The Primary Maths Podcast

Jon Cripwell

The Primary Maths Podcast is a year-round maths podcast for teachers, leaders and anyone interested in how children learn mathematics. Every Tuesday, join me, Jon Cripwell, for an in-depth interview with an expert voice from across education - teachers, leaders, researchers, authors and thinkers - as we explore what really works in primary maths. We dive into the big ideas shaping maths education, from maths anxiety and fluency to task design, curriculum, reasoning and problem solving. Then on Fridays, Becky Brown and I return for Aftermaths — a shorter, light-hearted, practical debrief where we unpack the week’s key insights, and share clear takeaways for the classroom.. We also share listener stories and discuss The Maths of Life, amongst other topics. Across the week, expect: - Insightful conversations with the people shaping maths education - Clear, actionable takeaways for teachers and maths leads - The Maths of Life — the surprising ways maths shows up in everyday moments - A weekly resource spotlight - New episodes every Tuesday and Friday, all year round If you’re looking for a thoughtful, practical teacher podcast that blends research, real classrooms and conversations that matter, this is the place to start.

  1. World Cup Maths, Equity and Oracy in the Primary Classroom

    3d ago

    World Cup Maths, Equity and Oracy in the Primary Classroom

    World Cup Maths, Equity and Oracy in the Primary Classroom In this episode of the Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky talk end-of-year school chaos, transition days, classroom moves, and the strange joy of finding a trolley when you really need one. The main discussion begins with reflections from the East Midlands West Maths Hub summer conference, where the focus was on equity in maths. Jon shares the powerful question at the heart of the day: who gets to participate in mathematical thinking, and what do we need to do differently in our lesson design so that all pupils can take part? Jon and Becky explore the difference between equality and equity, and consider how barriers in maths lessons are not always about individual pupils, but about the structures, routines and expectations around them. They discuss how silent classrooms, prior attainment labels, narrow learning objectives and the rush to find the correct answer can sometimes limit opportunities for mathematical thinking. There is also a focus on oracy in maths: why talk matters, how pupils benefit from explaining, reasoning and justifying, and why an incorrect answer can be just as valuable as a correct one when we take time to explore the thinking behind it. Later in the episode, attention turns to the World Cup and the many ways teachers can use it as a rich context for maths. Jon shares some World Cup facts and figures, including the first men’s World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, goal totals from past tournaments, stadium capacities, group tables, averages and goal difference. Jon and Becky suggest practical classroom ideas across the primary phase, including: counting, sorting, comparing and creating simple pictograms in EYFS and Year 1;using tables, match results and points totals in Years 2 and 3;exploring goal difference, averages, stadium capacities, fairness and predictions in Years 4, 5 and 6;asking open-ended questions such as “What maths can you see?” while watching or looking at images from a match. There is plenty here for teachers looking for meaningful end-of-year maths activities, especially when half the class is at transition day, sports day practice, or mysteriously missing because of something involving a clipboard. Whether you love football, tolerate football, or only notice it when it interrupts your usual television schedule, this episode is full of ideas for using real-world numbers, live data and sporting excitement to get children talking, thinking and reasoning mathematically.

    33 min
  2. Escape Rooms and Problem Solving (AfterMaths)

    Jun 26

    Escape Rooms and Problem Solving (AfterMaths)

    In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky reflect on the realities of summer term: heatwaves, report writing, and the heroic act of trying to teach when everyone is melting. They then turn to problem solving in primary maths, asking whether it should really be saved for the end of the year, or whether pupils need regular, explicit teaching of the skills that help them tackle unfamiliar problems with confidence. Jon and Becky discuss six key problem-solving strategies: Spotting patterns Working systematically Using models Trialling and improving Changing the process Making connections They also answer a listener question from Priya, a maths lead in Coventry, about what to do when colleagues feel pupils are not fluent enough to access problem solving. Finally, in Maths of Life, Jon shares a short history of escape rooms and makes the case that they are a brilliant real-world example of problem solving in action. Useful links Twinkl Problem Solving Resources: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/r/8arfi PlanIt Maths: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/r/wke0f Get in touch We’d love to hear your thoughts, questions and ideas for future episodes. You can email the show at: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

    37 min
  3. What We Can Learn from This Year’s Maths SATs?

    Jun 18

    What We Can Learn from This Year’s Maths SATs?

    In this aftermaths episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky take a look back at this year’s KS2 maths SATs papers and ask what teachers and maths leads might learn from them. They discuss why the tests should be seen as end-of-key-stage assessments rather than simply Year 6 tests, explore the balance of content across the papers, and reflect on the importance of flexible mathematical thinking. From percentage questions that can be solved in several ways to the role of conceptual understanding in arithmetic, they consider how we can help children move beyond simply following procedures. There is also time for Becky’s Maths of Life, where family rounders, mini golf and sporting fairness lead to a chat about the maths hidden in everyday games. Finally, Jon shares a recent meta-analysis on collaborative learning and mathematical creative reasoning, exploring why high-quality tasks, structured discussion and non-routine problem solving can make such a difference. A lively episode covering SATs, shape, strategy, sport, collaboration and, naturally, the enduring power of a hash brown.

