Groundwork Maths offers a thoughtful and practical response to one of the most persistent challenges facing schools: how to support pupils who have gaps in mathematical knowledge without overwhelming staff or relying on disconnected intervention activities.
Its diagnostic starting point is a real strength. Schools can identify what pupils actually need rather than making assumptions based only on age, year group or broad attainment data. The carefully sequenced materials then give staff a clearer route from assessment to teaching.
We also like the emphasis on implementation support and professional development. Effective intervention depends not only on the quality of the resources but also on how confidently and consistently they are used.
Groundwork Maths should be particularly valuable for schools looking for a structured, evidence-informed intervention that supports pupil progress while making effective use of staff time.
Groundwork Maths is a structured intervention programme for pupils in Key Stages 2 and 3 who need additional support to secure the essential mathematical knowledge required for future success.
Aligned with the Ready-to-Progress criteria, the programme begins with diagnostic assessment to help teachers identify specific gaps in pupils’ understanding. It then provides carefully sequenced teaching materials, professional development and implementation support to help schools deliver effective, targeted intervention.
Rather than offering disconnected worksheets or short-term catch-up activities, Groundwork Maths helps schools build pupils’ understanding systematically. The programme focuses on strengthening mathematical knowledge, fluency and confidence so pupils are better prepared to access their wider curriculum.
Groundwork Maths can help schools identify precisely where pupils’ mathematical understanding has broken down and provide a clear teaching sequence for addressing those gaps.
The programme supports schools by providing:
- Diagnostic assessment to identify individual and group needs
- Carefully sequenced intervention materials
- Support aligned with the Ready-to-Progress criteria
- Practical professional development for teachers and support staff
- Guidance on implementation and intervention delivery
- A consistent approach for pupils across Key Stages 2 and 3
- Support for developing pupils’ mathematical confidence
- A more focused alternative to broad or generic catch-up provision
It is particularly useful for schools seeking to improve the impact of small-group intervention, support pupils with persistent gaps or strengthen transitions between primary and secondary mathematics.
Rethink Maths – A Game-Changer for Education
When you’ve walked the corridors of schools where maths is feared, misunderstood, and seen as a barrier rather than a bridge, you know how vital it is to change the narrative. That’s exactly what Tony Staneff and Caroline Hamilton have done with Rethink Maths. This isn’t just a programme, it’s a movement. A movement to make maths loved, lived, and understood by every child, every teacher, every parent, and yes, every policymaker who dares to dream big for education.
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Tony and Caroline for over a decade. Let me tell you this: my journey as a Head Teacher, turning my school into the best in the country for maths, was powered by their vision, their expertise, and their relentless belief that every child can succeed. They don’t just talk about inclusion, they make it happen. They don’t just preach confidence, they build it, brick by brick, lesson by lesson.
Rethink Maths is built on five powerful missions:
• Rethink Foundations – because strong roots grow strong learners.
• Rethink Confidence – because belief unlocks potential.
• Rethink Inclusion – because every child matters, no exceptions.
• Rethink Real World – because maths isn’t just numbers; it’s life.
• Rethink Teaching – because great teaching changes everything.
At Create Partnership, we’re proud to be among the first, if not the first, to invest in this future. Why? Because our children deserve the very best. And this is it. This is the blueprint for a brighter, bolder, more brilliant maths education.
If you believe maths can be better, and I know you do, then Rethink Maths is your call to action. It’s not just about teaching maths; it’s about transforming lives.
Chris Dyson, CEO Create Partnership