How can I tell whether I, or someone I know, would enjoy being a student at the University of Liverpool Maths School?

The most important thing is that our students are excited by mathematics and science and want to pursue those subjects at A-Level and then at university.  We’re an ideal school for students who enjoy tackling interesting problems without needing to be given a method in advance.  Some students like maths when it’s predictable and familiar; ours are happiest when they have to think about new and different ways of using their knowledge to solve problems that don’t look immediately familiar. 

A parent wrote to us recently and explained well what the difference is between us and some other schools:

My son is now well into his second year with you. He previously attended a local grammar school considered ‘outstanding’ and that supported him in achieving strong grades in his GCSEs.  He was brave to leave this school and friends behind but by attending some of your outreach events he recognized the teaching quality and that ULMas might be a better option for him.

The reason I mention his previous school is because I think the contrast between the two really highlights the strengths and outstanding qualities of ULMaS. There is no old fashioned culture of tradition or reputation that needs to be upheld at any cost. ULMaS started afresh and in my view, has been successful in distilling the essence of what a school should be. ULMaS is ‘compact’ in number of students and school premises but is enormous in every other way and particularly in its energy, community and curriculum. The evidence is clear to me, not only in my child who for the first time in his entire school life, speaks to me at length and with great enthusiasm about school but also in meeting his peers who are all equally confident, engaging and interesting individuals.

I stress individuals intentionally because I think this again is a remarkable achievement for a teenage cohort. The nurturing environment that you provide which I suspect starts with setting a culture of respect allows students to feel confident in expressing their own individuality. I have seen a real mix of contrasting characters that in any other school may not have been in the same ‘peer group’ all sharing and enjoying the same exciting journey of acquiring knowledge and challenging themselves.

My son has been encouraged to achieve his best and he has really responded. I have never seen this joy for learning before and it is such an important foundation for his future. I have no doubt that the school is building a strong legacy, that will be evident when you track your alumni in future years, that will have an positive impact on the world. I just feel a slight disappointment that this style and quality of education is not available to all students everywhere.

There is something magic about the school. You have set the framework and culture to allow a genuine supportive, ambitious and thriving community of students and teachers to grow."

Who should apply?

The Maths School is for students from the North West of England who love mathematical and scientific reasoning and want to understand things properly rather than just be taught to pass an exam.  We are particularly keen to recruit more female students and more students who are eligible for Free School Meals.  We are here to challenge students who are finding things too easy at school, and also to support those who need more help to reach their full potential.

In order to succeed at the Maths School, we expect that students should be predicted to get a grade 8 or 9 in GCSE Maths. If you are predicted a grade 7 but feel that the Maths School is the place for you, then please get in touch to find out what additional support we can offer.  We may be able to offer online classes or even one to one tutoring.

What does it cost?

Absolutely nothing. Although we are a specialist school we’re state funded and don’t charge fees.  We are also able to help students with costs, and provide inexpensive access to technology like iPads and laptops.

What else can I study?

We’re a small school with a strong focus on mathematics: through our AMP and PPEP courses we seek to ensure that A-Level courses are only the beginning of your preparation to succeed at university and in your STEM career.

Every student starts out studying Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science and Physics A-levels. Students may choose to be entered for AS Computer Science or Physics in Year 12, and while some students choose to study all 4 A-levels until the end of Year 13, most will focus on three A-Levels in Year 13.  By specialising we are able to design the structure of our A-Level courses to harmonise with each other and ensure our students receive a top quality and highly coherent education. 

if you think you may want to study medicine, bio-sciences or chemistry at university we are probably not the right school for you. 

I don't know anyone else who is thinking of applying: how do I know I'll fit in?

The ethos at ULMaS is inclusive and we are perfectly sized: small enough to know everyone but large enough to find plenty of people who have interests in common with you. You won’t wear a uniform and you’ll know everyone by their first name. Fitting in here is easy, you can ask any of our current students at our events.

I like the fact that I am stretched and challenged in the school. In my previous school it was a huge mix of abilities, even in top set, and because I was doing well I was just left alone and received no support. Here it is the opposite of that. If you have finished the work then there is always plenty of extensions and even harder work that you can have a go at. There is an amazing support network here, to help you tackle those hard questions and you will never, ever, go without an answer. However the support also does the opposite and helps you with the little problems and things that you just can’t seem to wrap your head around. Teachers always say that there is no question to silly to ask, however I really feel like that is true here. I really enjoy coming to this school and I do not feel like any improvement could be made to the day to day running. (Student Feedback Survey 2024)

What is the application and selection process?

Why do I have to take an aptitude test?

The aptitude test is designed to help us see how you approach different types of problems and think about maths. You will be very familiar with the mathematical content included in the test and it won’t include topics from higher tier GCSE, but we will ask questions that test how deeply you understand the maths you have learned, and how well you can apply it in new situations.  If you apply before the early deadline you will be invited to attend an aptitude test preparation session. Please contact us at any time if you have any questions.

What are the entry criteria?

When is the application deadline?

How many students are there?

We admit up to 80 students in each cohort, joining us at the beginning of Year 12.  Normally these students will have just completed Year 11 prior to joining us although we have a small number of students who come to us from being home educated, educated abroad, or who wish to restart Year 12.

Do you have to attend University of Liverpool after finishing at the Maths School?

