In a recent webinar, they made a compelling case for a more engaging, student-centred approach to teaching. They argued that moving away from the old “direct instruction” model isn’t just a trend; it’s a way to genuinely help students understand, reason, and perhaps even enjoy the subject. Dr. Small introduced a dynamic four-part lesson framework that puts the student’s thinking right at the heart of the learning experience.

Part 1: Setting the Stage with a Purpose

The first step in a successful lesson is a clear learning goal. This isn’t just for you, the teacher; it’s a signpost for your students, letting them know where they’re headed. Dr Small suggests that learning goals can be about a specific skill, like applying index laws, or a broader idea, such as explaining a concept.

But here’s a liberating thought: you don’t always have to reveal the goal at the very start. Sometimes, it’s better to hold back if the goal contains complex vocabulary or if you want students to discover a principle for themselves, like the formula for the area of a circle. This approach builds curiosity and makes the “a-ha!” moment all the more satisfying.

Part 2: The “Minds On” Warm-Up

Forget boring mental maths. The “minds on” phase is a short, sharp activity designed to get students’ brains in gear. It’s a bridge that connects what they already know to what they’re about to learn.

The key is to make it a discussion, not a quiet worksheet. Dr Small is a big fan of open-ended questions that have multiple entry points. This gives more students a chance to participate and builds their confidence. For instance, before a lesson on exponents, you could ask students whether they agree with the statement that 34 and 43 are the same because multiplication can be done in any order. This sparks a debate and gets their reasoning skills firing from the off.

Part 3: The “Action” Phase

This is the main event. It’s where the real learning happens and the students get to take control. Working in small groups is highly recommended as it fosters collaboration and provides a richer learning environment.

The goal here is a rich task that supports students to make decisions and think deeply about the concepts. It’s not about following a recipe, but about grappling with a problem. Dr Small gave a brilliant example: instead of asking students to find an estimate for an irrational number, ask them to find multiple irrational numbers that estimate to a given rational number. This requires them to work backwards and apply their knowledge in a new way, which is far more powerful than simple repetition.

Part 4: Consolidation & Purposeful Practice

The lesson doesn’t end when the bell rings. The final phase is about bringing it all together. During consolidation, you, the teacher, can guide the discussion to ensure every student grasps the key ideas. This is your chance to ask those critical, big-picture questions like, “Why is scientific notation useful for very large and very small numbers, but not for regular ones?” It’s about ensuring they walk away with a solid conceptual understanding.

Finally, there’s the practice. Dr Small calls it purposeful practice because it’s not just about doing questions for the sake of it. It should include both skill practice and conceptual practice. And a top tip? Don’t always put the easiest questions first. Mixing up the difficulty encourages students to persevere and not give up when they hit a hurdle.

By adopting this four-part framework, you can transform your maths lessons from a chore into a rewarding journey of discovery for every student. It’s all about being intentional, trusting your students, and remembering that the joy of maths isn’t just in the calculation—it’s in seeing how things work.

As Education Leaders, you’re not just selecting digital tooling and content for your educators to pick and choose from — you’re making investments to ensure that your teachers are supported at every stage of the teaching and learning process. From planning and delivering instruction, to assessing students and helping them practice and master skills, the right platforms should amplify your team’s impact, not just add complexity.

At Education Perfect, we think about the needs of teachers in terms of: Instruction, Assessment, and Practice. Each with sub-themes that reflect real classroom needs.

This guide will help you evaluate your tooling needs based on how well supported you are in these three categories, as well as help you compare usability, integration, security, and impact for any tools you use or select.

Part 1: Supporting Each Phase of the Learning Cycle 

1. Instructional Support

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Support for course planning	Providers that offer easy ways to map department goals to their functionality & resources	Supports faculty collaboration and planning	Our Content Library is mapped to the Ontario curriculum, so you can easily find and organize resources by grade, strand, and topic.
Support for explicit teaching	Providers that offer rich learning content for use in class Quality explanations Worked examples Interactive lessons Deep curriculum alignment	Enables clear, direct instruction	EP includes a library of purposeful, scaffolded practice resources specifically aligned with Ontario curriculum and pedagogy.
Targeted instruction tools	Providers that make it easy to individualize learning at scale Smart grouping Ability to assign gap-based tasks	Enables personalization without extra work	With EP teachers can use data from assessments to easily create small groups and assign targeted tasks to close gaps or provide enrichment.

2. Assessment Capabilities

Great assessment tools inform instruction—not just report outcomes.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Readiness diagnostics	Providers that offer out of the box topic-specific pre-tests Strand-based assessments	Supports planning and intervention	EP’s new Readiness Assessments help teachers identify strengths, gaps, and misconceptions from day one.
Formative assessment tools	Providers that support low-stakes quizzes or check ins Live, instant feedback Intuitive analytics	Helps adjust teaching in real time	EP shows who’s stuck, who’s guessing, and who’s succeeding—instantly
Summative assessments	Curriculum-aligned post-tests Ability to tie assessment results to specific curriculum outcomes Ability to compare assessments to assess progress	Tracks mastery and accountability	EP includes pre-made Topic Assessments and Senior Math question sets that help to measure mastery. Our Learning Snapshots allow you to clearly visualize student progress and track growth.

3. Practice & Revision Support

Consolidation is where deep learning happens—and where digital tools can really shine.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Guided practice tasks	Scaffolded, feedback-rich activities	Supports concept mastery	EP’s Purposeful Practice assignments for grades 6 -10 have built-in differentiation (Foundational, Stepping Up, Stretch) so every student can work at their appropriate level.
Independent practice	Assignable tasks by topic, strand or standard Engagement features such as gamification and multimedia integrations	Builds fluency at a personalized pace while maximising student engagement	EP supports self-paced learning with teacher oversight as well as offers competitions, leaderboards, multi-media integrations and interactive content
Revision & exam prep	Automatically recommended tasks based on gaps Exam -style practice tasks and assessments	Focuses student effort where needed Builds confidence ahead of high-stakes assessments	EP generates review questions based on assessment or activity data. EP includes EAQO practice assessments and senior math question sets to help students build confidence and prepare for provincial tests and final exams.

Part 2: What to expect from any EdTech provider

Whether you are taking advantage of a single tool to support the whole teaching and learning cycle, or using multiple tools to support different areas, there are several boxes that must be universally ticked.

