If you are a Maths Excellence Coordinator or a mentor who has pupils taking part in maths circles in their school, there may come a time when you are unable to continue supporting those pupils. In these instances, we may be able to offer them a place on our online programme. This page outlines the details and resources required to make that as seamless as possible.
Our online sessions
Our online programme follows exactly the same structure and curriculum as the one being delivered in your school, with pupils taking part at a given time each week. The only difference is that pupils attend via our online platform, from home. For more details on the programme and our platform, see here.
How can I move my pupils online?
At the end of each academic year, Axiom Maths will reach out to you to check you are able to support all your existing pupils and enrol new pupils the following year. At this point, you must let us know whether you have any challenges in growing and supporting any of your circles. If you do, we want to make sure those pupils aren’t forced to drop out. We therefore aim to offer them the online programme. The process will be as follows:
- Maths Excellence Coordinators (MExCs) let us know, via our yearly ‘compliance form’ or in conversations with the lead contact at Axiom Maths, that the school is unable to grow their circles in-school.
- MExC provide the following details for those circles – name of the group, Block and session that the group will need to start with online and confirmation that the guardian emails we have on file are accurate.
- Axiom Maths reviews this request and, if approved, sends emails to each guardian of the pupils that the teacher has requested to move online.
- Guardians register their interest in their child’s participation on the online programme and provide their availability.
- Axiom Maths assigns pupils to their new groups and informs guardians.
Will my pupils enjoy and engage well with the online circles?
For Axiom Maths, tackling maths problems online should be just as interactive and engaging as tackling them in-person. Our online platform focuses on making online sessions more engaging and accessible, with interactive whiteboards and a wide variety of tools for mentors and pupils.
We get fantastic feedback from pupils!
- 95% feel that the mentor makes the sessions engaging and fun
- 99% feel that the mentor makes sure all pupils are involved and contributing
- 89% of pupils find the content of our online sessions ‘just about right for me’, not too easy and not too hard.
How can I encourage my pupils to make this switch?
We recognise that many pupils will find the idea of moving online a daunting one, and may not be enthusiastic about the change. We therefore recommend that you share with them the following (either send this to them or show/discuss it in your next circle session):
- Show them the video above, describing the programme and presenting the interactive and engaging way we use our platform.
- Help them overcome some of their potential fears by sharing that:
- their experience will be very similar to their current circles, with the same structure and curriculum, starting from where they left off.
- they can join from the comfort of their own home, at a time that suits them.
- there is no additional work, before or after sessions.
- we use a very interactive and engaging platform that will ensure they are continuing to enjoy the sessions and collaborate with their peers.
- we have highly trained and experienced mentors who are well placed to support them as they continue their maths circles journey.
- Share some recent quotes from our online pupils:
- “I love doing Axiom Maths — it helps me build my confidence, my teamwork skills, my social skills and helps me learn to get better at maths.”
- “Thank you for these amazing maths circles! :-)”
- “I really enjoy these classes because they are very engaging.”