The Primary Maths Podcast
Episodes
What Cognitive Science Tells Us About Learning Times Tables - with Professor Lucy Cragg
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon speaks with Lucy Cragg, Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Nottingham, about...
Helping Every Child Feel Like a Mathematician - with Tom Oakley
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon Cripwell speaks with Tom Oakley about one of the most important — and often overlooked — aspects...
AfterMaths: When Children Decide They’re “Not a Maths Person”
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 60 of The Primary Maths Podcast is an Aftermaths episode where Jon Cripwell and Becky Brown reflect on mathematical thinking in the classroom,...
Direct Instruction Without Losing Thinking: A Conversation With Will Mcloughlin
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this international episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon is joined by Will McLoughlin, a maths teacher based in Abu Dhabi, founder of AddvanceM...
AfterMaths: Bean 13, Algebra, And a Little Maths Magic
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this Aftermaths episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon Cripwell and Becky Brown reflect on the week’s conversation about using storybooks in m...
Why Stories Might Be The Missing Piece In Maths Lessons - with Hannah Allison
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when maths lessons start with a story rather than a method?In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon Cripwell is joined by Hannah...
AfterMaths: Manipulatives Can't Think (But Teachers Can!)
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 56 of The Primary Maths Podcast focuses on manipulatives in primary maths and asks a simple but important question: do manipulatives automatic...
When Maths Thinking is Messy but Meaningful - with Dr Kate Quane
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon Cripwell is joined by Dr Kate Quade for a thoughtful conversation about language, learning and mathe...
AfterMaths: The Million Dollar Maths Problem
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this half-term Aftermaths episode, Jon and Becky take a deep dive into prime numbers and discover that they are far more than a Year 5 objective ab...
AfterMaths: Is Friday 13th really unlucky?
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Happy half term to those who celebrate. In this slightly re-routed Aftermaths episode, Jon and Becky lean into the fact that it is Friday the 13th and...
Games, Play and Learning in Primary Maths - with Dr Sam Parkes
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really mean to gamify maths, and when do games genuinely support learning rather than simply make practice feel more entertaining?In this...
AfterMaths: School Trips, Maths Engagement and the Trouble with Non Negotiables
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Aftermaths episode, Jon and Becky reflect on what can get lost when pace, coverage and efficiency become the main drivers of lesson p...
Choosing the Right Manipulative: What Really Matters - with Jo Austen
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do we decide which manipulative to use in a maths lesson, and why does that choice matter so much?In this episode, I am joined by Jo Austen for a ...
AfterMaths: Engagement, Calculators and Maths Anxiety
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this Aftermaths episode, Jon and Becky reflect on what it really means to do maths rather than watch it.The conversation begins with Jon sharing an...
Sums of Anarchy: Why Maths Isn’t the Problem – How We Teach It Is
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon is joined by Sums of Anarchy co-founder Dominique Miranda to explore why so many people decide early...
AfterMaths: Scaffolding, Contactless Cash and 11 Missing Days
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Aftermaths, Jon and Becky unpick two words that are everywhere right now — scaffolding and adaptations — and ask whether we’re ...
Problem Solving Isn’t a Task -with Steve Lomax & Tom Manners
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Problem solving is one of those phrases we all use in maths – but do we actually mean the same thing when we say it?Too often, it becomes shorthand ...
AfterMaths: Money, Maths and the Cost of Making Learning Passive
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Aftermaths episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky cover a lot of ground — from coins and contactless payments to SATs ...
What Year 6 Teachers Should (and Shouldn’t) Be Doing for SATs Right Now
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
SATs season can feel overwhelming — especially in Year 6. In this special interview-style episode, Jon is joined by Becky Brown to talk honestly and...
AfterMaths: Resolutions, Routines & Reality in the Classroom
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the first Aftermaths episode of 2026, Jon and Becky reflect on New Year resolutions, why so many of them fail, and what this means for teachers spe...
How Maths Lessons Can Lose Confident Learners - with Emma Lockhart
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why is maths one of the few subjects people feel completely comfortable saying they hated at school?In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon ...
AfterMaths: Christmas by the Numbers- A Festive Aftermaths Special
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas Is Just One Long Maths Problem (A Festive Aftermaths)There’s no interview this week, no school talk, and absolutely no mention of lesson o...
AfterMaths: Fractions, Fatigue & the Future of Teaching
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the autumn term finally draws to a close, Jon and Becky reflect on teacher fatigue, festive chaos, and the sense of relief that comes with making i...
Making Thinking Visible: Oracy at Every Stage of a Maths Lesson with Mike Gardner
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Oracy is set to play a central role in England’s refreshed curriculum, but for many teachers it still feels abstract or confined to English lessons....
AfterMaths: Spotify Wrapped, Financial Education & The Learning Pit
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Aftermaths, Jon and Becky unpack a festive mix of maths chat, listener questions, curriculum reflections and some unexpectedly deligh...
Ep 37: Rebuilding Teacher Confidence in Maths - Insights from Patrick Renouf
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Jon speaks to Patrick Renouf, an international maths educator whose journey is unlike almost any other. As a child, Patrick expe...
AfterMaths: Maths Misused - Our Favourite Everyday Errors
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Aftermaths, Jon and Becky dive into the wonderfully frustrating world of mathematical misuses in everyday life, inspired by a brillia...
How to See Maths Everywhere - Rob Eastaway’s Guide for Teachers
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jon is joined by the brilliant Rob Eastaway, whose books, puzzles and radio appearances have helped hundreds of thousands of people s...
