Last academic year, Swindon Academy faced challenges in both engaging pupils at the start of the programme and maintaining their participation throughout the year. This is a challenge that we know lots of schools face and we understand that there isn’t always a quick-fix solution.
However, through the hard work and determination of Ross – the Maths Excellence Coordinator (MExC) at Swindon Academy – they have been able to completely overhaul their recruitment process. This resulted in a huge uptake in pupils for his four maths circles this academic year.
We asked Ross to share the key steps he took to turn around the Axiom Maths programme numbers.
Invitations vs Applications
In our Schools Programme Guide, we usually recommend inviting attendees to the programme so that those who might not put themselves forward are included and to make those invited feel special.
We know this is a particularly effective method of engaging pupils, especially those who may lack the confidence to apply for a place.
However, as Ross explored the barriers facing those who were not attending the circle, he found that some pupils had signed up because their parents told them they had to. Because they felt they hadn’t chosen to be there, they weren’t getting the most out of the circle.
Ross realised that if pupils had more agency in the recruitment process, it could increase their commitment to the programme.
So he trialled an application system whereby top set pupils were encouraged to apply for a place in an Axiom Maths circle. He hopes that when given more choice, pupils attending circles this year will have more motivation to stay.
What could you include in your Axiom Maths application form?
- Name / Form / Maths Teacher / Set
- What do you enjoy about Maths?
- Why do you want to join Axiom Maths?
- Are you available time / day?
This approach may lead to more pupils wanting to join than you had originally planned for, so you may need to consider splitting the group into smaller circles and using Junior Mentors to support.
This approach has made a huge difference for Swindon Academy. If you’d like to trial something similar, you’ll need to ensure you can target your applications to those pupils who will benefit the most from the Axiom Maths programme.
Half of top-attaining 11 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds are no longer top attaining by 16. You play an important role in changing this statistic by identifying and engaging these pupils.
- Pupils eligible for pupil premium (minimum 30% of the circle)
- Pupils from wider disadvantage
- Pupils with the heart for maths
- Pupils with the head for maths – who have the necessary prior attainment to enjoy the problems set
Top Set Assemblies
Ross organised separate assemblies for top set Year 7-8s and Year 9-10s. We have a pupil promotion slide-deck available to download from our Schools Programme Guide or, like Ross, you are welcome to adapt it to the needs of your school. They were allowed to sit in pairs and were given a whiteboard and pen. He included in his assembly:
- A quick maths problem – a little insight into what they might expect to see in a circle
- Intro to Axiom Maths and what a maths circle is
- More maths – building on the previous problem and working in their pairs
- Added extras – highlighting opportunities for trips, Axiom Maths merch & refreshments
- Final bit of maths to finish the problem
- How to sign up
Ross asked pupils to express interest straight away by handing out applications to those who were interested and asking them to fill it out before they left.
Building an Axiom Community
Finally, Ross has been making plans to ensure that pupils stay engaged throughout the academic year by building a sense of pride and community in both his circles and local area. He’s come up with some brilliant ideas for spreading the love of maths and “tickling the students’ mathematical taste buds!“
- Including regular articles in the school newsletter to highlight the pupils’ achievements and successes
- Sending out a maths puzzle for tutors to tackle in tutor time on a regular basis
- At his request, we have reached out to schools in the Swindon area who deliver the programme to see if they’re interested in sharing best practice, exploring opportunities for collaboration and building an Axiom Maths community in Swindon. This could include:
- Shadowing other mentors to see how they deliver the programme
- Sharing transport costs for trips/events
- Bringing together circles from the same year groups at different schools to work through a strandless session once a term or block
Interested in regional collaborations?
Reach out to your Axiom point of contact and they will help you to explore your options.
Thanks to Ross’ hard work, the Axiom Maths programme at Swindon Academy is set up to thrive over the coming year and beyond. A huge thank you to Ross and all of the hard work he has put into running 4 circles for his lucky pupils.
“Overall, I’m confident that we can secure a core cohort that will transition from one year to the next.”