Confidence in Maths
Igniting student confidence in maths is crucial, as they need to feel comfortable applying this knowledge in a range of ways. To help you to get them started, we provide maths support at every step of the school journey, listening to teachers, students and families so that we can understand and adapt to any issues related to maths learning.
Understanding maths anxiety
Maths anxiety is a fear of maths and numbers that can negatively impact a learner’s performance. Ranging from mild tension to a strong fear, it is a commonly-identified problem across all ages and stages, and can affect people long into adulthood both in the workplace and outside it.
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“Nine out of 10 maths teachers hear phrases such as “I’m not a maths person” or “I was never very good at maths” often or all of the time from parents and carers.1”
While maths anxiety is sometimes perpetuated within wider society this should not be accepted or normalised, as with the right training and teaching approaches, it can also be permanently overcome.
“Three-quarters of maths teachers are confident that they can identify and support learners with maths anxiety.2 “
Our latest Maths Anxiety guide
Read our updated guide to tackling maths anxiety (2025 edition)
Read guide
Challenging negative representations of maths
Our 2023 Maths roundtable brought together a mix of leading practitioners and thinkers from across education, maths organisations, academia, industry and the third sector. During discussions it became clear that maths anxiety was a key topic as many students strongly believed they could not “do” maths!
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When asked about this issue almost 1 in 5 attendees said negative depictions of maths in society and the media is the biggest barrier schools had to overcome in terms of positively reforming maths, and creating a more positive perception of maths as a subject.
“All children are more likely to hear at home ‘I’m rubbish at maths’ than ‘I’m rubbish at reading,’ and deprived low-attaining children are especially likely to hear this” – The Maths Summit12
In today’s society it is now culturally acceptable for people to say they just “can’t do” maths, with certain types of learners being impacted by this viewpoint more than others, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The status quo perpetuates the misconception that maths is not for everyone, communicating to learners that it is OK to disengage. We believe that this is not the case and that maths should not be viewed as a complex subject as with practice and support all learners can grasp the key concepts of maths.
“In my opinion, people talk about maths in a negative way. They hear ‘maths’ and they freak out” – Imogen, Year 9.
Tackling maths in the media
“Young people are really swayed by what’s said through the media. In too many platforms it has become natural to use derogatory terms when talking about maths, conveying the message that people who are good at maths are geeks and people who love maths aren’t cool”.
Maths in the media – How negativity is dissuading students from numeracy, and how we must counteract it, Susan  Okereke.
Fear of maths
“Research has shown that encouraging a classroom culture where exploration and discovery are valued, where testing is not the be-all and end-all, and where it’s OK to make mistakes and learn from them, can help develop a positive mindset towards maths”. Read Fear Factor - ways to remove negative attitudes in maths learners, with Dr Ems Lord, NRICH
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Boosting teacher confidence
The majority of teachers feel confident in supporting students in maths. At Pearson we are there for every educator, and proud to be part of the math’s support community.
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97% of maths teachers are confident using and teaching maths.3
61% of maths teachers feel confident using technology in their role.4
Committed to offering the best professional development support on the market, we provide maths specialists and non-specialists with all the on- and offline support they need to teach our qualifications. That’s just one of the reasons why 95% of schools decide to return to us year on year.
Want to take your teaching even further?
Discover the latest resources for improving confidence from Pearson’s Power of Maths community and beyond.