The Primary Maths Podcast24 Jun 2025

What Makes Great Teaching? – Lessons from John Tomsett

In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky are joined by John Tomsett, renowned education consultant, former headteacher of Huntington School, and author of influential books such as "This Much I Know About Great Teaching".

John brings decades of educational leadership and classroom experience to an insightful conversation about the true essence of great teaching and learning. He shares his "10 principles of great teaching," drawing from extensive observations and research across primary and secondary classrooms.

Key Topics Covered:

The core principles that define truly exceptional teaching.
How to balance rigorous frameworks with teacher autonomy and creativity.
Building strong, meaningful relationships with pupils.
Insights into misconceptions in maths education and how teachers can effectively address them.
Real-life stories illustrating the profound impact great teachers can have.

Key Questions Explored:

What makes lessons genuinely engaging for pupils?
How can teachers balance consistency with creativity and enthusiasm?
What critical skills and practices define outstanding teaching?

Resources Mentioned:

The Hidden Lives of Learners by Graham Nuthall
WalkThrus by Tom Sherrington and Oliver Caviglioli
John Tomsett's books, including forthcoming titles on primary and secondary teaching

Connect with John Tomsett:

John Tomsett’s Blog
Twitter: @johntomsett

Listen & Subscribe:

Remember to subscribe to The Primary Maths Podcast wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a review if you enjoyed this episode!

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(90)

Is the maths attainment gap getting wider?

Why do some pupils seem to thrive in maths while others struggle to access the same lesson?Jon and Becky discuss the latest PISA findings and the widening gap between higher and lower attainers, befor...

18 Sep 38min

How Big Is the Universe? | AfterMaths Summer Special

How can the universe be 13.8 billion years old but the observable universe be around 93 billion light years across?In this AfterMaths Summer Special, Jon is joined by primary science specialist Sarah ...

4 Sep 42min

Can Maths Help You Win at Games?

Can maths help you win at games?In this AfterMaths Summer Special, Jon and Becky explore the line between luck and strategy — and whether understanding the maths behind a game can actually give you an...

28 Aug 25min

Can Maths Predict the Future?

Can maths really predict the future?We can predict the return of a comet decades in advance, but tomorrow's weather can still catch us completely by surprise. In this AfterMaths Summer Special, Jon an...

24 Aug 26min

The Maths of Getting Away: Routes, Queues & Google Maps

Podcast Show NotesWhat makes a route the best route? The shortest distance? The quickest journey? The cheapest option? Or simply whichever one Google tells you to take?In this AfterMaths Summer Specia...

21 Aug 31min

Who Decided How Long a Metre Is? AfterMaths Summer Special 3

Who decided how long a metre should be? Why is a mile 1,760 yards? And what connects the French Revolution, an expedition from Dunkirk to Barcelona and the speed of light?In this AfterMaths Summer Spe...

7 Aug 22min

The Probability Problems That Make Your Brain Hurt - AfterMaths Summer Special 2 2026

Probability often feels as though it should be intuitive, right up until the mathematics tells us that our instincts are completely wrong.In this AfterMaths Summer Special, Jon and Becky explore the s...

31 Jul 30min

Why Do Summer Holidays Feel Shorter As We Get Older? Summer Special 1 2026

Why did the six-week summer holiday feel endless when we were children, yet now seems to disappear almost as soon as it begins?In the first of the 2026 Aftermaths Summer Specials, Jon and Becky explor...

28 Jul 29min