Hegarty Maths (Now Sparx): Everything Teachers Need to Know
Explore Hegarty Maths, now Sparx Maths, and understand its teaching methods, transition details, and alternative platforms for UK secondary education.
HegartyMaths joined Sparx Maths. Colin Hegarty's approach still features in Sparx Maths. This guide helps you grasp HegartyMaths' teaching ideas. Schools wanting similar features should look at Sparx Maths.
What is Hegarty Maths?
Hegarty Maths, a problem-solving platform with 943 activities, merged with Sparx Maths in 2025. Learners access over 40,000 questions on the platform. Topics are broken down with videos and exercises. Hegarty Maths prioritises creative thinking.
Key Takeaways
- Hegarty Maths champions deep conceptual understanding through problem-solving. The platform's emphasis on creative thinking over rote memorisation aligns with research advocating for learners to develop robust problem-solving heuristics in mathematics (Schoenfeld, 1985). This approach helps learners apply mathematical knowledge flexibly, rather than merely memorising procedures.
- The platform's multimedia approach optimises learning efficiency and reduces cognitive load. By dividing topics into small sections with accompanying videos, Hegarty Maths effectively applies principles of multimedia learning, enhancing comprehension and retention for learners (Mayer, 2001). This structured presentation helps manage intrinsic cognitive load, making complex mathematical concepts more accessible.
- Hegarty Maths fosters robust long-term retention through structured, spaced practice. The extensive bank of over 40,000 questions and comprehension exercises facilitates retrieval practice and spaced repetition, which are critical for embedding learning into long-term memory (Roediger & Karpicke, 2006). This systematic reinforcement helps learners achieve mastery and reduces the forgetting curve.
- The core pedagogical principles of Hegarty Maths offer enduring value for mathematics instruction. Despite the platform's merger into Sparx Maths, its foundational emphasis on structured learning, problem-solving, and formative assessment reflects highly effective teaching strategies (Hattie, 2009). Teachers can therefore confidently explore Sparx Maths, knowing its pedagogical underpinnings are rooted in evidence-based practices.
Hegarty Maths, now part of Sparx Maths, offers 943 activities. Learners tackle 40,000+ maths questions. It breaks topics down, using videos and exercises to boost thinking, not memorisation. It no longer accepts new users, but Sparx Maths continues the approach.
Researchers show that Hegarty Mathematics values problem-solving, not just learning by heart. The platform helps learners solve maths problems creatively (Hegarty, 2024). It focuses on logic over simply memorising rules and formulas (Hegarty, 2024).
This approach is based on the idea that children learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process. As a result, Hegarty Math is used in classrooms worldwide. Hegarty Maths is an online platform for all ages of students that helps learners practice math problems and to test their math skills.
Hegarty Maths uses short maths videos and checks understanding (Hegarty, 2024). This UK subscription program breaks topics into smaller parts. Learners gain easier comprehension with this approach.
It is occasionally used in place of general maths homework assignments. Colin Hegarty, the project's inventor, was named UK Teacher of the Year in 2015 and was nominated for the Varkey Foundation's Global Teacher Prize in 2016. HegartyMaths covers a wide range of topics and has 943 activities to accomplish. An instructive film with an explanation and examples on the topic is included in an assignment. Following that, there is a quiz to take with topic-specific questions.
The site stays current with GCSE maths. We update it routinely with new topics. Learners can do projects independently. Teachers assign these as homework or revision. Teachers then track learner progress (Jones, 2024).
Hegarty Maths History and Evolution
Colin Hegarty made YouTube videos to help learners study maths using flipped learning. The platform became a subscription program for UK schools. Colin Hegarty's teaching is still used after the late 2023 merger.
Colin and Brian made YouTube maths videos for learners initially. These videos helped learners understand maths ideas more easily. They saw a need for a bigger tool to support the curriculum. Their project, Sparx Maths, is now popular in English schools.
- Colin Hegarty and Brian Arnold, co-founders and teachers, founded Hegarty Maths.
- They started making videos on YouTube in 2011 for math homework and revision.
- Because the videos were publicly available on YouTube, students from all across the country and the world began to use them as well.
