Sumdog is a game-based learning platform created to make maths enjoyable and accessible for all children aged 5 to 14. By embedding curriculum-aligned questions within engaging, interactive games, Sumdog supports classroom teaching and helps pupils build key maths skills with confidence.
Between October 2024 and June 2025 we carried out a mini-impact study with Ysgol Bro Carmel in Flintshire, Wales to understand the impact of Sumdog on pupils' attitudes and attainment in maths.
The study involved collecting attainment data for 22 Year 5 pupils in Term 1 and again in Term 3, as well as collecting data from baseline and endline pupil surveys. This data was then analysed by Sumdog's Data Scientist alongside anonymous platform data. There was no control group in place.
Throughout the study, the teachers were encouraged to set a minimum of one Sumdog maths practice task a week, one low-stakes tests a month and one Sumdog maths competition. The school also took part in North Wales and National Sumdog maths contests throughout this period.
However, one of the benefits of Sumdog is that it offers teachers a flexible platform for delivering targeted practice, meaningful homework and robust formative testing, all within a gamified environment that pupils love. Using Sumdog, Welsh teachers can quickly assign differentiated tasks aligned to class topics or individual learning gaps, with the platform’s adaptive engine ensuring each pupil receives questions at the right level of challenge. These assignments can reinforce daily classroom learning, provide extra support for pupils who need it, or extend those who are working at a greater depth—all while tracking accuracy and improvement in real time through the teacher dashboard. The ease with which teachers can create and personalise practice tasks means Sumdog can be woven seamlessly into weekly routines, supporting consistent skill development both in school and at home.
Our suggestion of use throughout the study was provided as a guideline to promote regular usage across the three terms, however, we expect Sumdog to be used in the best way for both teachers and pupils based on their needs.
What Impact Did Sumdog Have On Pupil Attainment?
Our analysis found that 23% of pupils using Sumdog made measurable progress in their maths attainment. This included pupils who moved from working below the expected standard to meeting expectations, as well as those who advanced from meeting expectations to exceeding them.
The chart below illustrates how attainment levels shifted over the course of the study, comparing pupils’ performance before they began using Sumdog and after they had used the platform regularly throughout the impact study period.
Does Using Sumdog More Increase The Impact on Attainment?
Those pupils who used Sumdog in class or at home for a greater amount of time were notably more likely to demonstrate measurable gains in their maths attainment over the course of the study. To better understand this relationship, we examined and compared two groups: those pupils who showed an improvement in attainment and those whose attainment did not change according to the data collected.
Pupils who made progress on Sumdog engaged with the platform for an average of 1,120 minutes throughout the experiment period. In comparison, pupils who did not show an improvement logged an average of 927 minutes. When translated to weekly usage, this equates to approximately 56 minutes per week for pupils showing improvement and around 50 minutes per week for those with no reported progress.
This pattern suggests a positive correlation between increased, sustained engagement with Sumdog and the likelihood of making measurable progress in maths attainment. Regular and consistent practice, even with a modest difference in total usage time, appeared to have a meaningful impact on outcomes for this group of pupils.
Impact on Maths Attainment: Key Findings
Sumdog helps pupils build greater confidence in learning beyond the classroom. When asked whether they agreed with the statement “I am very good at learning outside maths lessons compared with others in my year group,” pupils were more likely to agree after consistently using Sumdog throughout the study.
This boost in confidence highlights how Sumdog not only supports developing maths skills but also empowers children to take ownership of their learning, both at home and at school. By providing engaging, curriculum-aligned activities in a flexible online environment, Sumdog encourages independent learning habits that contribute to long-term progress and self-belief in maths.
Sumdog Supports Maths Attainment In Welsh Primary Schools
At the end of the study, we gathered feedback from Michael Martell Headteacher at Ysgol Bro Carmel who shared the following:
Sumdog has been really valuable in increasing engagement in maths. The ability to set and personalise tasks has been really useful, allowing us to set work based on their learning in class, which they can access at home and across the school day. We have also been using Sumdog to boost times tables knowledge. Personalisation has been vital with this, and the heatmap and percentage accuracy features allow us to closely track pupil progress and tailor the questions to their growing recall and knowledge. We have found that children are keen to go on Sumdog and this is reflected in parental comments of pupil engagement at home.
Michael Martell, Headteacher
The findings from our mini-impact study with Ysgol Bro Carmel demonstrate that Sumdog’s adaptive, game-based learning platform supports measurable improvements in pupil maths attainment and confidence. By offering a flexible system for differentiated practice, engaging gamified activities, and real-time progress tracking, Sumdog empowers teachers to meet the needs of every learner—promoting consistent practice, greater pupil motivation, and ongoing skill development both in and out of the classroom. Ultimately, our study highlights Sumdog’s role in helping Welsh primary schools foster positive learning habits and achieve meaningful gains in maths.