Online guide for parents and carers

Axiom Maths exists to help every child with the heart and head for maths realise the potential of their power. Every year, 30,000 pupils who were top performers at primary school don't go on to get top GCSE grades in maths. Axiom Maths circles are how we change that.

Your child's online maths circle is part of a five year enrichment programme running from Year 7 to Year 11. Each week, they join a small group of like-minded pupils from across the country for a session led by an expert mentor, through our virtual classroom platform, Vedamo.

Maths circles are enrichment, not acceleration. Your child won't be taught the next topic on the school curriculum early. Instead, they'll work through challenging, rewarding problems that go beyond the National Curriculum, alongside other pupils who love maths as much as they do. There's no test and no pressure, just space to get stuck, get unstuck, and enjoy the process.

And it's completely free.

You can read more about the purpose, aims and philosophy behind maths circles in the What is Axiom Maths? section of this guide.

What happens in a maths circle

In each session, your child works in a small group led by a skilled mentor, tackling challenging and rewarding problems. The maths goes beyond the National Curriculum, stretching pupils further than they'd reach in regular lessons.

In a maths circle, pupils:

• grapple with (but not always solve!) intriguing problems and ideas
• learn to think, speak and work like a university mathematician
• sometimes think independently, sometimes think in a team
• enjoy getting stuck as well as getting unstuck
• have fun and make it fun for everyone else too!

Session timings and schedule

Sessions run once a week, every term. There are 10 sessions a term, 30 across the academic year. Pupils are enrolled on a five year journey, from Year 7 to Year 11.

Each session lasts one hour. Pupils do not need to do any work before or after.

Pupils come from schools across the country. We group them by availability rather than ability.

Sessions take place online through our virtual classroom, Vedamo. Learn how to use Vedamo here.

Completely free.

Pupils join from the comfort of home. We recommend a quiet space with few distractions so your child gets the most from each session.

Session times

Our online programme sessions currently run at these times:

• Monday to Friday: 5:00pm, 6:15pm, 7:30pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am, 11:15am, 12:30pm

We assign pupils to a group based on their availability. We collect this before enrolment, but it can be updated at any time.

Term dates 2026 to 2027

These are the term dates for pupils enrolled on the online maths circles programme. Please note two things. Breaks within terms may not match your school's half terms. And if a bank holiday falls in term time, the session still goes ahead as normal.

Autumn 2026

• Term starts: Monday 21 September
• Two-week break: Monday 19 October to Sunday 1 November
• Term ends: Sunday 13 December

Spring 2027

• Term starts: Monday 11 January
• One-week break: Monday 15 February to Sunday 21 February
• Term ends: Sunday 28 March

Summer 2027

• Term starts: Monday 19 April
• One-week break: Monday 3 May to Sunday 9 May (early May bank holiday)
• One-week break: Monday 31 May to Sunday 6 June
• Year ends: Sunday 11 July

Changing your session time

If your child cannot attend their allocated session and you would like a different time, we are happy to reschedule. Sessions run daily, on weekday evenings and weekend mornings, and we will do our best to find a time that suits you.

Please note: to keep your child's learning consistent, we cannot make temporary switches between maths circle groups. Any change of day or time must be a long-term move.

Attendance

Regular attendance is key to getting the most from the programme. Here is why it matters, how to report an absence, and what happens if attendance drops.

Why attendance matters

• Steady progress: Pupils don't miss key ideas, so they can build on what they have already learnt.
• Staying engaged: A full, lively group makes maths more enjoyable and keeps pupils motivated.
• Learning together: When more pupils take part, they solve problems together and learn from each other's ideas.
• A supportive community: Attending regularly builds a positive space where pupils grow in confidence and see themselves as capable mathematicians.

Reporting an absence

We know pupils sometimes need to miss a session. We just ask that you let us know before the session starts.

To report an absence, complete the absence form before the session begins. This marks the absence as authorised and tells your child's mentor directly. You will need your child's Pupil ID to complete it.

You can find your child's Pupil ID in the weekly reminder email, sent on the morning of their session. Search your inbox for the subject line "Your Maths Circle is Today".

Removals due to absence

We monitor attendance closely so we can keep group learning strong and support every pupil well. If your child has three or more unauthorised absences in a row, we will get in touch to let you know they may be removed from the programme, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Thank you for helping keep attendance consistent. If you have any concerns about attendance, please get in touch.

Withdrawing from the programme

We do not want any pupil to leave. Your child was selected by their school because of their exceptional mathematical talent, and we are dedicated to nurturing that talent, building confidence, and developing problem-solving skills that help in maths and beyond.

Before you decide to leave, try changing your child's session time. If they are finding it hard to attend, a different slot may be all they need.

We are always happy to talk through ways to help your child stay on the programme. Please contact us if there is anything we can do to support their participation.

If your child has decided they no longer wish to continue, please complete this form. A member of our team may reach out to follow up.

We truly value your child taking part in maths circles, and we are here to help in any way we can.

Your child has been taking part in Axiom Maths circles at school, led by a teacher. Sometimes a school is no longer able to continue those sessions. If that happens, we offer every pupil a place on our online programme so they can continue their journey. This page explains how the switch works.

Our online programme follows exactly the same structure and curriculum as the sessions at school. Pupils take part at a set time each week. The only difference is that your child joins from home, through our online platform.

How the switch works

Wherever possible, we plan this change in advance with your school, usually at the end of the school year, so we have time to prepare a place for your child before term starts. Once your school lets us know a circle or pupil needs to move online, we get in touch with you directly.

