Aston University Mathematics School
The newest open school in the network — opened September 2025, no results or Ofsted history yet.
Aston University Mathematics School opened in September 2025 on the edge of the Aston University campus in Birmingham, making it the newest open school in the U-Maths network and the only one in the West Midlands. It has no results, destinations or Ofsted history yet — anyone comparing it with an established school like Exeter or KCL is comparing essentially no track record against a decade of evidence, which is worth keeping in mind. Admissions for its second cohort (September 2026) are still open on a rolling basis.
Key facts
- Status
- Open
- Location
- Aston University campus, Birmingham
- Region
- West Midlands
- Age range
- 16–19
- University sponsor
- Aston University
- Opened
- 2025
- Capacity
- 200 students
- Current roll
- Opened September 2025 with 75 Year 12 students; a second cohort joins September 2026
- DfE URN
- 151725
- Website
- aums.ac.uk
Admissions
- GCSE requirements
- The school's own FAQ points to a predicted grade 8 or 9 in GCSE Maths (grade 7 predictions can still enquire); other reporting cites Grade 7+ Physics (or 7-7 Combined Science) and Grade 5+ English Language alongside it.
- Entrance test
- An online aptitude test assessing mathematical reasoning using only Key Stage 3/4-level content — no extra syllabus knowledge required.
- Interview
- Applicants who score well on the aptitude test are invited to interview at the school.
- Deadline
- Runs rolling admissions in "waves" rather than a single fixed deadline — as of July 2026 a fourth wave for September 2026 entry was still open. No fees: fully state-funded.
- How to apply
- See aums.ac.uk/admissions
Full admissions page for Aston Maths School →
Subjects
Required: Mathematics, Further Mathematics
Plus a compulsory third from Physics or Computer Science, and a fourth from the remaining STEM subject, Chemistry or Economics, alongside an EPQ and university-mentored research projects.
Boarding & travel
- Boarding
- Not offered — day school
- Boarding detail
- No boarding — day school.
- Travel support
- No Aston-specific travel bursary scheme found publicly documented, beyond general Transport for West Midlands student discounts. Verify with school
Catchment
No published fixed catchment — the school says it recruits "from across the West Midlands (and occasionally beyond)."
This school does not operate a defined catchment boundary — see the note above for how it actually decides who can apply.
Results
Opened September 2025 — its first Year 12 cohort is only part-way through the course. The school's own term-dates page lists its first A-level results day as Thursday 12 August 2027.
Destinations
Not yet published.
Ofsted
- Rating
- Not yet inspected
- Report
- Read the report
Culture & ethos
Values framed around Ambition, Collaboration, Inclusion, Innovation and Integrity, with an explicit social-mobility mission prioritising pupil-premium students and girls. Runs a bespoke "Aston Destinations Programme" of personalised mentorship and career workshops aimed at Oxbridge, competitive degree apprenticeships and STEM careers. The school says it selects students who like "tackling interesting problems... when it's not immediately obvious how to approach them," not just exam-drilled students.
Leadership
Francis Goodburn (founding headteacher; previously founding Deputy Headteacher at Lancaster University School of Mathematics)
Compare Aston Maths School
Sources
- 1.Aston University Mathematics School — official site — https://aums.ac.uk/
- 2.Admissions and aptitude test — https://aums.ac.uk/admissions
- 3.Aston University — school opens its doors — https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/university-mathematics-school-west-midlands-opens-its-doors-prospective-students
- 4.Ofsted provider page — URN 151725 — https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/46/151725