Empowering Young Mathematicians: Tutorfair Foundation and Axiom Maths
Over the last two terms, Tutorfair Foundation has reached more than 200 young mathematicians through its collaboration with Axiom Maths. Last year, we were selected as a Delivery Partner by Axiom and began delivering Maths Circles at the start of 2024.
We were excited to get behind the programme as Maths has always been our most-requested subject and our mission, vision and values align closely with Axiom’s. Well-designed, well-supported, inspiring and inclusive, Maths Circles has been a great addition to our charitable work.
About Maths Circles
Axiom Maths is an education charity on a mission to help every child with a passion for maths realise their full potential. Maths Circles are small groups of pupils who meet weekly to tackle a curriculum of challenging problems. It’s an approach that’s worked successfully in other countries, and which Axiom is bringing to the UK. Over the coming years, Axiom Maths want to:
Increase the number of students achieving high grades in GCSE and A-Level maths.
Encourage more students to pursue maths at graduate and post-graduate levels.
Ensure these improvements are inclusive, especially for pupil premium students and young women.
In Maths Circles, students are exposed to mathematics from beyond the National Curriculum, that takes them deep into stretching and satisfying topics they wouldn’t otherwise encounter at school - not even at GCSE or A-Level. This makes Maths Circles an ‘enrichment’ as opposed to an ‘acceleration’ programme - complementary to existing maths education instead of simply introducing content from later years.
The programme follows an expertly sequenced curriculum developed by Axiom’s subject specialists, designed to promote what Axiom calls ‘AAA behaviours’ in students:
Adventurous (willing to try hard problems and explore new solutions)
Articulate (able to use mathematical language effectively and explain ideas clearly)
Accepting (willing to listen to others’ ideas and learn from their peers)
These behaviours are essential in good mathematicians and, over time, will encourage students to identify as mathematicians whilst building the confidence and skills to approach harder and harder challenges.
Students join their Circles each week from home, joining an online classroom with their mentor and the other participants. They’re able to select a convenient weekly session for them to ensure they can commit to the programme alongside their other after-school commitments.
Joining from early Key Stage 3, eligible students will have access to the programme for many years - right through their secondary school education and beyond.
Who Are Our Maths Circles Students?
As one of Axiom’s Delivery Partners, we are proud to host 34 Maths Circles sessions each week, with 5-7 participants in each group. The students participating in the programme this year:
Are of secondary school age - starting the programme in either Year 7 or 8.
Achieved ‘Greater Depth’ in maths at KS2 SATs or equivalent assessments.
Are 44% pupil premium students.
Are 43% female.
Were referred to the programme by their schools owing to their outstanding potential in mathematics.
Students’ motivations for taking part are all different. They might simply be excited by the idea of challenging themselves or interested in studying Maths at university. They might be dreaming of a career in STEM or motivated by meeting new people in their Circles. Whatever their motivation, we’re delighted to have so many fantastic young mathematicians showing a passion for and commitment to the programme.
Student Voices: The Impact of Maths Circles
Our students have shared their experiences and some of the impact they’ve felt from the programme. In general, we find that students feel the sessions are appropriately challenging and always credit their mentors with making the problems especially fun, engaging and inclusive.
"My mentor is very encouraging to get all of us to speak at least once every session and it helps to build my confidence… Thank you for making me feel heard and seen."
"I think the lessons we do are both fun and educational, and the difficulty is just right for my level."
"Thank you so much for having been such a great help these few months and I really enjoyed participating in the sessions."
The Heart of Maths Circles: Our Mentors
The success of the programme this year is a testament to the work of our fantastic mentors. All of our mentors are experienced maths tutors and/or teachers, and they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to each session. Maths Circles mentors:
Have studied maths to an undergraduate level or higher.
Possess more than three years of teaching and/or tutoring experience.
Are passionate about communicating maths and helping young people find new ways to enjoy the subject.
Their commitment to nurturing mathematical thinking and their innovative approaches are integral to the programme’s ongoing success. Working through content of this kind with a mixed group of high-attaining young people is a uniquely challenging task.
Although lots of support and resources are provided, Mentors will need to put extra time and thought into preparing and reporting on sessions to contribute effectively to the programme. However, done well, we hear consistently that the programme is extremely rewarding for mentors.
"I am very pleased to be a part of this programme. I am discovering new ways of developing mathematical thinking in students."
Join Us
If you want to refer a young person to the programme, reach out to us via email or via the contact form on our website. We’ll be able to direct you to the right place once applications open for the new academic year.
If you are passionate about maths and interested in becoming a Maths Circles Mentor, we encourage you to reach out to us directly. For those already part of our tutoring community, keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to join the programme in the new year.
Through this partnership with Axiom, Tutorfair Foundation is not only supporting young mathematicians but also contributing to a more inclusive and diverse future in STEM. We look forward to continuing this journey and witnessing the incredible achievements of our Maths Circles students.