1. Teacher Usability

A platform only works if teachers want to use it—and can do so with minimal friction.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Intuitive teacher dashboard	Simple interface, minimal clicks	Reduces training time and improves adoption	EP offers a user-friendly interface and personalized onboarding support
Smart task assignment	Quick, flexible task creation	Saves time for teachers, especially under pressure	EP lets teachers assign based on curriculum needs, student groupings or performance data.
Live analytics	Visual, actionable data for intervention	Helps prioritize class and individual support	EP shows live performance and progress across tasks, topics, and time
Collaboration tools	Shared courses, tasks, and student groups	Supports department planning and alignment	EP enables easy content sharing and cross-class tracking
Customization options	Ability to edit and tailor content to the needs of a teacher or class	Teachers can align their tools to their practices and class needs	EP offers customizable content, ability to create your own content and is flexible to integrate into different teaching practices

2. Integration & Technical Setup

If it’s not easy to integrate, it won’t get used.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
LMS integration	Sync with Google Classroom	Avoids double-handling and reduces admin	EP integrates with major LMS platforms
Single Sign-On (SSO)	One-click secure access	Reduces login friction and IT support issues	EP supports many options including Google and Clever
Data syncing	Easy student/teacher import	Ensures up-to-date classes and data	EP supports CSV, MIS and third-party integrations
Device compatibility	Browser-based, cross-device support	Works reliably in all classroom environments	EP works on Chromebooks, iPads, PCs, tablets

3. Data Privacy, Security & Compliance

Especially for student data, trust and transparency are non-negotiable.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Compliance certifications	Aligned with regional data regulations	Required for ethical and legal use	EP holds certifications in ST4S, ISO, Student Privacy Pledge and more
Secure logins	Encrypted and authenticated access	Protects student identity and access	EP uses encrypted logins with SSO support
Transparent data use	No selling or misuse of data	Builds trust with parents and staff	EP never shares or sells student data
Data export & deletion	Easy to manage and audit records	Required for compliance and cleanup	EP provides full control over school-held data
Server security	Your provider is storing data on reliable and resilient servers	Protects students, teachers and your school	All student data stored securely in Canada to meet provincial privacy and data residency requirements.Learn more about Education Perfect’s comprehensive security & privacy measures here.

4. Evidence of Impact

Choose a tool with a proven track record—not just nice features.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Efficacy studies	Evidence based learning	Build confidence your investment will drive impact on student results	All EP content is designed by a team of Math experts and is based on learning science. EP has  produced several ‘Evidence Of Impact’ studies.
Accredited learning design	Providers can show how their learning design aligns to best practice	Ensure quality and depth of content	EP holds the Digital Promise Product certification and Efficacy Bronze certificate for Real Result. Our research has also been independently validated by John Hopkins University.
Independent case studies	Real school success stories	Validates effectiveness in classrooms	EP has case studies showing growth in student performance and engagement.
Positive teacher feedback	Real-world usability	Reflects adoption and impact	91% of teachers report EP improves lesson efficiency and insight.
Student engagement metrics	High usage, repeat activity	Correlates with sustained impact	Students regularly engage with EP in and beyond class time.
Supports all learners	Impact across ability levels	Ensures equity and challenge	EP adapts to high-performers and supports intervention needs equally.

Learn more about the impact of Education Perfect see our here.

5. Cost, Value & Licensing

A smart investment is scalable, sustainable, and proven to deliver value.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Transparent pricing	Easy to budget and justify	No hidden costs or confusion	EP offers clear per-student or site-wide licensing.
Subscription tiers to suit your needs	Price optionality	Find a tailored solution to meet your departments needs & budget	EP offers several subscription tiers to support different schools’ needs.  See more detail here.
Flexible implementation	Start with one year or the whole school	Tailored to your department’s scale	EP can be trialled in a year group or school-wide.
ROI metrics	Evidence of value over time	Supports leadership buy-in	EP schools report improved student outcomes and workload reduction.
Free trials	See it in action before committing	Ensures confident decision-making	EP offers guided pilots with support and training included. Register for your free trial here.

Summary

If you are looking to streamline your investment in tools and resources, look for platforms that can support your educators across all phases of the learning cycle. 

	Education Perfect	Textbooks	Revision  tools	Quiz  tools	Diagnostic assessment tools
Course planning
Explicit instruction
Targeted instruction
Readiness assessment
Formative assessment
Summative assessment
Guided practice
Independent practice
Exam prep & revision

Every tool in your toolkit should offer high quality features & content and deliver impact.

No matter what your tool[s] of choice support, you should also consider their strength in the following:

	Education Perfect
Deep curriculum-alignment
Intuitive interface
Time-save features such as auto-marking
Evidence of impact
Easy integration options (LMS integration/SSO)
Real time analytics
Compliance certifications
Teacher onboarding
Flexibility & customization options

Key Takeaways for Math Department Heads and School Leaders

Your role is to lead strategy, not just chase tools. Prioritize platforms that can:

• Enable great instruction, assessment and practice 
• Reduce your team’s admin load
• Help you and your teachers intervene earlier and more effectively
• Amplify the impact of the teacher not just digitize existing practices
• Deliver student results

But there’s good news – it absolutely does.

Here’s what the studies have to say:

Study: The Role of Technology in Mathematics Education: Promoting Student Engagement

Link to study

Hypothesis

The central hypothesis of the paper is that technology significantly enhances student achievement in mathematics education. It argues that integrating digital tools—such as educational apps, interactive simulations, and adaptive platforms—can promote deeper understanding, personalised learning, and engagement, ultimately leading to better student outcomes.

Findings

1. Options to Suit Any Learning Style

Online platforms such as interactive lectures, video tutorials, and simulations (VR and otherwise) have made mathematics more accessible. These platforms give your students the option to learn at their own pace, revisit complex topics, and engage with content in ways that work best with their personal learning styles.

2. Gamification Increases Engagement

Gamified elements, like challenges, points, scores, and leaderboards, give learning a competitive feel. It promotes intrinsic motivation (I want to get better) with extrinsic (I want to earn more points).

It’s important to remember that competition doesn’t mean it’s always student vs student; it can be a student trying to compete against their own last, best effort.

3. Making the Abstract Accessible

Humans like to get hands-on to learn. But as topic sophistication increases, the less likely it is that students will be able to find opportunities to interact with their learning.

However, technologies like graphing calculators, geometry software, and virtual manipulatives bring abstract concepts to life.

These tools allow your students to experiment, manipulate variables, and visualise mathematical relationships, helping them develop deeper conceptual understanding and a stronger sense of mathematical reasoning.

4. Adaptive Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Content Personalisation

Personalisation for students has two elements: the content, and what’s actually personal.

For example – while education-focused AI can provide immediate feedback, analyse data, and find trends, you will know that one of your students gets up early on Thursday mornings, which is why they’re sluggish in their first class.

AI-driven adaptive systems can take on some of the burden of continuous resource development, and tweaking based on ability, meaning your students are consistently facing the right level of challenge.

5. Real-World Relevance

Technology enables the integration of real-world data and scenarios into maths lessons, making content more relatable.

The use of simulations, models, and practical problem-solving tasks helps your students understand the relevance of mathematics beyond the classroom, improving their critical thinking and application skills.