All you and your child need to do is complete the registration and scheduling form in that email. We will find a session that suits your schedule and send you the link to join each week.

If something comes up unexpectedly and there isn't time to plan ahead, don't worry. Speak to your school as soon as you can, and we will do everything we can to arrange a quick move to the online programme.

Why make the switch

We know moving online can feel daunting, and your child may not be keen at first. These five things tend to put minds at ease.

• A similar experience: Online sessions mirror the in-school circles, with the same structure and curriculum, picking up where your child left off.
• Convenient: Your child joins from home, at a time that suits your schedule.
• No extra workload: There is no work to do before or after a session.
• Engaging: Our interactive platform keeps sessions enjoyable and collaborative.
• Expert support: Our trained, experienced mentors are well placed to support your child through the next stage of their maths circles journey.

It also helps to watch the video at the top of the page, which shows the programme and how we use the platform.

How engaging are the online circles?

We believe solving maths problems online should be every bit as interactive as doing it in person. Our platform, Vedamo, is built for engagement, with interactive whiteboards and a wide range of tools for mentors and pupils.

The feedback from pupils speaks for itself:

• 95% feel their mentor makes the sessions engaging and fun.
• 99% feel their mentor makes sure every pupil is involved and contributing.
• 89% find the content just about right, not too easy and not too hard.

Here is what some of our online pupils say:

• "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."
• "The transition from in-person sessions at school to online ones was easy."
• "One thing that is different about online maths sessions is the use of technology in our sessions. I feel that being able to annotate our slides virtually is useful for visualising our ideas."
• "I really enjoy these classes because they are very engaging."
• "Thank you for these amazing maths circles! :-)"

At Axiom Maths, we believe solving maths problems online should be just as interactive and engaging as doing it in person. Getting that right depends on the quality of our virtual classroom, which is why we chose Vedamo.

Vedamo is built to make online sessions more engaging and accessible. It has interactive whiteboards and a wide range of tools for mentors and pupils, with several features that lift the online learning experience.

Learn and work together in real time

• Solve problems collaboratively: Pupils work together on a shared interactive whiteboard, just as they would in a classroom.
• See concepts clearly: Mentors use drawings and diagrams to explain tricky maths ideas in a way that makes sense.
• Get quick, helpful feedback: Pupils get instant responses to their answers and questions, so they know straight away if they are on the right track.

Features that keep pupils engaged

• Easy drawing and writing tools: Pupils and mentors use pens, shapes, and text boxes to share ideas and show their thinking.
• Breakout rooms for small-group work: Pupils work in smaller groups and pairs, helping each other learn and solve problems.
• Simple communication options: A hand-raising tool and chat box make it easy to ask questions, join discussions, and interact with mentors and peers.

Easy to access and use

• No complicated setup: The platform runs in a web browser, so there is nothing to download or install.
• Simple and user-friendly: The layout is easy to navigate for pupils and mentors alike.
• Privacy and comfort: Pupils can blur their background or adjust their camera settings for a more private, distraction-free experience.

Together, these features create a virtual classroom that feels like learning in person, with extra digital benefits on top. For more on how to use Vedamo, see our virtual classroom guide here.

Behaviour and engagement policy

This policy sets out how we expect everyone to behave in our online maths circles. The rules are simple: be kind, respectful, and engaged. If someone isn't following them, we have a clear three-step process to help get things back on track.

Camera and microphone use

We encourage every pupil to use their camera and microphone so they can fully engage with their mentor and peers. Maths circles are all about discussion and teamwork, a space where pupils explore mathematical ideas together. Talking through their thinking, whether by explaining, questioning, or listening, helps pupils grow in confidence and build key problem-solving skills.

Maths is most powerful when it is shared. Our programme is a rare chance for pupils to be heard, challenged, and guided by a mentor who listens and gives high-quality feedback. Taking an active part helps pupils build the confidence to express their ideas and learn from others, which is vital to their development as mathematicians.

Camera exemptions

Some pupils may need a camera exemption for personal or accessibility reasons. Parents and carers can request one through our Contact Us form, and we review each request individually. If we grant an exemption, we will keep checking in with you to make sure the pupil still engages in other ways, such as the microphone and chat. We want a supportive environment where every pupil can realise the potential of their power.

Our behaviour expectations

We expect everyone on the programme to behave appropriately at all times.

Pupils should:

• Be supportive and kind to others
• Listen to others
• Have good manners
• Treat everyone with respect
• Take responsibility for their own behaviour
• Join in and have fun

Pupils shouldn't:

• Be disrespectful to anyone
• Bully other people, online or offline
• Behave in a way that could be intimidating
• Be abusive towards anyone

How we manage disruptive behaviour

If pupils behave in a way that doesn't follow our code, their mentor or the Axiom Maths team will remind them and ask them to change it. If a pupil is disruptive during a session, the mentor may remove them from it. They will then contact the Axiom Maths team, who will let a parent or carer know what happened. This gives pupils the chance to think about how they could behave differently, with support from our team if needed.

If a pupil continues not following the code after that first reminder, or if the behaviour is more serious, the Axiom Maths online team will give the pupil a formal warning. We will record what happened and inform parents or carers, so we can talk it through together and agree what support is needed to move forward.

If a pupil’s behaviour doesn’t change, we may give them a final warning. We will record this too and send it to a parent or carer by email. At this point, we may need to discuss removing the pupil from the programme.

Please note: we may deal with more serious incidents through immediate removal from the programme.

Below are some common questions that pupils, parents and carers ask during their time on the programme. Please click on the question that aligns most closely with your query. If you have any other questions, please get in contact with us. We will update this page as questions come in.