    34 min
  4. Florence Nightingale: The Lady with the Graph

    Jun 5

    Florence Nightingale: The Lady with the Graph

    In this lighter half-term Aftermaths episode, Jon and Becky take a wander through some of the unexpected maths hiding in everyday life. First up: Samba the escaped capybara, who, at the time of recording, was still causing confusion somewhere near Hampshire. Is it a capybara? Is it a muntjac deer? Has someone accidentally taken in the world’s largest “stray cat”? Hard to say. Becky then takes us into the very British world of weather watching, comparing forecasts, choosing the one we like best, and wondering what a “40% chance of rain” actually means. Along the way, there’s discussion of probability, percentages, wind speed, temperature, 24-hour time, tide times, and the slightly chaotic business of trying to predict British weather. Jon then shares the story of Florence Nightingale, not just as “the Lady with the Lamp”, but as something else entirely: the Lady with the Graph. Through her use of statistics, record keeping and visual data, Nightingale helped show that far more soldiers were dying from disease and poor hospital conditions than from battle wounds. Her famous polar area diagram became a powerful argument for reform, showing how maths can be used not just to describe the world, but to change it. The Science Museum describes her diagram as showing causes of soldiers’ deaths across two years in Crimea, while the National Army Museum notes the dire conditions at Scutari, where the hospital was dirty, vermin-ridden and lacking basic equipment. There’s also a Derbyshire connection, as Jon explains Florence Nightingale’s links to Lea Hurst near Matlock, the Nightingale family’s Derbyshire home. In this episodeThe ongoing mystery of Samba the capybaraWhy weather apps are full of mathsWhat “chance of rain” really meansBritish weather, rounding, chaos theory and hedging your betsFlorence Nightingale’s Derbyshire connectionsHow Nightingale used data visualisation to argue for hospital reformWhy graphs can sometimes tell a story more powerfully than tables of numbers

    23 min
  5. Why Problem Solving Needs to be Taught - AfterMaths

    May 22

    Why Problem Solving Needs to be Taught - AfterMaths

    In this Aftermaths episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky chat about the strange, busy, slightly chaotic stretch of the school year just before half term, from transition days and sports events to staffing conversations and year group changes. They reflect on how different primary teaching can feel from one year group to another, and why every phase, from EYFS and Key Stage 1 through to Year 6, needs strong subject knowledge and careful teaching. The main discussion focuses on working systematically as a key problem solving strategy in primary maths. Jon and Becky explore why pupils are often told to “work systematically” without necessarily being taught what that actually means. They discuss how the skill develops from early sorting and ordering in Key Stage 1, through to recording possibilities, finding combinations, identifying factor pairs, proving that all solutions have been found, and eventually supporting algebraic thinking. They also consider why working systematically is not just a SATs strategy, but an important part of pupils’ wider mathematical toolkit. Topics include: why summer term can feel particularly busy in primary schoolsthe challenge of year group moves and staffing decisionswhy early maths teaching matters so muchhow gaps in Key Stage 1 can affect later success in Key Stage 2what working systematically looks like in primary mathswhy problem solving strategies need to be explicitly taughtusing sorting, ordering and recording to support systematic thinkingfactor pairs, common multiples and combinationshelping pupils prove they have found all possible solutionsthe role of manipulatives, representations and talkTwinkl’s new problem solving collectionupcoming TeachMeet CPD on working systematically and using models

    34 min
  6. Building Maths Confidence with National Numeracy

    May 19

    Building Maths Confidence with National Numeracy

    In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon is joined by Paul Milner and Julie Pompa from National Numeracy to talk about number confidence, family engagement and the role schools can play in helping children and adults feel more positive about maths. Paul and Julie share the story behind National Numeracy’s work, including why adult numeracy matters and how confidence can be just as important as skill. They discuss the idea that many adults carry negative experiences of maths with them, and how those messages can shape the way children see themselves as mathematicians. The conversation explores National Numeracy’s model of value, belief and persistence, and why adults need to see a reason to improve, believe that improvement is possible, and understand that mistakes and discomfort are part of learning. Jon, Paul and Julie also discuss the Schools and Families Programme, which supports primary schools to work with families so that pupils feel more positive about maths and understand the value of numeracy beyond the classroom. There is also a focus on National Numeracy Day 2026, which takes place on Wednesday 20 May 2026. This year’s theme is Count on Your Community, encouraging schools, workplaces, organisations and community groups to help children and adults feel more confident with numbers at work, at home and at school. In this episode, we discuss: why confidence is such an important part of numeracyhow adults’ experiences of maths can affect childrenthe difference between maths as a school subject and numeracy in daily lifewhy parents and carers do not need to be “maths people” to support their childrenthe role of mistakes, persistence and positive talk in maths learninghow schools can engage families without adding unnecessary workloadwhat National Numeracy Day offers to schools and communities Useful linksNational Numeracy National Numeracy Day 2026 National Numeracy Day 2026 schools sign-up Schools and Families Programme To get in touch with the podcast, email primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk. Becky and Jon will be back on Friday with another Aftermaths episode.

