BIG MATHS BEAT THAT!
The ‘Assessment Spine’ of Big Maths!
‘Big Maths Beat That!’ is a fun and engaging programme made up of three weekly challenges that help track pupil progress and identify key learning gaps. Pupils are highly motivated by the simple yet powerful goal: to beat their personal best score each week. This approach fosters a positive mindset, boosts engagement, and promotes continuous learning and self-improvement. Importantly, the results from these weekly challenges provide teachers with valuable insights, enabling them to make short-term, responsive adjustments to lesson plans and target the most essential learning needs for each child.
What’s included in each challenge?
CLIC challenges are designed to assess essential Basic Skills, starting with simple single-digit addition and gradually progressing to more advanced mathematical calculations.
Learn Its challenges are designed to assess which key number facts students can confidently recall, including times tables and number bonds, building a strong foundation for mental maths.
SAFE challenges focus on developing a wider understanding of mathematics by covering areas beyond basic number skills, including topics such as shape, algebra, and fractions.
- Counting
- Learn Its
- It’s Nothing New!
- Calculation
- Times tables
- Basic calculations
- Number bonds.
- Shape
- Amounts
- Fractions
- Explaining Data
Dynamic Formative Assessment
Every question in the ‘Big Maths Beat That!’ challenges is directly mapped to a specific step within the Big Maths framework. This precise alignment means each pupil’s response provides immediate insight into their understanding, allowing teachers to quickly identify learning gaps. As a result, the weekly challenges clearly highlight where to focus teaching next, making lesson planning more targeted, responsive, and effective.
Big Maths has provided the consistent, step-by-step approach to teaching maths that we were looking for. Every class now teaches maths the same way, basing it on Assessment for Learning and the children’s next steps.
Continuous Improvement
Children typically remain on a ‘Big Maths Beat That!’ challenge for 8 to 12 weeks (approximately one school term), gradually improving their scores as they develop new skills. When they progress to a new challenge, it’s normal for them to answer only 3 or 4 questions correctly at first. However, one of the key strengths of Big Maths is that pupils understand and embrace this stage of learning.
They know that with consistent practice and trust in the process, their skills will grow over the following 6 to 8 weeks. Week-by-week, their scores steadily increase, building both competence and confidence until they’re ready to move on to the next level.
We strongly recommend class celebrations every week for each child who:
- Beats their best ever score
- Gets full marks on a challenge
- Moves Up to a new challenge
Personalised certificates can be printed to celebrate each pupil’s achievement—perfect for sharing those proud moments on social media using the #BigMaths hashtag. We love seeing your posts! Our Director, @AndrellCurtis, does his best to respond to every one, though occasionally he might be a little late.
Track Attainment and Progress
The Big Maths Tracking Area includes a number of reports which provide a clear and comprehensive view of Progress, Attainment, Pupil Efficacy, and more, whether you’re analysing data for whole classes, specific groups, or individual pupils. With powerful and flexible filter tools, you can easily compare progress across different age groups and year levels. This makes it simple to identify trends, measure impact, and make informed decisions about your next steps in teaching and learning.
Marking is finished!
It’s the 21st Century!
Our ‘Beat That! Challenges’ can be completed online, eliminating the need for manual marking because scores are automatically recorded in the system. When pupils complete their challenges digitally, teachers receive instant insights through the Tracking Area, all with zero additional workload. It’s an efficient, time-saving way to monitor progress and support targeted teaching.
For schools not yet fully set up for online use, there’s no need to worry… you can still print personalised challenge sheets and enter pupil scores quickly and easily. This ensures every school can benefit from Big Maths, whether using digital tools or sticking with paper-based options.
A Comprehensive Approach to Times Tables
Big Maths introduces times tables and number facts gradually, aligning closely with the primary maths curriculum. Each term, pupils receive a new set of ‘Learn Its’ (key number facts to master), giving them ample time to learn, practise, and embed these skills in long-term memory by the end of the term.
The Learn Its journey begins with simple facts like 1 + 1 and 2 + 2 at age 4–5, and builds progressively term by term, year by year. It all culminates in the Ultimate Challenge at age 10, where pupils are challenged to recall every number fact they’ve mastered throughout their Big Maths journey.
Learn Its Number Facts
Includes Every Times Table Fact!
At Big Maths, we believe in keeping learning simple and effective. That’s why we’ve developed a fresh approach to ensure every child can confidently recall their times tables and number facts by the age of ten.
Rather than overwhelming pupils with all 144 multiplication facts, Big Maths simplifies them down to just 36 by focusing on key number relationships… for example, recognising that 2 × 7 is the same as 7 × 2. We call this principle ‘It’s Nothing New’, helping children see patterns and build confidence through familiarity.
In addition to the multiplication facts, we include 36 essential addition facts, making a total of 72 ‘Learn Its’ that children can gradually and secure in long-term memory throughout their primary years.
But… what does this mean for teaching?
This structured approach ensures that by the age of ten, pupils have a strong foundation in number facts, empowering them to apply this knowledge confidently across all areas of the wider-maths curriculum.
For more information about Learn Its…
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Big Maths is a powerful solution for transforming the way maths is taught in your school. Ready to take the next step? Get in touch today to schedule a call and explore the best implementation strategy for your team.