The Primary Maths Podcast

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.

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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 bargains
• The commutative property of percentages (and why it matters)
• First steps for new maths leads in September
• Building a positive maths culture in your school
• Practical ideas for parental engagement
• Where to find support, training, and inspiration

If 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.

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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 realise
• The case for introducing digital time first and why it might make life easier for everyone
• How language, fractions, and number line concepts all come into play when learning analogue clocks
• What other education systems (like Singapore and Shanghai) do differently
• Why developmental readiness matters more than curriculum speed

Plus, 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.

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Summer Special #2: Mastery Schemes vs Teacher Subject Knowledge – and the Maths of Big Numbers

This 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 Life

How 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 Discussion

Can 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: [email protected]

Follow 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!

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The 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 break
• Why fluency isn’t just about speed
• The case for teaching problem solving early and often
• How to connect reasoning, fluency and real-world maths

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Summer Special Episodes

01:21 – The History of the School Summer Holidays

09:20 – 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:

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• What metacognition really means, beyond just thinking about thinking
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• Why it is not just for older or high-attaining pupils
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• How to model thinking in maths lessons without overwhelming your students
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• Practical ways to build mathematical resilience and reflection into your teaching
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The 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.

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• Metacognition is more than a buzzword – it is a powerful tool for learning in maths
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• Modelling your thinking out loud helps pupils develop their own strategies
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• Resilience is built by teaching children what to do when they do not know what to do
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• Metacognitive strategies can be used from the early years upwards
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• Classroom talk and exploration matter just as much as correct answers
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• Relying solely on PowerPoint may limit modelling opportunities
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• Real-world contexts, such as pizza pricing, can help make abstract maths meaningful
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Nathan Burns – Mr Metacognition

Author 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: @MrMetacognition

This week’s recommended resource is place value strips – simple, effective and ideal for developing early number sense and reasoning.

00:00 – Welcome to the Primary Maths Podcast

01:30 – What is metacognition really about

03:20 – Pizza pricing and the maths of area

09:48 – Decimal separators around the world

15:08 – Interview with Nathan Burns

46:00 – Modelling thinking and building independence

55:00 – Visualisers versus PowerPoint in maths lessons

1:01:30 – Where early career teachers should start

1:08:00 – Quickfire round: resource picks, favourite number, and a small thing that makes a big difference

Primary 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.

In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon speaks with headteacher and mastery specialist Omar Jennings about how Number Talks have transformed teaching and learning across his school – from Nursery to Year 6.

We explore:

✔️ What Number Talks are and why they matter

✔️ How they boost fluency, reasoning and oracy

✔️ Practical tips for rolling them out across your school

✔️ The importance of vocabulary (yes, even in EYFS!)

✔️ Why strong pedagogy matters more than any scheme

✔️ Embedding sustainable change in maths teaching

✔️ The power of relationships, looping, and knowing your pupils

If you're a maths leader, classroom teacher or head looking for evidence-informed, practical ways to improve maths teaching across your school, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

📥 Get the free companion guide (key takeaways, resources, CPD video): https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/twinkl-podcasts/primary-maths-education-podcast-twinkl-podcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

• Making Number Talks Matter by Humphreys & Parker
• Designing Groupwork by Elizabeth Cohen
• Visible Learning for Maths by John Hattie
• Making Thinking Visible (Harvard Project Zero)
• NCETM resources, and more

In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, we explore the unique joys and challenges of teaching maths in small schools and mixed-age classes. Jon Cripwell and Becky Brown reflect on their conversation with two inspiring educators whose work spans classroom teaching, national leadership, and system-wide school improvement.

👥 Our guests:

• Aimée Tinkler has been a teacher and school leader for over 20 years, including 8 years as a headteacher in Derbyshire. She is President-elect of the Chartered College of Teaching, engaged in doctoral research at UCL Institute of Education, and the author of Small and Mighty – Conversations about Small Schools (publishing this autumn).
• Helen Bowen has over 13 years of experience in primary education, including roles as class teacher, lead practitioner, and headteacher. A passionate maths educator, she is a Primary Mastery Specialist and Local Leader in Maths Education with the GLOW Maths Hub and is now Director of Mathematics at Excelsior Multi Academy Trust.

🧠 Topics covered include:

• How to adapt the mastery approach for mixed-age classrooms
• The power of oracy and reasoning talk in maths
• Structuring consistent maths teaching without rigid schemes
• The vital role of teaching assistants in small schools
• Leadership and collaboration in multi-role staff settings

🔍 Also in this episode:

• 🧩 Becky’s deep dive into competitive speed jigsaw puzzling (yes, it’s a thing!)
• 🔢 Maths of Life: Why we count in base 10—and what other number bases you're secretly using every day

🛠 Resource of the Week:

The Twinkl Maths App – a gamified fluency tool aligned with the Ready to Progress criteria. Great for interventions, rewards effort, and works brilliantly in small school settings.

📥 Free downloadable PDF with key takeaways, CPD clips and resources:

Search for Primary Maths Podcast at twinkl.co.uk.

📧 Feedback or questions?

Email us at [email protected]

🔜 Next week’s episode:

Jon speaks to Omar Jennings, headteacher at Nightingale Primary in London, about how Number Talks are transforming oracy and conceptual understanding.

In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky are joined by John Tomsett, renowned education consultant, former headteacher of Huntington School, and author of influential books such as "This Much I Know About Great Teaching".

John brings decades of educational leadership and classroom experience to an insightful conversation about the true essence of great teaching and learning. He shares his "10 principles of great teaching," drawing from extensive observations and research across primary and secondary classrooms.

• The core principles that define truly exceptional teaching.
• How to balance rigorous frameworks with teacher autonomy and creativity.
• Building strong, meaningful relationships with pupils.
• Insights into misconceptions in maths education and how teachers can effectively address them.
• Real-life stories illustrating the profound impact great teachers can have.

• What makes lessons genuinely engaging for pupils?
• How can teachers balance consistency with creativity and enthusiasm?
• What critical skills and practices define outstanding teaching?

• The Hidden Lives of Learners by Graham Nuthall
• WalkThrus by Tom Sherrington and Oliver Caviglioli
• John Tomsett's books, including forthcoming titles on primary and secondary teaching

• John Tomsett’s Blog
• Twitter: @johntomsett

Remember to subscribe to The Primary Maths Podcast wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a review if you enjoyed this episode!