Glyn School, a boys’ comprehensive secondary school, launched their first maths circle this year – and every pupil attending is eligible for pupil premium.
Leading the maths circle is Mr Poppleton, a career changer who retrained as a maths teacher three years ago. He’s dived into the programme, and his passion for maths shines through his mentoring.
“I love the content. And I love it because of the way it makes them [the pupils] think, because so much about maths has to be about remembering…but this is asking so much more about the ‘why’. It’s a lovely way to teach maths because it’s so alive and flexible”.
The impact has been exemplary. There’s more than just strong attendance and academic progress – the classroom also has a real sense of community. Perhaps helped by the chocolate penguins, Jaffa Cakes, and bananas that regularly spill across the table and fuel deep thinking!
“Two words to describe maths circles are fun and food!” one pupil joked.
The pupils, who didn’t know each other at the start of the year, now form a tight-knit group.
“We got closer and started communicating a lot more. It [the maths circle] helps with your social skills because you’re meeting new people and making friends while learning,” shared another pupil.
Mr Poppleton added that the sense of belonging is a special feature of the circle, “They come in and can relax – it looks and feels different. They’re comfortable saying anything and not afraid to get things wrong.”
“One word to describe maths circles is challenging, because if it were easy, it wouldn’t be that fun!”
Each week, the classroom fills with a buzz of energy and collaboration. The whiteboard has become a favourite spot, with pupils eager to grab a marker and debate ideas together.
“We introduced the concept that answers could be impossible…there is big competition to be the first person to spot when it can’t be done. I think that’s a great asset of the Axiom programme, because you never really do that in normal lessons.”
The maths circle’s impact reaches beyond the four walls of the classroom. Mr Poppleton has delivered CPD sessions to share his experience and mentoring approach.
“I think it’s going to make us better teachers.”, said the Head of Maths. “All of our teachers benefit from the different types of questions and different approaches. Obviously, we try to stretch and challenge but you [Axiom Maths] have got a really good curriculum that you’ve designed that provides such a good set of questions and resources for kids to think about.”
The Axiom Maths community at Glyn School extends beyond the circle. It has inspired conversations across the maths department, with teachers enjoying the chance to see what the group is exploring. The pupils have formed strong bonds that carry into their daily school life. Challenges are welcomed, mistakes are chances to learn, and teamwork is at the heart of the circle.
Mr Poppleton reflected:
“I couldn’t say how much we’ve enjoyed it, both in terms of the pupils, but also for the school…what it’s brought to the maths department has been brilliant.”