The glossary was first developed in response to requests from teachers and others during the national curriculum consultation in 1999. Explanations of mathematical terms refer to the terms as they are used in the programmes of study and national curriculum assessments.

Other terms that are explained come from supporting publications by QCA, the Primary National Strategy and Key stage 3 national strategy.

The glossary is a work in progress. Readers are invited to suggest refinements to explanations or alternative explanations. Readers may also suggest further terms to be explained or deletions where they feel explanations are unnecessary. Please email the Mathematics team, mathematics@qca.org.uk with your suggestions.