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The Primary Maths Podcast

The Primary Maths Podcast

By: Jon Cripwell
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Summary
 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.Copyright 2026 Jon Cripwell Mathematics Science
Episodes
  • Cognitive Load: Are we overcomplicating maths lessons?

    Cognitive Load: Are we overcomplicating maths lessons?
    Oct 20 2026

    Are we sometimes making maths harder to learn than it needs to be?

    In this episode of AfterMaths, Jon and Becky explore cognitive load theory and what it means for teaching primary maths. From trying to remember a recipe to learning a musical theatre routine, they consider why our working memory can become overwhelmed — and what that tells us about the demands we place on children in the classroom.

    They revisit some of their own spectacularly overcomplicated lessons, question whether elaborate activities can distract from the mathematics, and explore why knowledge and experience make even difficult calculations feel easier.

    Then, inspired by Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks, Jon raises another question: are we so focused on preparing children for the maths they'll need in the future that we're forgetting to celebrate what they can do with it right now?

    Along the way, they discuss problem-solving, mathematical puzzles, the importance of noticing and why making maths enjoyable doesn't have to mean adding more bells and whistles.

    Resources and events

    • PlanIt Maths: Explore Twinkl's flexible primary maths scheme – https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1djqmc
    • Primary Maths Problem-Solving Resources: Discover the latest resources, including Changing the Process – https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1djqmc
    • FREE Live Professional Development – Informal Approaches to Multiplication: Join Becky for practical ideas and strategies for the classroom – https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/w7xeg

    Also mentioned:

    • John Sweller's cognitive load theory
    • Richard Mayer's coherence principle
    • Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks
    • Episode 30, featuring Phil Hurd

    We'd love to hear from you! How do you help children enjoy and use the mathematics they're learning right now? Email us at primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk.
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    40 mins
  • Why Subtraction Isn't Just Taking Away

    Why Subtraction Isn't Just Taking Away
    Oct 13 2026

    Subtraction isn't always about taking something away. So why do we so often teach it that way?

    Before we get into that, check out our free upcoming CPD sessions:

    Informal Multiplication: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/w7xeg

    Practical Techniques to Reduce Cognitive Load in Primary Maths: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/ij2cs

    In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast: Aftermaths, Jon and Becky explore the different meanings of subtraction, why children might find it harder than addition, and how we can help pupils become more flexible and confident mathematicians.

    From taking away and finding missing parts to comparing quantities, they unpack the three structures of subtraction and explain why understanding the context of a problem matters far more than spotting keywords.

    Along the way, they explore the difference between inverse and opposite, discover the history of the minus sign, revisit the shopkeeper's method of counting change, and even find out why computers often use addition to perform subtraction.

    In this episode:

    • Why subtraction might be harder than addition
    • The three structures: reduction, partitioning and comparison
    • Why 'more' doesn't always mean add
    • The importance of representations and conceptual understanding
    • Counting on as an efficient subtraction strategy
    • Why choosing the right method matters more than mastering one procedure
    • The surprising history of subtraction and its symbols

    Because sometimes, the best way to solve a subtraction problem is not to subtract at all.

    PlanIt Maths Scheme: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1djqmc

    Problem Solving: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/65mp5

    The Primary Maths Podcast: Aftermaths — with Jon Cripwell and Becky Brown.
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    25 mins
  • Addition: structures, strategies and why 8 + 7 matters

    Addition: structures, strategies and why 8 + 7 matters
    Oct 2 2026
    Addition is one of the first mathematical operations children meet, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple.In this episode of AfterMaths, Jon and Becky take a closer look at what it really means to understand addition. They explore why knowing lots of different strategies matters, why column addition should be a tool rather than the destination, and why Jon has, somewhat inexplicably, developed a favourite addition calculation.There’s also some Wordle mathematics, new research into the importance of spatial reasoning and partitioning, and a trip through the surprisingly long history of the humble + symbol.In this episode01:16 – Can mathematics help you beat Wordle?Researchers at Binghamton University have used Shannon entropy and information theory to develop a Wordle strategy that solved more than 99% of puzzles in simulations.05:50 – What’s your favourite addition?Jon nominates 8 + 7, and uses it to explore number bonds, partitioning, near doubles, compensation and the different ways children might see the same calculation.10:58 – The structures of additionWhat is the difference between aggregation and augmentation, and do children actually need to know those words?15:00 – Column addition: servant or master?Written algorithms are incredibly useful, but they aren’t automatically the most efficient or sophisticated strategy. Jon and Becky discuss why children need a repertoire of approaches and the freedom to choose between them.20:54 – Research: partitioning is spatial as well as numericalNew research from Chelsea Cutting explores how spatial visualisation, spatial structuring and proportional reasoning can support young children’s understanding of partitioning and fractions.26:33 – Where did the + symbol come from?Becky heads down a mathematical-history rabbit hole, from ancient Egyptian walking legs to medieval shorthand and the emergence of the modern plus sign.34:30 – Free primary maths CPDJon and Becky look ahead to Twinkl’s programme of free live primary maths sessions, including subtraction, problem solving, cognitive load and mathematical talk.And next week: subtraction.Links and further readingWordle and information theoryBinghamton University: researchers use maths to crack WordleResearch paper: Solving Wordle Using Information TheoryPlay WordlePlay NerdlePartitioning and spatial reasoningChelsea Cutting: Exploring the critical role spatial reasoning plays in young children’s early partitioning developmentFurther reading:Wilson, Myers, Edgington & Confrey: Fair Shares, Matey, or Walk the PlankThe history of mathematical symbolsMacTutor: Earliest Uses of Symbols of OperationFree primary maths CPDExplore Twinkl’s upcoming TeachMeet eventsTwinkl Primary Maths CPD collectionQuote from the episodeJohn Dewey, Logic: The Theory of Inquiry (1938):“It is a familiar and significant saying that a problem well put is half-solved.”The Primary Maths Podcast: AfterMathsWith Jon Cripwell and Becky Brown.New episodes exploring the ideas, research and slightly unexpected tangents behind primary mathematics.
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    37 mins
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