Mr MoneyJar Podcast Interview for  National Numeracy Day 2026

To mark National Numeracy Day 2026, I was delighted to join Rotimi Merriman-Johnson for a special Mr MoneyJar podcast episode focused on numeracy and maths confidence. National Numeracy Day is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the impact that improving numeracy can have on individuals, families, and communities across the UK and beyond.

In this episode, we explored something that affects millions of people every day, their relationship with maths. While maths is often viewed as a school subject, our conversation focused on something much bigger, the confidence, emotions, and life skills that sit behind numeracy.

During the interview, I shared my journey from studying maths and business, through my experiences producing for BBC Radio 1Xtra, to finding my purpose in education. We discussed why so many adults struggle with numeracy confidence, the emotional barriers that often develop around maths, and how those feelings can continue long after people leave school.

One of the key themes throughout the conversation was that maths is not just about passing exams. It is a practical, empowering tool that helps us make decisions, manage our finances, understand information, and navigate everyday life with greater confidence.

We also explored:

• Why nearly half of working-age adults have numeracy skills below expected levels
• The emotional impact of maths anxiety
• How parents can support children with maths at home
• Whether current assessment systems are fit for purpose
• Essential maths skills for everyday life
• The importance of building confidence rather than focusing solely on attainment
• The skills that will matter most in an AI-driven future

I am passionate about helping people develop a more positive relationship with maths. Too often people say, “I’m just not a maths person,” when the reality is that many have simply had negative experiences that have affected their confidence. This is why the work National Numeracy does is so important. 

I hope this conversation helps people feel better about maths, challenges some common misconceptions, and encourages listeners to see numeracy as something that belongs to everyone.

A huge thank you to Rotimi for such a thoughtful and engaging discussion, and to National Numeracy for the important work they continue to do in supporting adults and children across the UK to build confidence with numbers.

The Mr MoneyJar podcast is also a fantastic series with loads of other great interviews that are well worth checking out. If you enjoyed our conversation, I would highly recommend exploring some of the other episodes.Thank you for listening, and I hope you find something in the conversation that inspires you to approach maths with a little more confidence