Hegarty Maths (Now Sparx): Everything Teachers Need to Know

⚠️ : HegartyMaths has been merged into Sparx Maths. While the original HegartyMaths platform is no longer accepting new school subscriptions, the content and teaching approach developed by Colin Hegarty continues within Sparx Maths. This guide remains valuable for understanding the pedagogical principles that made HegartyMaths effective, and schools looking for similar functionality should explore  or Sparx Maths.

‍

What is Hegarty Maths?

Hegarty Maths is a problem-solving mathematics platform that merged into Sparx Maths in 2025, featuring 943 activities and over 40,000 questions. The platform divides mathematical topics into small sections with accompanying videos and comprehension exercises. Hegarty Maths emphasises creative thinking over rote memorisation.

Hegarty Maths is a problem-solving focused mathematics platform that has now merged into Sparx Maths, featuring 943 activities and 40,000+ questions across all age groups. The platform divides each mathematics topic into small parts with accompanying videos and comprehension exercises, encouraging creative and logical thinking rather than rote memorization. While no longer accepting new su bscriptions, its pedagogical approach continues within Sparx Maths.

Hegarty Mathematics is a maths platform that focuses on problem-solving rather than rote learning. Instead of memorizing formulas and rules, Hegarty Maths encourages students to solve problems creatively and logically.

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 pupils practice math problems and to test their math skills.

Each topic of mathematics is divided into small parts for better understanding with a video and comprehension. Hegarty Maths is a subscription-based teaching program used in UK schools.

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 is routinely updated and new topics are introduced to stay current with the GCSE mathematics curriculum. Students can perform projects independently, or teachers can assign these assignments to students to complete as homework or for revision purposes, and then track the students' progress.

‍

‍

Hegarty Maths History and Evolution

Hegarty Maths began as YouTube videos created by Colin Hegarty to help students learn mathematics independently through flipped learning approaches. The platform evolved from free YouTube content into a comprehensive subscription-based teaching program used across UK schools. Should consistently state the merger happened in late 2023, where Colin Hegarty's teaching methods and content continue to be integrated.

‍

‍

The founders of this maths education platform started off by making YouTube videos for students. These instructional maths videos enabled students to access mathematical concepts in a format that was easy to understand. The founders Colin and Brian quickly realised that there was a need to build something bigger to supplement the national curriculum. Their new project, Sparx Maths, has been very well received in secondary schools around England, building on their early success.

• 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 pupils 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 pupils 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-focused 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.
  • ‍
  • Complete UK Curriculum Coverage
  • ‍
  • Cognitive Science Behind Better Results

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

Hegarty Maths Benefits for Teachers

Hegarty Maths provides teachers with automated homework setting, detailed progress tracking, and reduced marking workload through intelligent question selection. The platform enables personalised learning paths for different ability levels whilst providing comprehensive analytics. Teachers can focus on instruction rather than administrative tasks.

Hegarty Maths saves teachers approximately 200 hours annually through automated features for setting personalised work, tracking progress, and providing targeted feedback. The platform enables flipped learning where students watch video lessons before class, allowing teachers to focus classroom time on application and problem-solving. Teachers can easily differentiate instruction and monitor individual student progress without excessive administrative burden.

There are two main types of Hegarty Maths lessons: Hegarty Maths Activities and Hegarty Maths Lessons. Both of these options provide students with a variety of activities to choose from. However, Hegarty Math Activities tend to focus more heavily on teaching specific topics, while Hegarty Math Lessons cover a broader range of subjects.

‍

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 &

Research on online tutoring with volunteer university students matched to disadvantaged middle school pupils shows positive effects on both cognitive outcomes and soft skills development. This demonstrates that remote tutoring relationships can be effective even when conducted entirely online, offering schools a scalable model for supporting struggling students. [Read the full study]

A Critical Lens on Cognitively Guided Instruction: Perspectives from Mathematics Teacher Educators of Color
   
9 citations

L. A. M. Rodriguez et al. (2022)

Mathematics teacher educators of colour provide critical perspectives on Cognitively Guided Instruct ion, examining how this popular framework may need adaptation to better serve diverse learners. This research highlights the importance of considering cultural and racial equity when implementing supposedly universal teaching approaches in mathematics education.

‍

Does handwriting impact learning on math tutoring systems?
   
7 citations

Felipe de Morais & P. Jaques (2021)

Students perform better on digital maths tutoring systems when they can write solutions by hand rather than using keyboard and mouse input. This finding suggests that maintaining natural problem-solving methods, even in digital environments, can improve learning outcomes for mathematics students. [Read the full study]

‍

Assessing the Effectiveness of Adaptive Learning Systems in K-12 Education
   
6 citations

Boby Chellanthara Jose et al. (2024)

Adaptive learning systems in K-12 education show promise for personalising instruction and improving student engagement, though effectiveness varies by implementation and context. Teachers sh ould understand both the potential benefits and limitations of these AI-driven platforms when considering their adoption in the classroom. [Read the full study]

‍

The future of mathematics education: Adaptive learning technologies and artificial intelligence
   
6 citations

Ade Nandang Mustafa (2024)

Artificial intelligence and adaptive technologies are reshaping mathematics education by providing personalised learning experiences through intelligent tutoring systems. This transformation offers teachers new tools for differentiation but requires understanding of how AI can complement rather than replace effective pedagogy. [Read the full study]

‍

Frequently Asked Questions

HegartyMaths Changes: School Impact Explained

HegartyMaths has merged with Sparx Maths in 2025, and the original platform is no longer accepting new school subscriptions. However, Colin Hegarty's teaching methods and content continue within Sparx Maths, so schools can still access similar functionality and pedagogical approaches through the new platform.

‍

Annual Time Savings for Teachers

The platform saves teachers approximately 200 hours annually through automated features for setting personalised work, tracking student progress, and providing targeted feedback. This significant time saving comes from reduced administrative burden whilst still allowing teachers to monitor individual student progress effectively.

‍

Flipped Learning with HegartyMaths

Students watch explanatory video lessons at home before class, which prepares them to apply mathematical concepts during classroom time. This means teachers can focus lesson time on problem-solving and application rather than initial explanation, allowing for more targeted support where students need it most.

‍

HegartyMaths vs Traditional Teaching Methods

HegartyMaths focuses on problem-solving and logical thinking rather than rote memorisation of formulas and rules. The platform uses cognitive science principles to build independent learners through 943 activities and 40,000+ questions that encourage creative mathematical thinking.

‍

Individual Student Progress Tracking

Teachers can easily view all student results after they complete assigned work, then provide targeted feedback focusing on specific mistakes and misconceptions. The platform's comprehensive tracking system allows teachers to identify areas where individual students need additional support without excessive marking.

‍

UK School Curriculum Coverage

The platform covers the full GCSE mathematics curriculum with over 600 high-quality video lessons and 40,000+ bespoke questions organised in a sequenced and connected manner. Content is regularly updated to stay current with curriculum requirements, making it suitable for homework assignments and revision purposes.

‍

Transitioning HegartyMaths Setup to Sparx

Since HegartyMaths has merged into Sparx Maths, schools should explore Sparx Maths to continue using Colin Hegarty's proven pedagogical approach. The transition preserves the problem-solving methodology that made HegartyMaths effective whilst potentially offering enhanced features within the new platform.