The Right Angle education podcast
The Right Angle podcast's mission is to help shape the future of education by addressing the trending topics and dilemmas of the Maths world in the UK. Every month, we bring you expert opinions from influential thought leaders, educators, and facilitators. 
Our hosts, Teresa Senyah, Nicola Woodford-Smith and Mark Heslop, lead conversations on themes such as the evolution of technology to support learning, GCSE and A level exam preparation, student engagement, STEM, diversity, and inclusion across Primary and Secondary maths and more. From award-winning teachers through to professors and celebrity mathematicians, The Right Angle really does have it all! Â
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the panel and guests on the show. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Pearson.Â
You can find and subscribe to our podcast on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
📢 Newest episodes
Ep 30:Â Unlocking potential at Post-16 with Emma James
In this episode, Nicola Woodford-Smith talks with Emma James who has over 20 years experience teaching and leading maths in Further Education settings. The conversation meanders through themes such as building maths confidence through emotional safety and how to ensure they are ready for their next exam series using various teaching strategies and resources.Â
Find out more about GCSE Maths Boost here GCSE (9-1) Mathematics Post-16 Boost Resources and Support
Ep 29: A conversation on Post-16 Maths with Eddie Playfair
In this episode, Teresa Senyah is joined by Eddie Playfair to discuss post-16 maths and what can be done to make a ‘Maths for All’ approach work and the annual AOC conference.
Find out more about the Association of Colleges
Ep 28: 'Taking good mathematicians out of their comfort zone' with Simon Singh
In this much anticipated episode, Dr Simon Singh tells Nicola Woodford-Smith how his career journey has led him to his latest project, the Euclid Academy. The pair discuss how this FREE opportunity is designed to challenge, inspire and lead our most promising young mathematicians into a world of satisfying problem solving in order to champion their talents and ambitions of mathematics and beyond.
Find out more about the Euclid Academy
Discover our new Level 2 Extended Maths CertificateÂ
Follow Simon (@SLSingh) and Nicola (@miss_mathsgeek)Â on X (previously Twitter)
Ep 27:Â 'The importance of student engagement' with Lella Violet Halloum
In this episode, Lella Violet Halloum talks to Teresa Senyah about the future of STEAM, her education experience and the importance of having student engagement at the forefront of decision making.
Ep 26:Â 'Integrating CPD into day-to-day teaching' with Aidan Gollaglee
In this episode, Teresa Senyah is joined by Maths Hub Lead Aidan Gollaglee to discuss the impact of continuous professional development for maths teachers and the range in attitudes towards it in primary and secondary schools.
Find out more about the Maths Hub Programme
Ep 25:Â 'How can we combat inequality in STEM' with Dr Meghna Nag Chowdhuri
In this episode, Teresa Senyah is alongside Dr Meghna Nag Chowdhuri to focus on inequality in mathematics education and how that may affect student progression.
Find out more about Dr Meghna Nag Chowdhuri's work:Â
Equity compass
Making spaces
Primary science capital
Featured episodes
Ep 05: Back to school with Bobby Seagull
Listen to host, Nicola, chat with Bobby Seagull about setting yourself up for a successful year ahead to avoid burning out too quickly, using popular culture to promote maths education in a more positive way, and much more!
Follow Bobby Seagull on Twitter:Â @Bobby_Seagull
Ep 12:Â Supporting Early Career Maths Teachers
In this episode, Nicola Woodford-Smith asks about Pietro Tozzi's experience as a mentor and what elements he considers the most valuable to get off to a good start for the maths teacher. They cover topics such as managing behaviour and expectations in the classroom, having a work and life balance, and much more!
They also talk about Pietro's new programme of events supporting new maths teachers that launched this Summer.
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Previous episodes
Ep 24: 'Making the most of textbooks and resources' with Catherine Murphy and Dr Naomi Norman
In this episode of ‘The Right Angle’ podcast, Teresa Senyah is joined by Catherine Murphy and Dr Naomi Norman to talk about accessibility in GCSE maths, bridging the gap between KS2 and KS3 and the process of writing maths resources and the role they have in the modern classroom.
Ep 21: 'How can the Hierarchy of Independence support SEN students' with Karen McGuigan
In this episode, Karen McGuigan explains to Teresa Senyah what the Hierarchy of Independence is, her mathematical journey so far and why she founded the differentiated learning programme for children, Maths for Life.
Ep 20: 'Our new Level 2 Extended Maths Certificate' with Grace Hatswell
In this episode, Teresa Senyah is with the lead product developer of the Level 2 Extended Maths Certificate, Grace Hatswell to discuss what the new maths qualification is all about.
Ep 19: 'What can we do to manage Maths anxiety?' with Dr Thomas Hunt
In this episode, Dr Tom Hunt joins Teresa Senyah to discuss what Maths anxiety is, how it manifests itself in the classroom and what we can do to manage it.
Ep 18: 'Why Mathematics is the best subject in the world!' with Nira Chamberlain
In this episode, Teresa Senyah is alongside Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE to explore his personal journey in becoming the ‘World’s most interesting mathematician’, the theme of why mathematics is the greatest subject in the world and the Black Heroes of Mathematics conference taking place on the 3rd and 4th October 2023.
