Many headlines focus on those who find maths challenging, and rightly so. Students who are struggling (or even middling) need support to become numerate or competent in mathematics. However, I believe that we also need an urgent conversation about the most talented students for whom today’s maths curriculum is just not doing enough. 

The importance of motivation and resilience

The 2024 Pearson School Report recently found that 35% of all teachers think gifted and talented pupils are ineffectively supported in their aspirations and achievements. That’s a significant downward shift from 2022, when these students were thought to be the second most supported group in schools, as selected by 40% of respondents.

Giving a boost to students who show immense potential in maths should be a key part of our education system, making sure that those with a burning passion for the subject are helped to reach their full potential, and can access the opportunities they need to thrive. 

I’m talking about the children who typically find GCSE Maths easy and who are at a high risk of switching off from the subject because they don’t feel sufficiently engaged or challenged. Alternatively, some strong students are at risk of becoming over-confident, going through GCSE without getting things wrong. 

When these students follow their talents and progress on to A level, many can be thrown by the transition to more challenging material. When in-depth, demanding topics come their way, they can lose faith in their abilities and crumble. 

_{New ideas to embrace challenge}

Ideally, what we want is to get all these students used to being challenged, stretched and presented with new ideas every step of the way. We want them to be used to being outside their comfort zone, happy to make mistakes and get things wrong: knowing that this helps them learn and progress further.

Over the last decade, I have been experimenting with various approaches to build on what strong students are learning in the classroom, so that we can help them reach their potential. 

I won’t bore you with the failed experiments, but I will highlight two successful projects where we have created a community of support, ideas and learning.

The power of small group tutorials

The Parallel Academy is a series of weekly small group tutorials that are designed to be challenging and stimulating, which students can access from Year 7 all the way through to Year 11. It is aimed at increasing the number and diversity of excellent young mathematicians and currently works with 250 students every week.

While focusing on developing problem-solving skills, these tutorials also widen horizons and deepen understanding to help put students on the track to Further Maths A Level and studying a maths-based degree at a top university. 

The entire project has been designed so that there is almost zero additional workload for teachers and cost is never a barrier to participation. All the tutorials take place after school in the evening and parents and carers become our main point of contact after nomination.

All nominated students who wish to be considered will sit an online assessment. Those students who do not make it onto the main tutoring programme will be invited to a weekly webinar programme that runs throughout Year 7, so no student misses out.

Problem solving through maths challenges

Each week, the Parallel Academy offers a free maths problem sheet for each year group, from Year 6 to Year 11. These so-called Parallelograms contain roughly six problems, which are often interesting and quirky, containing a mix of maths, science, riddles and videos. 

Each one takes 20-25 mins to complete and is instantly marked, with solutions automatically provided. So far, over one million Parallelograms have been completed by students worldwide.

We need ground-breaking opportunities for young, talented students to enhance their reasoning and problem-solving skills beyond the standard curriculum. The Parallel Academy has recently opened nominations for teachers to put forward Year 7 students and we hope this will be a life-changing opportunity that stretches keen young mathematicians.

Find out more about the Parallel Academy - the project is free for the first academic year.

*In The Right Angle podcast, Simon refers to the Euclid Academy. Since this recording, the name has been changed to The Parallel Academy.

This year, Pearson launched its newly created Level 2 Extended Maths Certificate, for first examination in summer 2025. Designed to stretch the most able learners, this one-year qualification dives into higher topics and skills at GCSE, helping develop a strong foundation for A Level through a deeper understanding of core concepts.

Discover Pearson’s full range of qualifications and resources, creating pathways for all students to succeed in maths.

Pearson’s Power of Maths campaign works to ensure that everyone can engage with maths and what it can do. Whether it's tackling issues facing maths education or promoting maths positivity, we're focused on working alongside leading thinkers and organisations to help build a number-confident nation. 

Join the Power of Maths community here.