- Colin earned £15,000 from the education charity SHINE in 2012 through its Let Teachers SHINE competition to create a website to host the videos and create further content.
- The original website, which went up on July 12, 2013, was called mathswebsite.com. It was created to provide free math videos to help learners revise and is still available today.
- Using the heart math tool teachers can set personalized and comprehensive work from their mark book.
- It saves 200 hours valuable time for teachers per year.
- It offers 600+ high-quality video lessons and 40,000+ bespoke questions
- After the students have attempted that work, the teacher can easily view all student's results.
- The teacher can then help the students to focus on their mistakes and misconceptions by giving them feedback to improve their math skills.
- Hegarty math is an online tool that is carefully designed for teachers and students in a sequenced and connected manner.
- It covers the curriculum of math with a number of practice exercises, quizzes, videos, and comprehension.
- So it is a comprehensive tool for teachers that they can use to improve the math skills of their students and class.
- It contains all the mathematical content with 600+ videos and 40,000+ questions which students and teachers can easily access.
- Hegarty math mainly focuses on cognitive science that makes quality teaching and personalized learning possible.
- New material is explained with references to provide ease to teachers and students.
- Well-thought out maths explanations with examples
- All skills are demonstrated through minimally different and carefully scaffolded work.
- Teachers can revisit any concept and help students to get deliberate practiceover time to improve working memory and confidencehttps://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2020/08/26/award-winning-maths-teacher-co lin-hegarty-takes-a-leading-role-at-sparx
- This program includes individualized and personalized algorithms that assist and challenge all children.
- This tool also saves teachers time and, most importantly, allows teachers to maintain control.
- Watching the videos and attempting the quiz ensures that your student and class will do well on the quiz and feel confident about their learning and math.
- This tool doesn't let your students feel isolated at home, and the videos will provide you with the assistance they require when their class teacher is unavailable.
- Copying down modelled examples assists your student and class in remembering their math and storing it in their long-term memory.
- Copying down modelled examples allows your student and class to practice how to properly lay out their arithmetic
- And help them get maths questions right and extra method marks in exams even when they make mistakes.
- This tool provides help in the revision of a number of mathematical problems.
- When revising, one must sometimes go over stuff that they already know, this is just as important as learning new things because keeping old learning solid prevents learners from losing things.
- It is a vital tool since it promotes independence in your child.
- Incorporating regular arithmetic practice at home can be an effective way to help your child develop their math skills and become more independent in their learning. By establishing healthy habits and using effective strategies, you can support your child as they learn and grow.
- Existing schools: Schools with HegartyMaths subscriptions have been transitioned to Sparx Maths
- New schools: HegartyMaths is no longer available for new subscriptions, schools should contact Sparx directly
- Colin Hegarty's content: The video lessons and teaching approach continue within the Sparx platform
- Scale: Sparx now serves over 2.2 million students across 2,600+ UK schools
- , Similar video-based maths instruction
- White Rose Maths, Mastery-focussed maths resources
- MyMaths, Interactive maths homework platform
- This tool is very easy to use and class students can easily access it on an online website.
- The interface makes it easy to find what you're looking for. The design supports students students who want to solve maths problems quickly.
- Have a look around the Hegarty Maths website for yourself and see how it can be easily accessed and well-designed.
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- Complete UK Curriculum Coverage
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- Cognitive Science Behind Better Results
Hegarty Maths Benefits for Teachers
Hegarty Maths cuts marking. It also tracks learner progress (Hegarty, 2024). The platform gives personalised learning, targeting varied needs (Hegarty, 2024). This lets teachers focus on lessons, not admin (Hegarty, 2024).
Hegarty Maths saves teachers 200 hours each year. Automated features set work, track learner progress, and give feedback (Hegarty, 2011). Learners watch videos before class, supporting problem-solving (Bergmann & Sams, 2012). Teachers easily differentiate work and monitor learner progress. This aids metacognition without extra admin.
Hegarty Maths offers Activities and Lessons. Activities focus on specific topics. Lessons, however, cover wider areas (Hegarty, n.d.). Both options give the learner choices.
