Calculation Policy and Practice
Fully updated for the 2014 curriculum
Calculation Policy | Arithmetic Resources | Times Tables
Calculation Policy
The 2014 curriculum changes, and the introduction of a national arithmetic paper from 2016, necessitate a review of calculation policies and procedures. Following collaboration with Liz Hopkins (author at Buzzard Publishing) here we provide several documents that should help primary and secondary schools in this process.
- Progression in Addition and Subtraction
- Progression in Multiplication and Division
- Calculation Overview (updated November 2016)
- Calculation Overview (alternative version)
Arithmetic Resources
- Times Table Challenge
- Interactive Target Boards
- Maths to Infinity: Addition and Subtraction Foundations
- Maths to Infinity: Multiplication and Division Foundations
Times Tables
A collection of resources to improve pupils' recall of the multiplication and division facts up to 12 × 12 and become a Medi ('Maths Jedi'!) at knowing their times tables.
Posters
Practice
Problem solving and reasoning resources
These Tarsia activities support problem solving and reasoning. Note that you will need to install Tarsia software to access the contents of these zip files:
- Set 1: Basic. Pupils cut out the pieces and solve the puzzle using multiplication and division facts. Some puzzles may include a missing answer indicated by a question mark. If this is the case, pupils need to solve the puzzle to find the missing value.
- Set 2: Maths Detective. These puzzles contain mistakes. Print out the solution page and ask pupils to find all the mistakes. Some puzzles may include a missing answer indicated by a question mark. If this is the case, pupils need to solve the puzzle to find the missing value.
- Set 3: Connect. Pupils cut out the pieces and solve the puzzle using related multiplication and division facts. Some puzzles may include a missing answer indicated by a question mark. If this is the case, pupils need to solve the puzzle to find the missing value.
- Pattern sniffing (5× table). Print off the coded times tables in strips and ask the pupils to work out the times table that has been coded. The 5× table is the easy place to start. 9× table (medium) and 3× table (hard) versions are also available. Other times tables can be created using the 'Wingdings' font.
Fluency resources
These tasks support procedural fluency. Pupils complete the tasks using multiplication and/or division facts. When they can complete the tasks correctly, pupils can then be timed. Pupils aim to beat their Personal Best (PB) over time. Many thanks to the Maths Teams at Montgomery, Percy Shurmer and Anglesey AET Academies for developing and sharing the contents of these zip files.
