Mentoring maths circles is not just about academic mentoring – we aim to support pupils more widely than this. To this end, we suggest that mentors take a pastoral approach to their mentoring and your maths circles can afford to be (and should be) less formal than lessons.
A pastoral approach might involve following up on poor attendance, finding out any individual barriers to attending and exploring creative solutions. Engaging with the school pastoral team or any other advocate your pupils have in school can help this process.
93% of pupils on our programme say that maths circles are fun. In addition to the satisfaction they feel of getting lost in the maths and solving interesting problems.
What strategies have schools used to engage pupils?
- Drinks and snacks at each session
- End-of-block pizza parties
- End-of-block certificates (available on the hub)
- Skip the lunch queue passes (where circles run at lunchtime)
- Badges for completion of a block (these will be available from Axiom Maths)
- Using existing school systems to reward pupils
- Sharing success at end-of-term assemblies/celebrations.
What else should I consider?
Make it feel like a team
The most important task for the first term of your maths circle is to build a sense of team. Pupils are more likely to keep attending sessions because they want to see their friends and don’t want to let them down. Plan how you will achieve this, considering ways to reward pupils and structure activities that can be done in pairs or as a group.
Pupil self-esteem
Wrestling with Axiom Maths problems can be exciting for some pupils, but it can challenge the self-esteem and belief of others that they are “good at maths.” Mentors should anticipate this and reassure pupils that ‘getting stuck’ is a crucial part of being a mathematician. Emphasise positive feedback on their effort and process rather than the outcome, reinforcing that the journey is more important than the destination.
Parent/carer engagement
During the five years of participating in maths circles, most pupils will face at least one moment when they consider not attending. What parents and carers say at this moment is crucial. Encourage them to support their child’s involvement by highlighting the achievements made in the maths circle. Send home congratulatory messages when students perform well, and ensure there is at least one positive communication home for each child every term.
Pupils and groups starting late
Ideally, pupils join the programme at the beginning of Year 7 and complete the Final Block in the first term of Year 11. However, some pupils may join late—either because they were missed in initial selection or because spaces have become available. Consider the following guidance:
Individuals starting late:
The Axiom curriculum is cumulative, with some sessions building on previous learning. The "Previously on…" slide at the start of each deck highlights these connections. Encourage existing pupils to Articulate their understanding of previous material, to support new students.
Maths circle culture differs from classroom culture, so new pupils need extra guidance. The "What is a maths circle?" slide is a good summary. Take extra time to explain and reinforce AAA behaviours and expectations, especially by praising when other students demonstrate them.
Groups starting late:
Groups should start with Block 1 regardless of their age. Older groups may move more quickly through explanatory slides and be more likely to reach rapid-grasper problems. We generally discourage groups from starting in Y9 or later, other than in exceptional circumstances—please contact your Axiom Maths link for advice.
If your numbers begin to drop…
Strong recruitment and retention strategies help build a committed group of pupils, though we know this is more challenging in some contexts. Aim to over-recruit initially (8-10 pupils) and aim to maintain a group size of 6-8 long-term.
We discourage turnover of students but where you do lose a student, aim to replace them as soon as possible, unless you initially over-recruited. Don’t wait until numbers fall to a level (<4) which threatens the viability of your group.
Contact your Axiom Maths point of contact early for support and suggestions.