Guides to applying and choosing well
Plain-English answers to the questions every family asks, without pretending to know numbers we can't source.
The essentials
What is a maths school?
A plain explanation of UK university maths schools: how they work, who runs them, how they differ from a normal sixth form, and the full list of every school open or opening.
How to apply to a maths school
The general application process for UK maths schools, step by step — from checking eligibility through to confirming your place after GCSE results.
Maths school entry requirements
What UK maths schools generally look for at GCSE, what's constant across every school, and why you should always check the exact thresholds on the specific school's own page.
Are maths schools worth it?
A balanced look at the case for and against choosing a specialist maths school — including the honest evidence gap nobody in this niche likes to mention.
Maths school vs. normal sixth form
How specialist maths schools actually differ from staying at a normal sixth form or FE college — subject range, class sizes, commute, and peer group.
Maths school admissions tests: what to expect
Most UK maths schools set an entrance test as part of their application process. Here's the general shape of what's tested, and how it differs from university-entrance tests like STEP or TMUA.
What A-levels can you take at a maths school?
Mathematics and Further Mathematics are compulsory everywhere. Here's what else is typically on offer, and why the subject menu is narrower than a normal sixth form.
Going deeper
Maths school vs. grammar school sixth form
Maths schools and grammar schools both select on ability, but at different ages and on different criteria. Here's what actually differs.
Maths school vs. independent (private) sixth form
Fee-paying independent schools and free maths schools solve different problems. Here's what to weigh if you're considering both.
Maths school interviews: what to expect
How maths school interviews are typically structured, what schools are actually assessing, and how to prepare.
Do you need Further Maths GCSE to apply?
There isn't really a standard 'Further Maths GCSE' in England — here's what schools actually mean when they talk about further maths at GCSE level, and what you actually need.
Boarding and travel: getting to a maths school
Most maths schools are day-only with wide catchments, which makes the commute a real factor in choosing one. Here's what's known about boarding, travel subsidies and the 16-19 Bursary Fund.
STEP, TMUA and MAT preparation at maths schools
How university maths-admissions tests like STEP and the TMUA fit into life at a maths school, and what's realistic to expect schools to help you prepare for.