6. Equity and Access to Tech

Technological advancements can deepen existing inequities if access isn’t addressed. A key concern is the digital divide—limited access to devices, internet, or tech support—which can hinder progress.

7. Teacher Training and Curriculum Integration

Effective integration of technology depends heavily on your preparation.

To make sure tech is going to have the most positive impact for both you and your students, it’s vital that there are targeted professional development projects.

It’s also important to remember there can be – and should be – collaboration between you and developers to ensure that digital tools align with curriculum goals and classroom realities.

8. Assessment Reforms

Thanks to tech, performance-based and formative assessments can now be used to track student progress in real-time. These approaches provide more accurate insights into student understanding and better support differentiated instruction and strategy.

Conclusions

• Positive Impact: Technology enhances student motivation, conceptual understanding, and problem-solving skills.
• Personalised Learning: Adaptive platforms and educational apps tailor instruction to individual student needs.
• Real-World Connections: Interactive tools bridge the gap between abstract concepts and practical applications.
• Challenges Remain: The digital divide and insufficient training can hinder effective integration.
• Recommendations:
  • Invest in equitable access to technology.
  • Pursue professional development.
  • Use performance-based assessments to better measure understanding in tech-rich environments.

Ultimately, the paper concludes that when thoughtfully implemented, technology can transform math education, making it more engaging, accessible, and effective for diverse learners.

Study: Through growth to achievement: Examining edtech as a solution to Australia’s declining educational achievement

Link to study

Hypothesis

The article engages with the idea that educational technologies have the potential to address declining academic performance in Australia, especially when applied through structured policies emphasising continuous improvement, personalised learning, and growth mindset development. The hypothesis suggests that these innovations, if implemented thoughtfully, could contribute to a more adaptive, data-informed, and student-centred educational system.

Methods and Research (Positive Framing)

Buchanan conducts a critical policy analysis informed by education sociology and digital studies. Her research methodically examines the 2018 Through Growth to Achievement report and identifies the policy vision for leveraging technology in education. The three core opportunities she draws out are:

1. Continuous Assessment for Continuous Improvement

• Promotes the real-time tracking of student learning, allowing for formative feedback that can guide instruction immediately.
• Supports the idea of each student achieving at least one year of progress per school year, using data to ensure no learner is left behind.
• Provides a framework for adaptive teaching, where instruction is constantly refined based on up-to-date evidence.

2. Personalised Learning

• Offers the chance to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum by tailoring learning paths to each student’s pace and needs.
• Learning analytics and digital platforms enable custom content delivery, potentially increasing engagement and mastery.
• Empowers your students to take ownership of their learning by engaging with material that aligns with their current level and style.

3. Growth Mindset as a Policy Mandate

• Encourages resilience and lifelong learning by embedding a belief in self-improvement and effort.
• Helps cultivate learners who are more motivated, confident, and capable of navigating challenges.
• Aligns with social-emotional learning goals, which are increasingly seen as essential to holistic education.

The paper also highlights how these technologies align with global trends and reflect a shared aspiration to modernise schooling for the 21st century.

Conclusions

• Technology can be a powerful enabler of educational reform when guided by clear goals like continuous growth, personalisation, and student empowerment.
• Embracing these innovations offers a chance to modernise curriculum and assessment models, moving toward more responsive and individualised education.
• These strategies provide a potential solution to long-standing challenges in the system, helping to unify diverse education sectors across Australia with common tools and benchmarks.
• The report’s vision aligns with international best practices and positions Australia to participate in a globally competitive, tech-forward education landscape.

Study: Integrating digital technology in mathematics education: a Swedish case study

Link to study

Hypothesis

The study investigates how digital technology can be effectively integrated into upper secondary mathematics education. It explores the conditions under which mathematics edtech applications can enhance student learning and engagement in classroom settings.

Methods and Research

This qualitative case study was conducted with 68 students (aged 17–18) and three educators across three Swedish upper secondary schools. Researchers analysed classroom practices involving a mathematics education technology tool through observations, interviews, and review of teaching materials. The goal was to understand how digital tools are implemented in real educational contexts and the factors that affect their success.

Conclusions

• The integration of digital technology in mathematics education is most effective when supported by three interrelated factors:
  1. The pedagogical design of the learning activities and tasks.
  2. Your role in guiding and facilitating the use of digital tools.
  3. The broader educational context, including curriculum requirements and institutional support.
• When these elements align, mathematics edtech applications can enhance student motivation, support differentiated instruction, and foster more personalised learning experiences.
• You are central to the success of technology integration, with your instructional strategies and beliefs influencing how the technology is used and perceived in the classroom.
• The study underscores the importance of professional development and systemic support to help you effectively incorporate technology into your teaching practices.

This case study contributes valuable insights into the real-world integration of digital tools in mathematics education and provides guidance for you and policymakers aiming to leverage edtech to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Shared Findings and Conclusion

Every study showed improved student engagement, increased skills and understanding, as well as a stronger sense of differentiation and personalisation in the classroom.

However, this was all underpinned with proper implementation and development.

Like all resources, maths edtech is a tool, and a tool is only as good as the person using it.

Next Steps

So if you’re thinking about which maths edtech is right for you and your class, you’ll also want to think about how you’re going to use it, and learn to use it to the best of your ability. To assist Heads of Mathematics in considering a math edtech solution, Education Perfect has created  this checklist to help consider all aspects of the decision.

To learn more about Education Perfect Maths, feel free to book a demo or start your free trial today.

And furthermore, how can you measure its success?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to identify the best Edtech for your class, from conducting thorough research and seeking insights from colleagues to implementing an experimental phase and assessing its impact.

Identifying the Problem that Maths Edtech Can Solve

What is the Current Challenge You’re Facing?

Before diving into the sea of edtech options, it’s essential to pinpoint the current challenges you face as it corresponds to the full learning cycle. Are you struggling to see knowledge gaps aligned to the curriculum? Are students struggling with numeracy improvement suggesting you need help with tailored instruction? Is engagement a significant issue and do you need help with purposeful practice tools? Understanding these core problems can help narrow down the tools that will be most beneficial.

To identify your current challenge, you can:

1. Conduct surveys or informal interviews with your students to gather their perspectives on areas where they feel they need more support or find current methods less effective.
2. Analyse past assessment data and identify recurring patterns where students consistently underperform, highlighting specific problem areas.
3. Collaborate with fellow educators to discuss common classroom challenges and potential reasons behind these difficulties, providing a broader viewpoint and shared experiences.
4. Review the EP High Impact Edtech Buyers Guide for Heads of Mathematics 

Is Edtech the Right Solution?

Not every problem requires a technological solution; sometimes, traditional methods or minor adjustments in teaching strategies could suffice.

For example, if the issue is about individual learning paces, edtech that offers individualised instruction might be beneficial. However, if the issue is more about classroom management, other strategies might be more appropriate.