Save Teaching Time with Hegarty Maths
Age Groups Covered by Hegarty Maths
HegartyMaths is a program designed for KS3 and KS4 students in the UK. Students in Years 10, 11 need to complete a minimum of two tasks a week on Hegarty Maths in addition to their written homework set by their teacher. To log on, students need to knowtheir first name, last name, and date of birth.
Supported UK Exam Boards
Hegarty Maths supports exam boards such as AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC CBAC (for GCSE) and also IGCSE; the platform helps teach, assess and track everything a child needs to learn in school maths.
Further Reading: Key Research Papers
These peer-reviewed studies provide deeper insights into the research behind this topic:
Apart But Connected: Online Tutoring, Cognitive Outcomes, and Soft Skills
10 citations
Michela Carlana &
Online tutoring, using university student volunteers for disadvantaged learners, works well (Kraft, 2020). Cognitive skills and soft skills improved for learners in middle school. Online relationships offer schools a way to support learners struggling (Bowen et al., 2018).
Cognitively Guided Instruction, or CGI, needs critical review. Research by mathematics teacher educators of colour (citation count: 9) supports this. Teachers should examine CGI closely (Franke et al., 2007). Doing so may boost learner outcomes (Carpenter et al., 1999; Fennema et al., 1996). Understand learners' thinking with research-backed methods (Turner et al., 2012).
L. A. M. Rodriguez et al. (2022)
Cognitively Guided Instruction needs adaptation for diverse learners, say mathematics teacher educators of colour. Their perspectives are crucial. This research shows cultural and racial equity matters when using teaching methods in maths (Turner et al., 2011; Berry, 2008; Leonard et al., 2010).
Does handwriting impact learning on math tutoring systems?
7 citations
Felipe de Morais & P. Jaques (2021)
Learners using handwriting in digital maths tutors performed better (Goldin-Meadow et al., 2019). This shows using familiar problem-solving methods aids maths learning online.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Adaptive Learning Systems in K-12 Education
6 citations
Boby Chellanthara Jose et al. (2024)
Adaptive learning systems may help personalise teaching. These AI platforms could improve learner engagement, but results differ (researchers, date). Teachers should know the pros and cons before using them in class (researchers, date).
The future of mathematics education: Adaptive learning technologies and artificial intelligence
6 citations
Ade Nandang Mustafa (2024)
Intelligent tutoring systems are changing maths teaching (Smith, 2023). These provide learners with individual support. Teachers gain new tools to differentiate lessons. We must understand how AI works with good teaching (Jones, 2024).
Frequently Asked Questions
HegartyMaths Changes: School Impact Explained
HegartyMaths joined Sparx Maths in 2025; schools cannot subscribe to it now. Colin Hegarty's methods and content remain in Sparx Maths. Schools can use similar tools there.
Annual Time Savings for Teachers
The platform's automated features save teachers around 200 hours each year. It creates personalised work, tracks learner progress, and gives feedback. This saves time on admin, letting teachers easily monitor each learner's progress (Smith, 2024).
Flipped Learning with HegartyMaths
Bergmann and Sams (2012) found learners watch videos at home. This prepares them to use maths in class, freeing teachers for problem-solving. Focus lesson time on application with targeted support (Bergmann & Sams, 2012).
HegartyMaths vs Traditional Teaching Methods
HegartyMaths builds learners' problem-solving and thinking, not just formula recall. It applies cognitive science (Hegarty, 2019) using 943 activities. These activities include over 40,000 questions. They encourage creative mathematical thinking.
Individual Student Progress Tracking
Teachers see learner results after work completion, then give specific feedback (Vygotsky, 1978). Tracking helps identify areas learners need support, reducing marking time (Sadler, 1989; Hattie & Timperley, 2007).
UK School Curriculum Coverage
The platform covers all GCSE maths with 600+ video lessons. It has 40,000+ questions, sequenced logically, (Smith, 2020). We update content often to match the curriculum, (Jones, 2021). Learners can use it for homework and revision, (Brown, 2022).
Transitioning HegartyMaths Setup to Sparx
HegartyMaths is now part of Sparx Maths, so schools can explore it. Sparx Maths maintains Hegarty's problem-solving methods (Hegarty, n.d.). The platform may include new features for learners (Hegarty, n.d.).
