Olly, Year 11
Community programme
Olly* joined the MathsMakers community programme at Ignite Youth in Autumn 2025 when he was in Year 10. At the time, he lacked confidence in core GCSE maths and was finding the subject challenging.
Working in partnership with Ignite Youth, Olly's school and his family, MathsMakers provided personalised small-group tuition alongside the wider support offered by Ignite Youth. Together, this created a strong support network that helped him stay motivated and engaged with his learning.
From the beginning, Olly showed a positive attitude and a genuine determination to improve. His commitment was reflected in his attendance, averaging 87% over two years and rising to 94% in the year leading up to his GCSEs, including 100% attendance during the final summer term before his exams.
Through consistent support from his MathsMakers instructors, Olly made significant progress in both his mathematical understanding and his confidence. His assessment score improved by 22 percentage points, while his willingness to ask questions, tackle challenging topics and believe in his own ability grew throughout the programme. In recognition of his commitment and progress, Olly received a Jack Petchey Achievement Award through Ignite Youth in 2025.
Reflecting on his experience, Olly said:
"I got to learn about topics I struggled with and I learnt new easier methods to solve problems. It was really fun and did benefit me in school and helped me get higher marks on tests."
His mother added:
"Olly has become more confident in maths. If there is something he hasn't fully grasped he can go over it with his tutor. Having this opportunity has meant he is on track with maths instead of being behind as he approaches GCSE."
Olly's journey demonstrates how consistent support, strong partnerships and personalised maths tuition can help young people build confidence, make sustained progress and prepare for future success.
*name changed