In this episode, we talk to Liz Woodham, Primary Coordinator at NRICH, about the Problem-solving Schools initiative and its aims to support the development of reasoning and problem-solving skills for pupils and students from Reception to post-16. Liz shares insights into the initiative's process, including the use of webinars and rich tasks to support schools, and we also look at the relationship between problem-solving and reasoning and their importance in a well-rounded maths education.

A transcript (PDF) of this episode is available to download.

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• Liz Woodham, Primary Coordinator, NRICH, University of Cambridge
• Julia Thomson, Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, NCETM.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 04:00 Problem-solving Schools initiative
• 05:08 The Kilpatrick Rope Model
• 08:39 The Five Big Ideas in Teaching for Mastery
• 10:26 Framework and goals of the Problem-solving Schools initiative
• 17:22 ‘NRICH-style’ problems and SATs-style problems
• 20:05 Developing a ‘productive disposition’
• 22:16 Making time for problem-solving
• 26:12 What is reasoning and problem-solving?
• 29:52 Exploring and noticing
• 37:26 Conclusion and how to get involved.

• NRICH Problem-solving Schools initiative
• NRICH Kilpatrick Rope Model
• NRICH game mentioned in podcast: Make 37
• Previous NCETM Maths Podcast discussion with NRICH: Episode 77 - Maths Games
• Mentioned by Julia: Five Big Ideas in Teaching for Mastery
• Feature on RIWGs: Research and Innovation in the Maths Hubs Network
• Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive.

In Part 2 of our episode on oracy with Jane Hawkins from the NCETM and Kathleen McBride from Voice 21, we explore the impact of the Maths Hubs’ Research and Innovation Work Groups (RIWGs), strategies for implementing oracy in both primary and secondary education, and the importance of oracy for enhancing student learning and engagement.

A transcript (PDF) of this episode is available to download.

• Kathleen McBride, Senior Learning and Innovation Lead, Voice 21
• Jane Hawkins, Assistant Director for Secondary, NCETM, and Assistant Maths Hub Lead, Jurassic Maths Hub
• Julia Thomson, Communications Manager, NCETM.

• 00:06 Welcome and introductions
• 00:51 Research and Innovation Work Groups (RIWGs)
• 02:28 Impact of Oracy RIWGs
• 04:41 Talk strategies
• 08:25 What does successful oracy look like?
• 10:58 The teacher’s role
• 12:18 Different types of talk
• 18:35 Oracy in secondary education
• 22:17 Ideas for teachers
• 25:44 Misconceptions about oracy
• 28:52 Resources and further reading
• 30:31 Conclusion.

• Listen to Part 1 of this podcast episode
• All-Party Parliamentary Group Report: Speak for Change (2021)
• Voice 21 website
• Voice 21 Talk Tactics and How to develop independent student discussion
• Voice 21 Talking Point publication (2023)
• Voice 21 Oracy Benchmarks report (2019)
• Voice 21 Impact Report (2022-23)
• NCETM Primary Curriculum Prioritisation materials
• NCETM Checkpoints for KS3
• Interthinking: Putting Talk to Work by Karen Littleton & Neil Mercer (Routledge, 2013)
• Talking Points: Discussion Activities in the Primary Classroom by Lynn Dawes (Routledge, 2012)
• Find your local Maths Hub
• Maths Hubs Research and Innovation Work Groups (RIWGs)
• Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive
• The NCETM Maths Podcast on Instagram.

In Part 1 of our discussion with Kathleen McBride from Voice 21 and Jane Hawkins from the NCETM’s Secondary Team and Jurassic Maths Hub, we discuss the definition of oracy, its significance for students' mathematical development, behaviour and overall well-being, and the role of Research and Innovation Work Groups (RIWGs) in exploring oracy's impact in classrooms. We also take a look at Voice 21’s Oracy Framework for schools and teachers.

A transcript (PDF) of this episode is available to download.

• Kathleen McBride, Senior Learning and Innovation Lead, Voice 21
• Jane Hawkins, Assistant Director for Secondary, NCETM, and Assistant Maths Hub Lead, Jurassic Maths Hub
• Julia Thomson, Communications Manager, NCETM.

• 00:06 Welcome and introductions
• 03:03 Definition, importance and research
• 08:58 Oracy challenges and misconceptions
• 13:01 Oracy Research and Innovation Work Groups
• 14:21 Oracy’s impact on learning
• 15:54 Purposeful talk
• 17:07 The Oracy Framework
• 19:54 Oracy in the maths classroom
• 28:33 Reflecting on teaching practice
• 30:15 Conclusion.

• All-Party Parliamentary Group Report Speak for Change
• Voice 21 Impact Report 2022-2023
• Voice 21 Oracy Framework
• Maths Hubs Research and Innovation Work Groups
• Bullock Report: A Language for Life (Bullock, 1975)
• EEF Dialogic Teaching Report (2017, 2022)
• School 21 and University of Cambridge Oracy Programme Pilot (2013/14)
• Coordinating Mathematical Success: the mathematics subject report (Ofsted, 2023)
• Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive
• The NCETM Maths Podcast on Instagram.