Consider the following before deciding on an edtech solution:

1. Evaluate the nature of the problem: Determine if the challenge is pedagogical or logistical to decide whether technology can offer a suitable fix.
2. Assess the available resources: Ensure that the necessary infrastructure, such as devices and reliable internet, supports the edtech implementation.
3. Consider your and your students’ readiness: Gauge whether you and your students are prepared to adapt to new tech tools, requiring potential training or gradual onboarding.

How Would You Know if it’s Successful?

Defining success criteria is vital before implementing any edtech solution. Consider the specific, measurable goals that align with your educational objectives.

For example, you might:

1. Increase student engagement and class collaboration rates by tracking attendance and participation metrics.
2. Improve maths assessment scores and numeracy skills by analysing test results and skill improvement data.
3. Improve student and your satisfaction with the learning process by conducting satisfaction surveys and gathering feedback.

Researching Edtech Solutions

Finding the right edtech solution requires thorough research and collaboration. In this section, we’ll discuss how to leverage peer insights and online resources to make informed decisions.

Consulting with Colleagues

One of the most effective ways to gather insights on edtech tools is by consulting with your colleagues.

You can ask them questions like:

1. How has this edtech solution improved student engagement in your classroom?
2. What challenges did you encounter when implementing this tool?
3. How does the edtech align with your teaching objectives and curriculum goals?
4. Have you noticed any measurable improvements in student performance since using this tool?
5. What features of this edtech do you find most beneficial for diverse learning needs?

Analysing Online Reviews

Online reviews can provide a wealth of information about edtech tools, including user experiences and ratings.

Evaluating Maths Edtech by Features and Use Cases

You should be confident you know what the maths edtech can do and who it’s been made to serve best. The blog ’EP High Impact Edtech Buyers Guide for Heads of Mathematics’  can help with some guidance as you start your search for Edtech tools.

Things you should look out for are:

1. Whether the features solve your specific challenge
2. If it’s been successfully used by others like you before
3. Their implementation and post-implementation support and professional development offer

Experimenting with Selected Edtech

Once you’ve selected potential tools, the next step is to experiment with them in a controlled setting. This phase allows you to observe student interactions and gather initial feedback.

When experimenting, try to find:

1. Whether it’s easy for you to use, and makes sense to you
2. You can see a way it would fit in with your schedule and process
3. That you can find out how to achieve something through documentation, if the answer isn’t immediately apparent

Implementing a Classroom Trial

A classroom trial is a practical way to test the selected edtech tools in a real-world environment. This controlled experiment helps you evaluate the tool’s effectiveness and identify any operational challenges.

1. Set clear objectives for the trial period.
2. Define what metrics you’ll use to measure success.
3. Communicate the trial’s purpose and expectations to students.

This trial run offers a chance to see how students respond to the new technology and its impact on their learning experience.

Observing Student Engagement

During the trial, closely observe student engagement levels. Engagement is a critical indicator of the tool’s effectiveness in enhancing the learning experience.

You can see if students are engaged with the tech by:

1. Whether students are attentive or distracted
2. Signs of enjoyment like smiling or laughing
3. Seeing if students are exploring the tool on their own

Gathering Initial Feedback

Feedback from your students and colleagues is important, not only because it gives you an entirely new perspective on the tool of choice, but because they’ll also be the ones using it.

You can try asking questions like:

1. What was the best part of the tool?
2. What was the least enjoyable?
3. If it was this tool or nothing else, would you be disappointed or satisfied?
4. How do you see it working for you?
5. Do you think this will last in the long run?

Evaluating and Moving Forward

What you’re looking for is a tool that you feel confident using, and feels like it provides a real opportunity for your students to engage more deeply and make some real progress. Education Perfect has created  this checklist to use when considering a maths edtech solution. 

To learn more about Education Perfect Maths, feel free to book a demo or start your free trial today.

This blog delves into how adaptive learning works in practice, with a focus on how Education Perfect’s (EP) Learning Cycle can transform your maths classroom.

Understanding the Problem: A Decline in Maths Outcomes 

Recent global PISA scores reveal a significant drop in students’ mathematical reasoning and application skills. At the same time, equity gaps are widening, leaving many students behind. Alarmingly, traditional teaching methods often fail to address the unique needs of each student in a class, resulting in disengagement and underachievement.

For example, according to the 2024 Education Perfect (EP) survey of over 400 ANZ teachers:

• Less than 30% of teachers strongly agree that they can use data from formative assessment tasks to plan effective teaching.
• Over 50% say that the time required to create and manage formative assessments is their biggest challenge.
• More than 70% agree that technology-enabled tools could greatly assist in implementing formative assessment practices.

Read more about the survey results in the blog here.

This paints a clear picture of a disconnect between what traditional methods achieve and what students and teachers need. To bridge this gap, we must focus on personalised, actionable insights and adaptable teaching approaches.

Enter adaptive learning.

What is Adaptive Learning in Maths?

Adaptive learning is a student-centred approach that tailors instruction to meet individual needs. Using advanced technology, it adjusts the path, pace, and level of teaching based on real-time feedback and student performance.

Here’s what adaptive learning looks like in a maths classroom:

Diagnosing gaps and strengths early 

Understanding where learners excel and where they struggle is crucial for success. Early diagnosis allows educators to pinpoint specific areas that need improvement, ensuring no time is wasted on concepts already mastered. This targeted approach helps create a strong foundation for future learning.

Offering tailored content 

No two learners are the same, which is why personalised content is so effective. By providing materials tailored to individual needs, interests, and learning styles, students can engage more deeply and progress at their own pace. Tailored content ensures that every learner receives the support they need to thrive.

Providing real-time feedback 

Feedback is most effective when it’s immediate. Real-time feedback helps learners correct mistakes, reinforce understanding, and stay motivated. This dynamic approach keeps the learning process interactive and ensures continuous improvement, empowering students to achieve their goals.

Unlike the “one-size-fits-all” approach, adaptive learning understands that every student learns differently. It meets them where they are and helps them grow confidently, while still achieving key curriculum goals.

Key Features of Adaptive Maths Learning 

Real-Time Diagnostic Assessment 

A core feature of adaptive learning is accurately identifying what students know and where their gaps are before instruction starts. Frequent, low-stakes assessments help monitor progress and inform teaching methods, enabling an ongoing understanding of student needs.

Personalised Content Pathways 

Rather than assigning the same tasks to an entire class, adaptive tools assign level-appropriate tasks to match a student’s pace and ability. 

For advanced learners 

Advanced learners have the opportunity to work ahead, explore more challenging material, and deepen their understanding of key concepts. They can engage with enrichment activities, tackle complex problems, and apply their knowledge in creative, real-world scenarios to further enhance their learning experience.