    44 min
  7. Why Doodling Belongs in Maths Lessons - AfterMaths

    May 15

    Why Doodling Belongs in Maths Lessons - AfterMaths

    In this Aftermaths episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky reflect on a very maths-filled week, from Key Stage 2 SATs to International Women in Mathematics Day, with a little bit of football stadium chat thrown in for good measure. Jon and Becky begin by talking about SATs week and the difficult balance teachers face in preparing children well without making the tests feel bigger than they are. They consider the early reactions to this year’s papers, the pressure pupils can feel, and why the final memories of primary maths really matter. They also look ahead to the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check. Jon discusses why fluency with multiplication facts matters, but also why recall alone is not the whole story. Knowing a fact is useful, but pupils also need to understand how to use it. Jon then shares reflections from an early maths conference at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, including sessions on maths at home, oracy, bilingual learners and mathematical language. There is plenty to think about here for teachers and maths leads, especially around the role of families in noticing and talking about numbers in the world around them. Becky’s Maths of Life segment marks International Women in Mathematics Day by looking at the work of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields Medal. This leads to a lovely discussion about doodling, jotting, visualising and why mathematical thinking does not always need to be neat, polished or trapped inside the squares of a maths book. As ever, there are practical reflections for teachers, school leaders and anyone interested in how children come to see themselves as mathematical thinkers. Listen, subscribe and get in touch: Email: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell/ Primary Maths Podcast Substack: https://primarymathspodcast.substack.com/

    38 min
  8. Time Zones, Test Week and Teaching with Representations - AfterMaths

    May 8

    Time Zones, Test Week and Teaching with Representations - AfterMaths

    Becky is back from America, which means Aftermaths is back to its usual rhythm of maths chat, gentle chaos and slightly overconfident linking between topics. In this episode, Jon and Becky begin by looking ahead to Key Stage 2 SATs week, reflecting on the pressure pupils, parents and schools can feel, while also remembering some of the stranger moments from past SATs papers, including giraffes, warthogs and the famous “bewilderment” question. Jon then shares a staff meeting idea about representations in maths, using improper fractions, mixed numbers and counters to explore when manipulatives help children see the structure of the mathematics, and when they can become an inefficient crutch. It leads into a wider discussion about fluency, efficiency, conceptual understanding and the importance of moving pupils intentionally from representation towards more efficient methods. For this week’s Maths of Life, Becky brings back some travel-inspired mathematics from her trip to Washington State. A flight from London to Seattle leads to a conversation about time zones, longitude, negative numbers, the international date line, China’s single time zone, and why France technically has more time zones than Russia. Finally, Jon and Becky return to the recent EEF and UCL research on mixed attainment grouping and setting. They discuss why the headline findings need careful interpretation, the importance of what actually happens in the classroom, and why access to high-quality teaching matters for all pupils, particularly those with gaps to close. You can find the updated Twinkl PlanIt Maths time units here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/dltpv You can connect with Jon on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell/ You can subscribe to the Primary Maths Podcast Substack here: https://primarymathspodcast.substack.com/ And you can get in touch with the show by emailing: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

    41 min
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About

The Primary Maths Podcast is a year-round maths podcast for teachers, leaders and anyone interested in how children learn mathematics. Every Tuesday, join me, Jon Cripwell, for an in-depth interview with an expert voice from across education - teachers, leaders, researchers, authors and thinkers - as we explore what really works in primary maths. We dive into the big ideas shaping maths education, from maths anxiety and fluency to task design, curriculum, reasoning and problem solving. Then on Fridays, Becky Brown and I return for Aftermaths — a shorter, light-hearted, practical debrief where we unpack the week’s key insights, and share clear takeaways for the classroom.. We also share listener stories and discuss The Maths of Life, amongst other topics. Across the week, expect: - Insightful conversations with the people shaping maths education - Clear, actionable takeaways for teachers and maths leads - The Maths of Life — the surprising ways maths shows up in everyday moments - A weekly resource spotlight - New episodes every Tuesday and Friday, all year round If you’re looking for a thoughtful, practical teacher podcast that blends research, real classrooms and conversations that matter, this is the place to start.

Information

  • Creator
    Jon Cripwell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jon Cripwell
  • Show Website
    The Primary Maths Podcast

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