Although the University of Liverpool is the most popular single destination for our students, the vast majority of our students choose leave Liverpool to study in a new city.  Our students go to research intensive universities all over the UK and we also support applications to universities abroad and we encourage our students to consider degree apprenticeships as well. 

What facilities does the Sir Alastair Pilkington Building have?

Do you have boarding provision?

We’re a day school only so there is no boarding.

What is the catchment area?

How do students get to school?

The school is well located for public transport (buses and trains). We are just a 15 minute walk from Lime Street Station, Liverpool Central and Liverpool Bus Station and immediately adjacent to the 75, 80 and 86 bus routes on Catharine Street. There is also secure bike storage in school for students who want to cycle to school.

Do your students have to wear a uniform?

We don’t have a uniform or a strict dress code. We expect staff and students to dress sensibly but it’s up to you whether you wear jeans and t-shirt or a tailored suit.

How many students are in a class?

We plan our timetable to have a maximum of 20 students in a class; often classes will be smaller than this.  We also teach lectures to the whole year group and run weekly supervision sessions in small groups.

How do I know I will get a good education?

In our most recent student survey students told us some of the things they liked about the school:

Our teaching staff are highly qualified experts in their fields with a lively interest in learning.  Our students get excellent A-Level results and progress to challenging STEM degree courses; they love their time with us.

What if I’m interested in things other than maths?

That’s great – we’re interested in many areas of learning as well.  We encourage students to read broadly, to be interested in current affairs, history, philosophy and science and much more. Research and communication skills are key aspects of what students learn when they are with us. You will find that your education at ULMaS consists of much more than the A-Level grades you achieve at the end, and you may well discover that your peers are as important as your teacher in stimulating you to learn more and to think more deeply about the things you are learning.

Can students play sport and keep fit?

We use Sport Liverpool, The University of Liverpool’s sporting facility, every week.  This is about 200m away from the school building. Activities include volleyball, netball, 5-a-side and multigym training amongst other things. We are not big enough to have competitive teams to play other schools with a netball, rugby, hockey or football team but we love to end the week with a little bit of fun sport.  Some students prefer to stay in school and play board games instead of sport – find out more here

Why aren’t you offering other subjects?

The key benefit of studying at the Maths School is our focused curriculum, which enables students to specialise and really extend and deepen their skills and knowledge in the mathematical sciences. By offering a centre of excellence which is closely focused on mathematics we hope to provide a resource which is unique in the north of England.  For students who want to study a broader range of A-Levels there is already some excellent provision in other schools and colleges across the region.  If you enjoy mathematics but are considering a career in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, general science then we would encourage you to get advice about the A Levels and degree courses you might need to choose. You may need A Level Chemistry for example and, unfortunately, we don't deliver this subject.

Do you teach RE?

We’re a secular school and students are not taught RE as a separate subject.   Our pastoral curriculum will promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of our students and we have a weekly reflection/ prayer opportunity as part of the PPEP programme.  We encourage students to consider issues in current affairs from a variety of perspectives. Naturally we’ll look at some of these things from a mathematical and scientific point of view. Students might also consider, for example, whether societies’ ethical rules come about as a result of game theory and natural selection or are designed by moral actors as a way of changing the rules of the game to achieve a greater moral good.

What level of pastoral care and support will you offer students?

One of the great advantages of being in a small school is that every member of staff can get to know every student well. The sense of being part of a team, a valued member of a cohesive community, is a crucial part of everyone’s wellbeing and development, and we aim to ensure that for all our students.Our small classes, informal family ethos and our shared interests mean that we will be a close-knit school where students feel safe and know that both the staff and their peers have their best interests at heart.  Every student has a pastoral tutor who meets them individually at least once a fortnight.  They are there to support students if they have any concerns or personal difficulties, guide them through their courses, work experience and UCAS or job applications, and who will also nudge them in the right direction if they need to ‘up their game’.  We also have support staff who are trained in counselling, safeguarding, special educational needs and pastoral care.  We also have a on site school counsellor to support our pastoral team.

The biggest positive difference for me is the support that is in place, whether that is from my friends or from my teachers. I am in the point in my life where I can feel comfortable being who I want to be, I finally have best friends that I can speak to - and they can speak to me - about anything. Without this support I don't know what I'd do, I absolutely love it here and it's why I get up in the morning. I thank all the teachers and peers for their love. (Student Feedback Survey 2025)

How do you support children with special educational needs?

Who owns the school?

The Maths School is a Single Academy Trust.  The Trust that runs the school is a Private Limited Company by guarantee.  It doesn’t make a profit and it doesn’t have shareholders.  The purpose is to improve education in Liverpool, especially for students who are exceptionally talented in the mathematical sciences, or are disadvantaged or under-represented in the mathematical sciences and Higher Education.  The school is governed by a Board of Trustees which includes representatives from the University of Liverpool and the local community.  

Who pays for the school?

The school is a Free School (Single Academy Trust) fully funded by the government.  We entered into a funding agreement with the Department for Education on 28th May 2020.  We also receive support from generous philanthropists such as Steve and Linda Garnett, who provide significant funding to help us work with disadvantaged young people across the region.

How can I get involved with the school?

If you’d like to support the school either through volunteering please get in touch.  You can express an interest in being a Trustee on our Governance page.

I am a wheelchair user; is the school building fully accessible for me?

The Sir Alastair Pilkington building has a lift and is fully accessible from both the front and back of the building.  All classrooms are accessible to wheelchair users.