Students who need additional support 

Students who need extra help can revisit foundational concepts with tailored scaffolding strategies. This might include breaking down complex ideas into manageable steps, offering hands-on examples, or providing guided practice to reinforce understanding. These supports ensure every student can build confidence and achieve their learning goals at their own pace.

This personalised learning pathway keeps students motivated by ensuring tasks are challenging but achievable.

Continuous Feedback and Adjustment 

Learners receive instant feedback to reflect and improve 

With instant feedback, learners can quickly identify their strengths and areas for growth. This timely response helps them stay engaged and motivated, as they can immediately apply what they’ve learned to improve their understanding. Whether it’s correcting a mistake or reinforcing a concept, learners have the opportunity to actively reflect on their progress and continuously build their skills.

Teachers receive data to guide intervention and enrichment 

Detailed data empowers teachers to make informed decisions about their students’ learning journeys. By identifying patterns, skill gaps, and areas of mastery, teachers can provide targeted interventions for struggling learners while offering enrichment opportunities for advanced students. This data-driven approach ensures every student receives the personalised support they need to thrive.

The Education Perfect Learning Cycle in Action 

Education Perfect (EP) offers a structured yet flexible adaptive learning solution for maths through its learning cycle, and it works in these three phases:

Phase 1: Actionable Assessment 

EP’s assessment capabilities make it easy for educators to understand where a student is at in their learning journey and identify and fill learning gaps. 

EP tracks all student progress against specific curriculum outcomes and provides individual next-step recommendations based on timely data. This helps educators effectively target their interventions and plan for future learning. 

Phase 2: Individualised Instruction 

EP supports day-to-day teaching practices by providing educators with a deep library of curriculum-aligned learning and assessment content, planning tools, and analytics designed to amplify their impact in the classroom. 

All content can be tailored to suit different teaching and learning needs. Educators can guide students through EP lessons or assign tasks directly to a whole class, small groups, or specific students to personalise instruction. 

Phase 3: Purposeful Practice 

EP can be accessed by students in class or at home to practice the skills they have been taught. Students stay engaged with games, multimedia activities, and a variety of ways to represent their learning. 

Teacher insights and tracking tools help educators guide students on their learning journey, while instant feedback and marking tools support independent learning.

Supporting Differentiation and Engagement at Scale 

The EP Learning cycle is designed to handle the complexities of mixed-ability classrooms while addressing individual learning needs. From improving learner confidence to closing skill gaps, it’s a complete system for adaptive maths learning. 

Case Study Testimonials:

At Moorefield Girls High School

Education Perfect has inspired students to reach beyond their perceived mathematical capabilities. “Global Competitions have brought our students together to work as a collective,” says Nycel Pascua.

Richard Irvine, Crusoe College

“EP in both Science and Math is fantastic… Ongoing extension tasks mean I can get the very best out of my students.”

Quick summary of why adaptive learning is beneficial for maths learning

The benefits of adaptive learning extend far beyond the individual student:

• It caters to large, diverse groups by bridging equity gaps and addressing different learning needs.
• Automated insights and progress tracking reduce teacher workloads, freeing up their time to focus on deeper instruction.
• With tailored pathways and immediate feedback, students take ownership of their learning, building confidence and independence.
• Over time, this approach helps lift achievement levels, ultimately reversing trends in declining maths outcomes.

Adaptive Learning in Maths is the Way Forward 

Adaptive learning isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a revolution in how we teach and learn maths. By combining real-time diagnostic tools, personalised pathways, and actionable insights, it offers a way to meet diverse students’ needs without adding to teacher workloads. 

With Education Perfect, schools can implement adaptive learning at scale while sticking to curriculum goals. It’s not just about teaching maths; it’s about empowering students to rediscover their potential.

Are you ready to transform maths learning in your classrooms? Explore how Education Perfect Maths can help your school deliver adaptive learning and achieve real growth today. Feel free to book a demo or start your free trial today.

However, by understanding the underlying reasons why students disengage, you can create and implement strategies to help them connect with and become engaged in maths.

Understanding the Reasons for Disconnect

While it’s tempting to simply say ‘maths is hard’, there are numerous factors that contribute to the disconnect.

These are the most prominent reasons:

Maths Anxiety

Maths Anxiety affects a significant number of students and can lead to a complete shutdown during lessons.

Reasons for maths anxiety include:

1. Parental pressure: Students don’t want to disappoint their parents, leading to a continual cycle of stress.
2. Parents have maths anxiety: Parents who tell their children that ‘they hated maths’ or ‘they never understood it’ can drastically shift their children’s perspectives on the subject.
3. Your pressure: Some of you may overreach in your desire for a student to succeed.
4. Societal pressure: If students believe that in order to have a fulfilling, secure future, they need to be good at maths, they can begin to dread performing poorly.

Barriers to Engagement

There are two types of barriers for student engagement in maths: external and internal.

Some examples of each are:

External

1. Limited access to resources: A lack of appropriate materials or tools can make it difficult for students to effectively engage with maths concepts.
2. Inadequate parental support: Without encouragement or help at home, students might struggle to find motivation or understand maths tasks.
3. Overcrowded classrooms: Large class sizes can result in less individual attention, making it challenging for students to stay engaged.

Internal

1. Lack of confidence: Students who doubt their abilities may hesitate to participate or invest effort in learning maths.
2. Negative self-perception: Believing that they are “just not good at maths” can deter students from engaging in the subject matter.
3. Difficulty in understanding concepts: Struggling to grasp foundational ideas can lead to frustration and eventual disengagement from maths lessons.

Grade Focused vs Enjoying the Learning Journey

When students are only dedicated to getting the highest scores on their assessments, it doesn’t allow for the enjoyment of discovery.

In practice, it looks something like this:

1. Superficial understanding of concepts: The emphasis is on rote memorisation rather than deep understanding and comprehension.
2. Task-oriented: Students aim to complete work and move on, instead of practising to gain mastery.
3. Fixed mindset development: Students focus on proving their abilities through grades rather than embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.

Strategies for Engagement

Addressing disconnect involves focusing on one goal: making maths meaningful. Here are a few key strategies to deliver that meaning to students:

Differentiated Learning Approaches

Differentiated learning involves tailoring your teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles and abilities. This approach ensures that all students can engage with the material at their own pace and level.

• Assess student needs through regular feedback and adjust your lesson plans accordingly.
• Incorporate a variety of teaching methods, such as visual aids, hands-on activities, and discussions, to cater to diverse learners.
• Offer choices in assignments to allow students to explore concepts in ways that interest them.

Emphasising Real-World Applications

Connecting maths to the real world helps students see its relevance and applicability.

