Skills Underlying Maths

Animation

Since 2022, children in Year 4 (aged eight and nine) have taken a Multiplication tables check to see how well they remember their times tables. A known advantage of being able to quickly recall number facts is that it makes it easier for children to concentrate on solving more challenging maths problems. With this new addition to the curriculum, research has been undertaken to investigate the cognitive factors involved in multiplication fact learning.

The research project – Skills Underlying Maths – came to a dozen eggs to create both an animation and a handout to summarise the findings.

We chose an illustration style that felt appropriate for discussions about primary school-aged children, while resonating with the target audience, teachers. This helped us tell a story about how the research could positively influence learning.

Infographic

Alongside the animation, we created an infographic that highlighted the project’s key findings—emphasising not only what works, but also what is less effective.

More about the Skills Underlying Maths project

Professor Camilla Gilmore of Loughborough University and Professor Lucy Cragg at the University of Nottingham set up the project (funded by UKRI) that examines:

How multiplication facts are learned and the impact of different types of practice.
The suitability of timed assessment of multiplication fact learning.
The role of general thinking skills (executive functions) in learning and doing mathematics.

The Skills Underlying Maths (SUM) project explores how cognitive skills such as memory and self-control support children’s learning in mathematics, particularly at the primary and secondary levels. The project has carried out several studies in recent years to investigate how abilities like focus and mental flexibility influence mathematical development. One key finding is that the ability to suppress incorrect or confusing information — such as similar multiplication facts — can enhance mathematical performance; however, memorisation alone is not sufficient for deep understanding.

For more information, and to download the infographic, take a look at the Skills Underlying Maths website.