Axiom Maths is a five-year taught enrichment programme, taking pupils on a five-year journey from the first term of Year 7 to Year 11. We work with schools to identify pupils with the heart and head for maths, then support every step of the way.
We offer two ways to take part: in-school and online. Both use the same curriculum and the same approach.
Maths circles
At the heart of the programme are maths circles. These are a place for pupils to come together with like-minded peers and work on challenging problems that expand their mathematical thinking. They are intended to enrich a pupil’s experience, not simply accelerate their progress.
In each session, pupils work 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!
In-school circles
In-school circles are led by a member of your school staff. They become the mentor. Sessions run weekly during term time, typically for one hour.
As a school partner, you'll receive:
- Induction training for new mentors, covering the pedagogy behind maths circles and the practicalities of running them
- Detailed written guidance and videos for every curriculum session to support planning
- In-person professional development opportunities with your regional community
- Pupil events throughout the year, including our Rising Mathematicians Festivals, Problem Solving Afternoons and summer camps
- At least one programme development visit each year, where we observe your circle, share feedback, and learn from your experience to improve the programme
- Year-round support from a dedicated point of contact at Axiom Maths
- A monthly newsletter with programme updates and developments
Online circles
Online circles are fully funded and open to pupils who can't access in-school sessions. Schools nominate eligible Year 7 pupils each year to join weekly, one-hour sessions on our interactive online platform. Older pupils can also transition to online circles to continue their journey when an in-school circle can no longer accommodate them.
Online circles are led by experienced Axiom Maths Mentors and use the same structured curriculum as in-school circles.
Our curriculum
The Axiom Maths curriculum is the same for both in-school and online circles. A few important things to know:
- It's enrichment, not acceleration. Pupils don't encounter content from a later Key Stage. They go deeper, not faster, and get lost in the enjoyment of problem solving.
- It builds on what pupils already know. Topics are carefully chosen to connect with prior learning and develop deep mathematical understanding.
- It's structured in strands. Topics weave through the five-year curriculum so ideas are reinforced each time a strand is revisited.
- Each block is one term. Each block contains ten sessions, each designed to take around one hour.
You can explore the full curriculum overview and read more about each strand here.