What Does ‘Greater Depth’ Really Mean in Primary Maths?

You’ve probably heard the term ‘greater depth’ in staff meetings, reports, or conversations with parents — but what does it actually mean? And more importantly, how do we support children to reach greater depth without simply giving them “harder sums”?

Let’s explore what greater depth really looks like in primary maths – and how you can help your children get there with confidence.

🌱 First, What Is Greater Depth?

In simple terms, greater depth means a child:

• Has a secure grasp of age-related expectations

• Can apply their knowledge in a range of unfamiliar contexts

• Shows reasoning, flexibility, and mathematical thinking

• Thinks creatively, explains clearly, and often sees connections others don’t

It's not about racing ahead into the next year’s content. It’s about digging deeper into current year group objectives and stretching thinking within them.

🎯 What Does Greater Depth Look Like?

Let’s break it down with a few examples:

Year 2 – Multiplication

Standard: "Recall and use multiplication facts for the 2, 5, and 10 times tables."

Greater depth: Can explain why the 5 times table always ends in 0 or 5, and spot patterns in a missing-number grid.

Year 4 – Fractions

Standard: "Recognise and show families of equivalent fractions."

Greater depth: Can justify whether a fraction is more or less than ½ and compare it to other equivalents.

Year 6 – Number

Standard: "Use negative numbers in context."

Greater depth: Can reason about temperature changes and explain what would happen over multiple days in real-world scenarios.

It’s all about depth before breadth — encouraging children to reason, justify, prove, and explain.

💡 Top Tips to Support Greater Depth in the Classroom

1. Ask open-ended questions

“What’s the same and what’s different?” or “Can you prove it?” helps children think beyond the right answer.

2. Encourage multiple methods

Invite children to solve problems in more than one way. This builds flexibility and real understanding.

3. Use ‘greater depth’ activities regularly – not as an add-on

Stretching tasks shouldn’t be a Friday treat. Embed rich questions and challenges across your weekly planning.

4. Value reasoning and explanation

Praise clear explanations just as much as correct answers. Let children become the teachers and explain their thinking.

✅ Ready-Made Support: Primary Arithmetic – Greater Depth

At Primary Resources Hub, we know how tricky it can be to constantly come up with rich, challenging tasks – especially when you're juggling a busy classroom.

That’s why we’ve created the Primary Arithmetic: Greater Depth resource.

🔹 Fully aligned to the National Curriculum

🔹 Includes reasoning-rich activities for Years 2–6

🔹 Challenges children in a structured, accessible way

🔹 Perfect for whole class, small groups, or homework

🔹 Builds confidence as well as deep thinking

👉 Explore it here and take the pressure off planning, while giving children the tools to truly master maths.

🌟 In Summary…

Greater depth isn’t about harder maths — it’s about deeper understanding.With the right questions, the right culture, and the right resources, we can help every child think like a mathematician.

Let’s give them that chance.