The Primary Maths Podcast17 Jun 2025

Talking Maths Anxiety and Confidence with Dr Heidi Kirkland

In our very first episode, we’re joined by Dr Heidi Kirkland - teacher, researcher, and co-author of Maths Anxiety: Solving the Equation - to explore why even confident mathematicians can feel anxious about maths, and what we can do about it in the classroom.

We chat about:

Why self-belief matters more than ability
What anxiety might look like in a maths lesson (spoiler: not always what you expect)
The role of language, teacher behaviour, and culture in shaping confidence
How to build a classroom where all learners feel safe to think, try and talk about maths
Heidi’s experiences of teaching abroad and launching her platform, Mindful Maths

🧮 The Maths of Life

Jon and Becky explore real-world maths moments: booking holidays abroad, dodging dodgy exchange rates, and working out the perimeter of the Isle of Wight while stuck in a ferry queue.

🛠️ Resource of the Week

This week’s pick: Mastering the Mountain – a Twinkl Originals picture book for KS2, designed to open up conversations about maths anxiety through storytelling.

📚Visit ‘Mastering the Mountain’ on Twinkl to read the ebook and access accompanying resources.

💬 Join the Conversation

Have a maths anxiety story or a question for Heidi, Jon or Becky? Email us at: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

🔗 Links

Find Heidi on LinkedIn

Her website, mentioned on the episode: Mindful Maths

📅 New episodes every Tuesday during term time, brought to you by Jon Cripwell (Primary National Education Lead for Primary Maths and Becky Brown, Educational Content Lead at Twinkl Educational Publishing.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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