Here are a few examples you can try with your class:

1. Budget analysis: Have students create a personal or event budget to learn financial literacy and practical arithmetic.
2. Cooking measurements: Use recipes to teach fractions and ratios as students convert ingredient quantities.
3. Sports statistics: Analyse player statistics to introduce probability and data interpretation in a relatable context.
4. Environmental data tracking: Monitor local or global changes, such as weather patterns, to apply maths skills in real-world scenarios.
5. Home construction projects: Design simple structures to explore geometry and spatial reasoning.

Celebrating Small Wins and Progress

Recognising and celebrating small achievements show students they should focus on progress over perfection.

1. Host a ‘Math Star’ of the Week ceremony: Celebrate a student each week who has shown significant effort or improvement, highlighting their journey rather than just their results.
2. Create a ‘victory wall’ in the classroom: Encourage students to post sticky notes with their small successes, creating a visual representation of collective achievements.
3. Introduce ‘Shout-out Fridays’: Dedicate time each week for students to acknowledge their peers’ hard work or breakthroughs, promoting a culture of mutual encouragement.
4. Initiate a ‘Progress Tracker’ chart: Allow students to mark their progress in specific areas, visibly tracking improvement and celebrating each step forward.
5. Incorporate a ‘Goal Achievement’ badge system: Award badges for achieving personal milestones, focusing on effort and perseverance as well as correct answers.

Encouraging Positive Mindsets

Cultivating a positive mindset towards maths is about shifting feelings of anxiety to feelings of excitement.

Here are a few examples of how you can achieve this:

1. Teach growth mindset principles: Emphasise effort and persistence over innate ability to help students develop a resilient approach to learning maths.
2. Utilise affirmations and positive reinforcement: Build students’ confidence in their maths abilities by regularly acknowledging their progress and achievements.
3. Encourage problem-solving as a challenge: Present maths problems as exciting challenges to foster curiosity and eagerness to find solutions.
4. Create a supportive classroom environment: Establish an atmosphere where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, encouraging risk-taking and experimentation.
5. Share success stories: Highlight examples of individuals who have overcome maths difficulties, illustrating the potential for growth and success through perseverance.

Individualised Instruction Methods

Individualised instruction caters to the unique needs of each student, allowing for personalised learning experiences that can improve numeracy.

1. Conduct one-on-one sessions: Address specific challenges and provide tailored support.
2. Use adaptive learning technologies: Adjust to students’ skill levels, offering customised practice and feedback.
3. Create personalised learning plans: Tailor content and pace to individual student needs.
4. Incorporate student feedback: Regularly use feedback to refine and adapt your instruction.
5. Monitor progress closely: Track individual achievements to adjust your pedagogical approaches accordingly.

Actionable Assessment Techniques

Actionable assessments provide valuable insights into students’ understanding and progress, helping you tailor your instruction accordingly.

1. Use formative assessments: Quizzes and reflections gauge student comprehension regularly.
2. Implement self-assessment tools: Enable students to reflect on their own learning and identify areas for improvement.
3. Design portfolio assessments: Encourage students to compile work showcasing their learning journey.
4. Provide regular feedback: Offer constructive feedback based on assessment outcomes.
5. Conduct peer assessments: Facilitate student interaction and shared learning insights.

Purposeful Practice Exercises

Purposeful practice involves targeted exercises designed to reinforce maths skills and concepts. This approach helps solidify understanding and improve proficiency.

1. Develop customised practice tasks: Focus on specific skills needing reinforcement.
2. Encourage regular practice sessions: Integrate maths games and activities to maintain student engagement.
3. Incorporate interactive exercises: Use technology to create dynamic and engaging practice opportunities.
4. Set incremental learning goals: Help students achieve mastery step-by-step through practice.
5. Analyse practice results: Use data from practices to pinpoint areas for further development.

Implementing Long-Term Solutions

For lasting engagement and improvement in maths, you need to implement strategies that foster sustained interest and skill development. This section discusses long-term solutions for maths education.

Integrating Technology in Maths Instruction

Technology offers innovative ways to engage students and enhance maths instruction. Integrating digital tools can make learning more interactive and accessible.

1. Utilise educational apps and platforms: Offer interactive lessons and practice exercises.
2. Encourage the use of online resources: Provide additional practice and exploration of maths topics.
3. Implement virtual classrooms: Facilitate remote learning opportunities for diverse learner groups.
4. Apply gamification strategies: Introduce elements that make learning enjoyable and motivating.
5. Utilise data analytics: Track learning patterns and outcomes through educational technologies.

Continuous Professional Development

For you, continuous learning and development is crucial for staying updated with best practices in maths instruction.

1. Engage in professional development workshops: Learn new teaching techniques and methodologies.
2. Participate in educator communities: Share insights and resources with your peers.
3. Attend professional conferences: Gain exposure to trends and innovations in maths education.
4. Pursue advanced certifications: Deepen subject mastery and instructional skills.
5. Reflect on teaching practice: Continually evaluate and refine your personal teaching strategies.

Collaborating with Parents and Community

Building strong partnerships with parents and the community can enhance maths education and student support.

1. Organise parent workshops: Provide strategies for supporting maths learning at home.
2. Engage with the community through maths-related events: Showcase the importance of numeracy in everyday life.
3. Create resource-sharing platforms: Facilitate access to learning materials for parents and guardians.
4. Involve local experts: Bring in professionals to demonstrate real-world applications of maths.
5. Establish communication channels: Maintain open dialogue between you, parents, and students.

Conclusion

Numeracy is a critical skill for all students to master. Whilst there are many strategies available to boost engagement with Mathematics, leveraging technology to build and support personalised learning journeys is the best long term way to drive engagement at scale. The Education Perfect offering supports Mathematics teachers in delivering a personalised learning journey for every student. 

To read how EP is built for impact and supports the full teaching and learning cycle click here.

How do you ensure every student progresses, stays engaged, and feels supported without constantly working overtime? This blog offers practical, time-saving strategies to help you effectively handle a mixed-ability classroom. From tips on grouping and differentiation to tools like Education Perfect (EP) that make managing diverse classrooms simpler, we’ve got you covered.

What Makes Mixed-Ability Maths Classes so Challenging?

The reality of teaching mixed-ability classrooms is complex. Here are a few key challenges most teachers face:

Wide Range of Readiness Levels 

A single classroom often includes students with vastly different learning needs. Some students may require remedial support to grasp foundational concepts, while others are ready to dive deeper into advanced, extension activities.

This wide range of readiness levels means teachers must constantly adapt their lessons, often creating multiple versions of the same activity or content to cater to everyone.

Pressure to Cover the Curriculum 

Teachers face immense pressure to complete the full curriculum within a given timeframe. At the same time, they are expected to address individual learning gaps, which often means going back and reteaching concepts that some students struggled with.

Balancing these two demands—moving forward with new content while ensuring students aren’t left behind—often feels like an impossible task.

This pressure can lead to rushed lessons or a sense of guilt when certain students fall through the cracks. The challenge becomes even greater with standardised tests looming over the classroom, adding another layer of stress to already overburdened educators.

