Axiom Maths Circles

The backbone of Axiom Maths’ approach is maths circles. These are small groups of pupils who meet weekly to tackle a curriculum of challenging maths problems with a mentor. It’s an approach that’s worked successfully in other countries, and which Axiom Maths is bringing to the UK. The beauty of maths circles is that they’re about the relationships as much as the maths.

In maths circles, pupils:

• Work through a structured curriculum of challenging problems. They’re exposed to mathematics from beyond the National Curriculum, that takes them deep into stretching and satisfying topics they wouldn’t normally encounter at school
• Get stuck, and then unstuck. They get used to encountering problems that they don’t get right first time—and so the satisfaction of solving them is even greater
• Enjoy themselves getting lost in the maths. In maths circles there’s no pressure, no test.
• Join a community that values maths. In a culture that doesn’t always prize maths in the way it should, Axiom pupils join a social group that values and respects their talent

To support pupils to succeed our mentors:

• Plan in advance. They tackle the problems themselves and experience the productive struggle. They plan and rehearse what they will say and how they will guide pupils on their journey. They then read our notes and suggestions and watch our video guidance. We don’t provide ‘scripts’, but the notes are detailed and supportive. Most mentors find it takes about an hour to plan for each session the first time they deliver it.
• Bring out the maths from the pupils. They ask questions to help pupils find the way towards a solution for themselves. They give them space to be adventurous – pausing, waiting, and watching what they do. They encourage reflection and metacognition, so they think about their thinking. They encourage pupils to see that “The answer is only the beginning” and the real mathematics comes through exploring the journey(s) to the answer.
• Catalyse conversations. They develop articulacy and teamwork amongst the pupils. They model and expect precise mathematical vocabulary and help pupils to help each other. They invite their circle to compare alternative solutions and weigh up their relative merits.