AfterMaths: Six of the Toughest Maths Concepts - Our Definitive Countdown
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s AfterMaths episode, Jon and Becky reunite (voice fully restored!) and unpack a packed agenda: a bit of history, a lot of maths, and s...
From Stuck to Successful: Building Problem-Solving Classrooms with Phil Herd
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jon sits down with Phil Herd -, maths specialist, and long-time champion of teaching for understanding - to unpick what problem solvi...
AfterMaths: A Trillion Cornflakes!
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this Aftermaths episode, Jon is joined once again by Sally Cole (standing in heroically for Becky!) for a wide-ranging Friday debrief. Together the...
The Hidden Logic Behind Great Maths Tasks with John Bee
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jon is joined by maths advisor, Primary Mastery Specialist and author John Bee, whose new book Teaching Maths for Mastery: Practical ...
AfterMaths: Times Tables, Roman Numerals and Golf!
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Aftermaths episode, Jon is joined by two special guests from the Twinkl team. Michelle Windridge, National Education Lead for EYFS an...
Why Times Tables Still Matter and How to Teach Them Better with Cate Fearn
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Few areas of primary maths cause as much debate as times tables.We all agree they matter, but how pupils develop fluency, understanding and confidence...
Aftermaths: Sharing, Grouping, and Getting It Wrong (Why Division Trips Us Up)
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Aftermaths dives deep into one of the trickiest topics in the primary maths curriculum — division. Why do so many pupils (and teachers...
Emergency Episode: Curriculum & Assessment Review Special
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special emergency episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon is joined by Becky, Sally and first-time guest Lisa to unpack the government’s n...
Counting, Comparing and Cooking: How Maths Really Works in EYFS With Michelle Windridge
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Jon is joined by Michelle Windridge, Twinkl’s National Education Lead for School-Based EYFS, for a deep dive into what early years maths ...
Number Sense, PIN Codes and Peer Power
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Jon and Becky are back for a half-term special that explores the foundations of mathematical understanding — and the curious maths behind...
Aftermaths: 6, 7, Pi and AI
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s AfterMaths, Jon and Becky unpack the curious rise of the “6-7” meme and how teachers can turn it into a quick-fire classroom math...
Fractions, Feedback and the Future: What AI Means for Primary Teachers
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now. But what does it actually mean for the teacher standing in front of a class on a rainy Tuesday aftern...
AfterMaths: Traitors, Trust and Timesing
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Aftermaths episode takes an unexpectedly statistical turn as Jon and Becky explore the mathematics behind The Traitors. From probability...
Making Thinking Visible: How Maths Journalling Builds Confident Learners With Kirsten Fenton & Holly Drummond
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jon is joined by Dr Kirsten Fenton and Holly Drummond, two experienced primary practitioners from Scotland who have been at the foref...
AfterMaths: Curriculum, Crossovers and Colin Firth
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Aftermaths episode, Jon and Becky dive into a listener question from Amy in Nottinghamshire: What would you change about the maths cu...
Exploding Rainbows - Connecting Science and Maths with Leonie Briggs
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At school, maths and science are often treated as separate subjects. But in reality, the two are deeply connected, from data collection and measuremen...
Aftermaths: Babies, Benchmarks and Becky’s Latin
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the very first official edition of The Aftermaths, our new Friday format where Jon and Becky unpack the week’s big ideas, share some clas...
Songs, Smoots, and Spatial Reasoning
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 16 of The Primary Maths Podcast. This week is one of our shorter Friday editions, where instead of a full guest interview we pick u...
SEND in the Maths Experts! Inclusive Practice with Georgina Durrant
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, host Jon Cripwell, Twinkl’s National Education Lead for Primary Maths, is joined by Georgina Durrant, ...
From Trust-Wide Leadership to Classroom Lesson Design with Tom Isherwood
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you’ve spent nearly two decades thinking hard about maths, taught in one school for most of your career, and then suddenly find yo...
Primary Maths CPD That Works! Collaborative Planning with Lewis Horsley
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
From Year 6 to Year 7: Why Transition Matters in Maths with Pete Mattock
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 educ...
The Final Summer Special: Puzzles, Pop Songs, and Polygons
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 he...
Summer Special: How far can you get from the sea in the UK? And early maths notation
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 fascinatin...
Summer Special: Leading Maths - Why Subject Leadership Matters More Than Ever
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ye...
Summer Special: Making Sense of Time: Why Teaching Time Is Harder Than You Think
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. F...
How Big Is a Billion? And Can You Plan Around a Scheme Without Losing Yourself?
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Summer Special: The Surprising History of School Holidays – and a Maths Question Answered
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 hi...
Metacognition in Maths: The Secret To Building Resilient Learners - with Nathan Burns
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do we help children become confident, independent mathematical thinkers, not just answer-getters?In this episode of the Primary Maths Podcast, Jon...
Kate Frood Taught Maths Every Week as a Headteacher - Here's Why
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How Number Talks Transformed Teaching from Nursery to Year 6 (with Omar Jennings)
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon speaks with headteacher and mastery specialist Omar Jennings about how Number Talks have transformed...
Teaching Maths in Small Schools: Mixed-Age Classes, Mastery and Oracy
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
What Makes Great Teaching? – Lessons from John Tomsett
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky are joined by John Tomsett, renowned education consultant, former headteacher of Huntingto...
Talking Maths Anxiety and Confidence with Dr Heidi Kirkland
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our very first episode, we’re joined by Dr Heidi Kirkland - teacher, researcher, and co-author of Maths Anxiety: Solving the Equation - to explor...