Teaching maths in Year 6
How to prioritise and secure learning, develop fluency and ensure Year 6 pupils are ready for SATs and secondary school
27/02/2026
In this episode of the NCETM Maths Podcast, Debbie Morgan, Director for Primary at the NCETM, talks with Suzanne Mathews, primary maths adviser across a trust of 25 primary schools and Assistant Maths Hub Lead for Möbius Maths Hub.
Suzanne explains how her trust approaches mathematics in Year 6. She discusses which learning to prioritise, how daily fluency and arithmetic routines are structured, and how reasoning is developed so that pupils are well prepared for secondary school. She also shares what secondary teachers value most when students move into Year 7.
The episode highlights the free downloadable NCETM resources used across their Year 6 classrooms to secure learning and address gaps.
A transcript (PDF) of this episode is available to download.
Show notes
Taking part in the discussion:
- Susanne Matthews, Assistant Maths Hub Lead at Möbius Maths Hub and Primary Maths Advisor at White Horse Federation
- Debbie Morgan, Director for Primary, NCETM.
Episode chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to the NCETM Maths Podcast
- 01:50 Teaching for mastery approaches
- 02:26 Year 6 priorities beyond SATs
- 05:01 Daily arithmetic and fluency routines
- 06:51 Reasoning and goal-free problems
- 08:40 What domains matter most for secondary
- 10:14 Diagnosing gaps with the ready-to-progress criteria
- 11:30 Times table facts
- 12:47 Applying facts for multiplicative reasoning
- 14:03 Key takeaways and next steps
- 15:29 Thanks and resources in show notes.
Useful links
- Mathematics guidance: key stages 1 and 2
- Exemplification of ready-to-progress criteria
- Coordinating mathematical success: the mathematics subject report (Ofsted, 2023)
- School inspection: toolkit, operating guides and information (Ofsted, 2025)
- Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive.