Attainment Grouping vs Setting in Primary Maths - AfterMaths Episode

About this episode

Jon Cripwell and Ash Morris discuss the implications of a new study on student grouping in primary maths education.

In this Aftermaths episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon is joined by returning guest Ash Morris for a Friday conversation that begins with National Space Day and ends with one of the most talked-about education reports of the week. Ash shares some suitably mind-bending space facts, including moon rocks, sunlight, Apollo, Artemis and why the Moon might be thought of as Earth’s child. Jon also remembers the author he forgot during the episode: Andy Weir, who wrote The Martian and Project Hail Mary , both brilliant examples of science-rich storytelling. The second half of the episode turns to the new Student Grouping Study from the Education Endowment Foundation and UCL Institute of Education. The study looked at Year 7 and Year 8 maths classes, comparing pupils taught in mixed attainment groups with those taught in sets by prior attainment. Jon reflects on what the findings might mean for primary maths, especially for teachers and leaders thinking carefully about mixed attainment teaching, challenge, lesson design and pupil confidence. The episode does not treat the report as a simple argument for or against setting. Instead, it asks a more useful question: what does any…

People in this episode

Host: Jon Cripwell

Guest: Ash Morris

Topics covered

• attainment grouping
• setting
• primary maths
• education reports
• mixed attainment teaching
• pupil confidence
• lesson design

Keywords

• attainment grouping
• setting
• primary maths
• Education Endowment Foundation
• UCL Institute of Education
• mixed attainment
• pupil confidence
• lesson design
• space facts
• Andy Weir

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Education Endowment Foundation, UCL Institute of Education

Books & works: The Martian, Project Hail Mary

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