Time and Resource Constraints 

Planning lessons, marking assignments, and adjusting activities to meet students’ needs take up a significant portion of a teacher’s time.

Beyond classroom hours, many educators spend evenings and weekends creating resources, finding materials, and refining their teaching strategies.

When schools lack adequate support, such as teaching assistants, updated materials, or professional development opportunities, the burden falls solely on the teacher. Over time, this relentless workload can lead to exhaustion and burnout, leaving teachers feeling unsupported and overwhelmed.

Without the right tools or resources in place, maintaining a high standard of teaching becomes increasingly difficult.

Why Differentiation Matters – and Why It’s Hard 

Differentiation is the pedagogical backbone of mixed-ability classrooms. It means tailoring the content you teach, how students engage with it, and how they demonstrate their learning, based on their needs. Here’s why it’s invaluable:

Engagement 

Keeping students engaged means meeting them where they’re at, both in terms of skill level and interests. (For more on why students are switching off in maths, you may be interested in this blog.) By recognising individual needs and preferences, educators can create lessons and activities that resonate with students on a personal level.

Differentiation, such as offering varied learning materials or incorporating interactive elements, makes lessons more accessible, enjoyable, and relevant. When students feel that learning is designed for them, they are more likely to participate actively and stay focused.

Building Confidence 

When students are neither overwhelmed by tasks that feel too difficult nor bored with work that feels too easy, they develop a sense of confidence in their abilities.

Small, achievable challenges build their trust in themselves, encouraging them to take risks and persevere through more complex problems over time.

Providing positive reinforcement and celebrating incremental progress further solidify this confidence, making students feel capable of overcoming obstacles and eager to learn more.

Driving Progress 

Tailoring tasks to individual learning levels ensures that every student, regardless of where they start, experiences meaningful progress.

Targeted instruction allows educators to address gaps in understanding while also pushing students toward new milestones. This approach not only improves academic outcomes but also fosters a sense of accomplishment, motivating learners to keep striving for growth.

By focusing on individual progress, educators can create a more inclusive and effective learning environment where every student can thrive.

However, differentiation is labor-intensive when done manually. Planning targeted lessons, preparing materials for various levels, and individually marking student work can be an all-consuming process.

Fortunately, with the right strategies (and tech tools), differentiation becomes much more manageable. 

Practical Strategies to Differentiate Without Burnout 

Use Readiness Assessments to Group and Guide 

Start by understanding your students’ starting points. Readiness assessments can quickly give you a baseline of where each student is in their learning. Use the data to form flexible groups or to determine personalised learning pathways. 

Create Tiered Tasks and Pathways 

Design tasks that give all students access to the same core content while providing scaffolds or extensions where needed. Students who need support can tackle simpler components of the task, while others engage in advanced challenges. 

Embrace Self-Paced Learning 

Allowing students to work at their own pace reduces pressure on you to keep the whole class moving at one speed. It builds student autonomy and enables learners to take ownership of their progress. 

Build Peer Support and Collaboration 

Strategic pairing allows higher-level students to act as peer tutors while reinforcing their own understanding. Collaborative problem-solving activities foster teamwork and classroom connection. 

Use Technology to Automate Feedback and Reporting 

Providing immediate feedback is crucial for helping students learn from their mistakes, but it can be daunting to manually mark and review every student answer. Using technology to automate this process saves time and ensures consistency. 

How Education Perfect Supports Sustainable Differentiation 

Differentiation is most effective when it’s delivered consistently.

Education Perfect’s Learning Cycle makes it easy for teachers to differentiate learning for your students at scale.

Here’s how it works:

Automated assessment, grouping, feedback, and progress tracking

EP simplifies the entire teaching and assessment process, starting with readiness tests that identify each student’s strengths and areas for improvement.

From there, personalised learning pathways are automatically generated to address individual needs.

By automating these key processes such as marking, progress tracking, data analysis and reporting, EP frees up teachers’ time, allowing them to focus on delivering engaging and responsive lessons. This seamless integration ensures that teaching remains adaptive to each student’s journey.

Simplified Grouping and Management  without constant replanning

Managing diverse classrooms is easier than ever with EP’s automated grouping features. Students are automatically grouped based on their diagnostic results, making it simple to target instruction for specific abilities or learning needs.

Teachers can also track each group’s progress over time, identifying trends and areas for intervention at a glance. This approach supports more efficient classroom management and ensures that no student is left behind.

Meets students as a whole-class, small-group, or individual

EP provides flexibility to cater to every learning level within a classroom. Teachers can design learning experiences for the entire class, focus on small groups for targeted intervention, or drill down to individual students for personalised instruction. This customisation ensures that lessons are effective and accessible for all learners, whether they’re excelling or need additional support. With EP, teachers have the tools to create a truly inclusive and adaptive learning environment.

By handling time-consuming tasks like marking and progress tracking, EP enables you to create a classroom where every student thrives without exhausting yourself in the process.

Sustainable Teaching is Possible 

Teaching mixed-ability maths doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. With practical strategies like diagnostic assessments, tiered tasks, and self-paced learning, you can support every student effectively. And when paired with tools like Education Perfect, managing differentiation becomes not only achievable, but sustainable. 

Build a better way to teach today. Learn how Education Perfect Maths can help you differentiate efficiently and sustainably.

As a Department Head or School Leader, you’re not just selecting digital tooling and content for your educators to pick and choose from — you’re making investments to ensure that your teachers are supported at every stage of the teaching and learning process. From planning and delivering instruction, to assessing students and helping them practice and master skills, the right platforms should amplify your team’s impact, not just add complexity.

At Education Perfect, we think about the needs of teachers in terms of: Instruction, Assessment, and Practice. Each with sub-themes that reflect real classroom needs.

This guide will help you evaluate your tooling needs based on how well supported you are in these three categories, as well as help you compare usability, integration, security, and impact for any tools you use or select.