Ep 17:Â 'Maths Beyond the Curriculum' with Rob Eastaway
In this episode, Teresa Senyah explores the overarching theme of making maths ‘fun’ beyond the curriculum, puzzles and their role in maths enrichment and its interconnection with other subjects. She is alongside Rob Eastaway who has dedicated his career to promoting mathematics outside the classroom and inspiring people of all ages to embrace the beauty of mathematics.
Ep 16: 'Maths Anxiety! Can it be reversed?' with Sue Johnston-Wilder
In this episode, Nicola Woodford-Smith raises questions around the ever-growing topic that is ‘maths anxiety’. There is no better placed expert to ask than Sue Johnston-Wilder who has dedicated years of her career to this topic. Nicola and Sue discuss the research behind where maths anxiety can stem from, and importantly how to use resilience to combat further problems.
Ep 15: Diversity and Inclusion in Maths with Professor Hannah Fry
In this episode, Professor Hannah Fry discusses with host Nicola Woodford-Smith why maths is for everyone, providing insights, tips and tools teachers can implement to make our favourite subject more diverse and inclusive.Â
Ep 14: Summer GCSE exam results reaction
In this episode, Chris Seager and Mel Muldowney from JustMaths share their experiences of this Summer's recent GCSE exams, the results their students achieved, and how these outcomes will impact their plans for the year ahead.
Ep 13: Delivering GCSE maths at Post-16
In this episode, Nicola Woodford-Smith invites Steve Pardoe from the ET Foundation to share his findings from the work across the Centres for Excellence in Maths around successful post-16 GCSE maths study.
Steve also talks about the ongoing barriers to successful progress and outcomes for these students.
Ep 11: Just Maths and how to prepare for summer exams
Listen to host, Mark Heslop talk with Melanie Muldowney and Chris Seager from the Just Maths team about how they prepare their students for the summer exam series.
What are they doing differently as we approach the first exam series in a couple of years?
Ep 10: Talking Truths About Dyscalculia
In this episode, we dive into the truths around dyscalculia with expert Rob Jennings from The Dyscalculia Network. Rob shares his expertise in recognising the signs and, most importantly, strategies on how to support students with dyscalculia.
Ep 09:Â When maths goes wrong!
In this episode, stand-up comedian and #1 maths author, Matt Parker (@standupmaths) talks with Nicola Woodford-Smith about all the truly inspiring projects he's involved with to help learners explore their passion for maths. From the uber-famous 500 LED Christmas tree to the #1 selling bestseller 'Humble Pi', this conversation will keep you entertained from start to finish.
Ep 08:Â Girls do STEM too!
In this episode, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon talks to Nicola Woodford-Smith about the huge success of the Stemettes, being the recent arithmetician on Countdown, as well as how teachers can encourage young people to explore more STEM-inspired roles.
Ep 07: Who invented algebra?
In this episode, Dr Ems Lord and Nicola discuss how the NRICH outreach project continues to facilitate rich mathematical understanding along with how to answer those common student questions like 'who invented algebra?' and 'what's the point in maths?'. Often these questions shape the perception of maths and so let's get making those conversations positive ones!
Ep 06: Charlie Stripp MBE about the AMSP and the NCETM
In this episode, Mark talks with Charlie Stripp about his work leading the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics and the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme, how they can support you and how you can get involved.
Ep 04: 'Opening conversations for change' with Susan Okereke
In this episode, Nicola and the inspirational maths education thought leader, Susan Okereke, open up conversations around tackling maths anxiety in the classroom, as well as discussing whether the current maths GCSE is fit for purpose.
Follow Susan Okereke on Twitter:Â @DoTheMathsThing
Ep 03: 'Encouraging STEM pathways' with Katie King
In episode 3, Nicola talks to Katie King about the key issues relating to inspiring young people, particularly girls, onto STEM pathways. They also chat about Katie's work with NASA and her application to become the next female astronaut, her current PhD work into cancer treatment, and her experiences as a secondary school maths and science teacher. And if that isn't enough reason to listen, Katie has also worked with her mum, Carol Vorderman, on Pearson’s The Maths Factor. It is definitely not an episode that you want to miss!
Follow Katie King on Twitter:Â @KKing_5
Ep 02: In conversation with Dr Jamie Frost
In this episode, Mark chats with Dr Jamie Frost about the history and the future of the Dr Frost Maths website and his Global Teacher Prize Covid Hero Award.
Follow Dr Jamie on Twitter: @DrFrostMaths
Ep 01:Â 'Addressing the gaps' with Nicola Whiston
In our first episode, Nicola chats to award winning Nicola Whiston, Director of Maths at Ormiston Horizon Academy. They discuss how to engage learners from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as how to approach some lost learning due to the pandemic.
Follow Nicola on Twitter:Â @whisto_maths
Pearson Maths Support
With education at the heart of everything we do at Pearson, we take great pride in the amount of support we offer teachers, parents and learners to help learning to continue anywhere, anytime.
From our 11–19 resources, our Maths qualifications and the Maths Emporium, to our virtual Maths Festival recordings or the Professional Development Academy, we're with you every step of the way.