In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky explore the mathematics behind space travel, inspired by the recent Artemis mission and the return of astronauts from their journey around the Moon. Starting with the sheer scale of the challenge, they unpack the numbers, distances, and precision required to send humans into space and bring them safely home again.

The conversation compares the Apollo missions of the 1960s with today’s Artemis programme, highlighting how technology has advanced dramatically while the underlying mathematics has remained the same. From trajectory calculations and launch angles to predicting where the Moon will be, this episode brings big mathematical ideas into a form that teachers can share with their pupils.

The episode then focuses on the remarkable story of Katherine Johnson, whose calculations were critical to the success of early space missions, including Apollo 11. Her work reminds us that mathematics is far more than arithmetic. It is about reasoning, modelling, and solving real problems that matter.

Along the way, Jon and Becky reflect on what this means for the classroom, why the maths we teach in primary school matters more than we might think, and how stories like this can inspire children to see themselves as mathematicians.

If you enjoy the podcast, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review so you never miss an episode. You can also join the conversation on LinkedIn and connect with other educators.

We are also running a free online TeachMeet on problem solving, focusing on the power of pattern spotting. You can sign up here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maths-problem-solving-the-power-of-pattern-spotting-tickets-1981746761912?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Get in touch with the show: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

Follow Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell/In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky explore the mathematics behind space travel, inspired by the recent Artemis mission and the return of astronauts from their journey around the Moon. Starting with the sheer scale of the challenge, they unpack the numbers, distances, and precision required to send humans into space and bring them safely home again.

The conversation compares the Apollo missions of the 1960s with today’s Artemis programme, highlighting how technology has advanced dramatically while the underlying mathematics has remained the same. From trajectory calculations and launch angles to predicting where the Moon will be, this episode brings big mathematical ideas into a form that teachers can share with their pupils.

The episode then focuses on the remarkable story of Katherine Johnson, whose calculations were critical to the success of early space missions, including Apollo 11. Her work reminds us that mathematics is far more than arithmetic. It is about reasoning, modelling, and solving real problems that matter.

Along the way, Jon and Becky reflect on what this means for the classroom, why the maths we teach in primary school matters more than we might think, and how stories like this can inspire children to see themselves as mathematicians.

If you enjoy the podcast, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review so you never miss an episode. You can also join the conversation on LinkedIn and connect with other educators.

We are also running a free online TeachMeet on problem solving, focusing on the power of pattern spotting. You can sign up here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maths-problem-solving-the-power-of-pattern-spotting-tickets-1981746761912?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Get in touch with the show: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

Follow Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell/

Hello and welcome to this interview episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, the show where we talk all things primary maths. I’m Jon Cripwell.

In this episode, I’m joined by Paula Fieldhouse for a wide-ranging conversation about financial literacy, parental engagement, and what it really means to prepare children for the financial decisions they will face later in life.

We explore what financial literacy actually is, beyond budgeting worksheets and coin recognition, and why children’s early experiences of money at home play such a powerful role in shaping their attitudes, confidence and behaviours. Paula shares insights from her research into how families talk about money, how inequality shows up long before formal financial education begins, and why schools on their own cannot solve this issue.

We also discuss common misconceptions, including the idea that financial education is something that can be bolted on later, or that it sits outside the maths curriculum. Paula explains why parental engagement matters so much, what meaningful support for families can look like, and how initiatives like Learning with Parents are helping to bridge the gap between home and school in a practical, respectful way.

This episode will be particularly relevant for teachers, maths leads and school leaders thinking about inclusion, equity and real-world application in mathematics, as well as anyone interested in how education systems can support families rather than work around them.

You can find out more about Paula’s work and connect with her on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-paula-fieldhouse-7291a6189

You can also explore the work of Learning with Parents at

https://learningwithparents.com

If you’d like to get in touch with the show, you can email us at

primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

You can connect with me on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell

And you can follow me on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/joncripwellmaths/

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, subscribing, or leaving a review. It really helps more people find the podcast.

In this Aftermaths episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky return after the Easter break with a lighter, curiosity-driven conversation that blends real mathematics with everyday life.

Jon introduces a fascinating mathematical quirk known as Kaprekar’s constant. Starting with almost any four-digit number and following a simple process of rearranging and subtracting digits, you will always arrive at 6174. It is a brilliant example of how pattern, structure and curiosity can bring maths to life, and offers a simple but engaging classroom investigation.

The conversation then shifts into “Maths of Life”, as Becky shares a very relatable problem: calculating the area of an awkwardly shaped driveway. What follows is a great discussion about different ways to break down complex shapes, and how mathematical thinking allows us to approach the same problem in multiple valid ways.

Finally, Becky brings back “Etymathsology”, exploring the origins of mathematical language. This week includes the surprising Norse roots of the word “odd”, the evolution of “even”, and the historical meaning of “score” as a way of counting in twenties.

As ever, the episode is a reminder that maths is everywhere, from number curiosities to home improvements to the words we use every day.

If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe and leave a review. It really helps more people discover the show.

We always love hearing from you. If you’ve spotted some maths in your everyday life, get in touch and we might feature it in a future episode.

Email: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

Jon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell/

Substack: https://primarymathspodcast.substack.com/