Part 1: Supporting Each Phase of the Learning Cycle 

1. Instructional Support

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Support for course planning	Providers that offer easy ways to map department goals to their functionality & resources	Supports faculty collaboration and planning	Teachers can use EP’s course planner tool to align EP resources to curriculum goals and your scope and sequence
Support for explicit teaching	Providers that offer rich learning content for use in class Quality explanations Worked examples Interactive lessons Deep curriculum alignment	Enables clear, direct instruction	EP includes videos, examples, and scaffolded activities
Targeted instruction tools	Providers that make it easy to individualise learning at scale Smart grouping Ability to assign gap-based tasks	Enables personalisation without extra work	EP auto-groups students based on diagnostic and task data and provides learning recommendations

2. Assessment Capabilities

Great assessment tools inform instruction—not just report outcomes.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Readiness diagnostics	Providers that offer out of the box topic-specific pre-tests Strand-based assessments	Supports planning and intervention	EP’s Smart Diagnostic tests identify readiness for learning and misconceptions
Formative assessment tools	Providers that support low-stakes quizzes or check ins Live, instant feedback Intuitive analytics	Helps adjust teaching in real time	EP shows who’s stuck, who’s guessing, and who’s succeeding—instantly
Summative assessments	Curriculum-aligned post-tests Ability to tie assessment results to specific curriculum outcomes Ability to compare assessments to assess progress	Tracks mastery and accountability	EP includes auto-marked summative assessments, curriculum aligned reporting and ‘compare pre-post test’ functionality

3. Practice & Revision Support

Consolidation is where deep learning happens—and where digital tools can really shine.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Guided practice tasks	Scaffolded, feedback-rich activities	Supports concept mastery	EP offers structured tasks with hints and help built in
Independent practice	Assignable tasks by topic, strand or standard Engagement features such as gamification and multimedia integrations	Builds fluency at a personalised pace while maximising student engagement	EP supports self-paced learning with teacher oversight as well as offers competitions, leaderboards, multi-media integrations and interactive content
Revision & exam prep	Automatically recommended tasks based on gaps Exam -style practice tasks and assessments	Focuses student effort where needed Builds confidence ahead of high-stakes assessments	EP generates revision based on assessment or activity data EP includes revision modes, quizzes, and practice exams

Part 2: What to expect from any EdTech provider

Whether you are taking advantage of a single tool to support the whole teaching and learning cycle, or using multiple tools to support different areas, there are several boxes that must be universally ticked.

1. Teacher Usability & Department Collaboration

A platform only works if teachers want to use it—and can do so with minimal friction.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Intuitive teacher dashboard	Simple interface, minimal clicks	Reduces training time and improves adoption	EP offers a user-friendly interface and personalised onboarding support
Smart task assignment	Quick, flexible task creation	Saves time for teachers, especially under pressure	EP lets teachers assign by curriculum point, group, or diagnostic data
Live analytics	Visual, actionable data for intervention	Helps prioritise class and individual support	EP shows live performance and progress across tasks, topics, and time
Collaboration tools	Shared courses, tasks, and student groups	Supports department planning and alignment	EP enables easy content sharing and cross-class tracking
Customisation options	Ability to edit and tailor content to the needs of a teacher or class	Teachers can align their tools to their practices and class needs	EP offers  customisable content, ability to create your own content and is flexible to integrate into different teaching practices

2. Integration & Technical Setup

If it’s not easy to integrate, it won’t get used.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
LMS integration	Sync with Google Classroom	Avoids double-handling and reduces admin	EP integrates with major LMS platforms
Single Sign-On (SSO)	One-click secure access	Reduces login friction and IT support issues	EP supports many options including Google and Clever
Data syncing	Easy student/teacher import	Ensures up-to-date classes and data	EP supports CSV, MIS and third-party integrations
Device compatibility	Browser-based, cross-device support	Works reliably in all classroom environments	EP works on Chromebooks, iPads, PCs, tablets

3. Data Privacy, Security & Compliance

Especially for student data, trust and transparency are non-negotiable.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Compliance certifications	Aligned with regional data regulations	Required for ethical and legal use	EP holds certifications in ST4S, ISO, Student Privacy Pledge and more
Secure logins	Encrypted and authenticated access	Protects student identity and access	EP uses encrypted logins with SSO support
Transparent data use	No selling or misuse of data	Builds trust with parents and staff	EP never shares or sells student data
Data export & deletion	Easy to manage and audit records	Required for compliance and cleanup	EP provides full control over school-held data
Server security	Your provider is storing data on reliable and resilient servers	Protects students, teachers and your school	EP uses AWS Cloud Sydney and adheres to their stringent security measures

Learn more about Education Perfect’s comprehensive security & privacy measures here.

4. Evidence of Impact

Choose a tool with a proven track record—not just nice features.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Efficacy studies	Evidence based learning	Build confidence your investment will drive impact on student results	All EP content is designed by a team of Maths experts and is based on learning science. EP has  produced several ‘Evidence Of Impact’ studies.
Accredited learning design	Providers can show how their learning design aligns to best practice	Ensure quality and depth of content	EP holds the Digital Promise Product certification and Efficacy Bronze certificate for Real Result. Our research has also been independently validated by John Hopkins University.
Independent case studies	Real school success stories	Validates effectiveness in classrooms	EP has case studies showing growth in student performance and engagement.
Positive teacher feedback	Real-world usability	Reflects adoption and impact	91% of teachers report EP improves lesson efficiency and insight.
Student engagement metrics	High usage, repeat activity	Correlates with sustained impact	Students regularly engage with EP in and beyond class time.
Supports all learners	Impact across ability levels	Ensures equity and challenge	EP adapts to high-performers and supports intervention needs equally.

Learn more about the impact of Education Perfect see our here.

5. Cost, Value & Licensing

A smart investment is scalable, sustainable, and proven to deliver value.

	What to Look For	Why It Matters	How Education Perfect Delivers
Transparent pricing	Easy to budget and justify	No hidden costs or confusion	EP offers clear per-student or site-wide licensing.
Subscription tiers to suit your needs	price optionality	Find a tailored solution to meet your departments needs & budget	EP offers several subscription tiers to support different schools’ needs.  See more detail here.
Flexible implementation	Start with one year or the whole school	Tailored to your department’s scale	EP can be trialled in a year group or school-wide.
ROI metrics	Evidence of value over time	Supports leadership buy-in	EP schools report improved student outcomes and workload reduction.
Free trials	See it in action before committing	Ensures confident decision-making	EP offers guided pilots with support and training included. Register for your free trial here.

Summary

If you are looking to streamline your investment in tools and resources, look for platforms that can support your educators across all phases of the learning cycle. 

	Education Perfect	Textbooks	Revision  tools	Quiz  tools	Diagnostic assessment tools
Course planning
Explicit instruction
Targeted instruction
Readiness assessment
Formative assessment
Summative assessment
Guided practice
Independent practice
Exam prep & revision

Every tool in your toolkit should offer high quality features & content and deliver impact.

No matter what your tool[s] of choice support, you should also consider their strength in the following:

	Education Perfect
Deep curriculum-alignment
Intuitive interface
Time-save features such as auto-marking
Evidence of impact
Easy integration options (LMS integration/SSO)
Real time analytics
Compliance certifications
Teacher onboarding
Flexibility & customization options

Final thoughts for department heads and school leaders in Mathematics

Your role is to lead strategy, not just chase tools. Prioritise platforms that can:

• Enable great instruction, assessment and practice 
• Reduce your team’s admin load
• Help you and your teachers intervene earlier and more effectively
• Amplify the impact of the teacher not just digitise existing practices
• Deliver student results