is not just for older or high-attaining pupilsHow to model thinking in maths lessons without overwhelming your studentsPractical ways to build mathematical resilience and reflection into your teachingThe conversation also covers curriculum pressures, classroom talk, and the small changes that can make a big difference to mathematical understanding.A quick note: There was a slight issue with Nathan's sound during the recording, which we have tried to clean up as much as possible. Apologies, and thank you for bearing with it.Key takeawaysMetacognition is more than a buzzword – it is a powerful tool for learning in mathsModelling your thinking out loud helps pupils develop their own strategiesResilience is built by teaching children what to do when they do not know what to doMetacognitive strategies can be used from the early years upwardsClassroom talk and exploration matter just as much as correct answersRelying solely on PowerPoint may limit modelling opportunitiesReal-world contexts, such as pizza pricing, can help make abstract maths meaningfulFeatured guestNathan Burns – Mr MetacognitionAuthor of Inspiring Deep Learning and Teaching Hacks, Nathan is a teacher, writer and national trainer specialising in metacognition, curriculum design and making cognitive science practical for schools.Find him on X: @MrMetacognitionResource of the WeekThis week’s recommended resource is place value strips – simple, effective and ideal for developing early number sense and reasoning.Episode chapters00:00 – Welcome to the Primary Maths Podcast01:30 – What is metacognition really about03:20 – Pizza pricing and the maths of area09:48 – Decimal separators around the world15:08 – Interview with Nathan Burns46:00 – Modelling thinking and building independence55:00 – Visualisers versus PowerPoint in maths lessons1:01:30 – Where early career teachers should start1:08:00 – Quickfire round: resource picks, favourite number, and a small thing that makes a big differenceKeywordsPrimary maths, metacognition, maths education, teaching for mastery, curriculum design, real-world maths, cognitive science, maths misconceptions, teacher CPD, UK primary teaching, Nathan Burns, Mr Metacognition, Primary Maths Podcast

What happens when a headteacher keeps teaching? This week, Jon and Becky speak to Kate Frood OBE – a former headteacher who spent 22 years teaching weekly maths lessons alongside school leadership.Kate shares how her “Mrs Frood Maths” lessons became a model for coaching and inclusion, why stealth differentiation works better than labels, and how to reclaim joy and challenge in problem solving.Plus, in Maths of Life, Jon investigates why a 1/3 pounder burger failed in 1980s America – and what it teaches us about common fraction misconceptions. Becky takes us into the world of speedcubing, synchronised diving, and complex averages.It’s a jam-packed episode with stories, laughs and powerful reflections on leadership, subject knowledge and classroom culture.