Welcome

Our 16-19 Specialist Maths School is the perfect environment for mathematically talented sixth formers to find their tribe and prepare for university and career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. We are a very small school, with just over 100 students, all aged 16-19 and studying for their A-Levels.

Students learn and thrive together following our fast paced and deeply interconnected academic curriculum centred on A-level Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science and Physics.  Our curriculum is built on mathematical A-Levels but goes well beyond the A-Level specifications to create a broad-based and coherent foundation for life in general (see more detail about our Enrichment and Pastoral Programme) and advanced learning of mathematical science in particular (see our Aspiring Mathematician Programme).  

We have an ambitious but clear purpose: we exist to enable children with a strong interest and high potential in the mathematical sciences to achieve global impact through careers in the mathematical sciences. By preparing them thoroughly and comprehensively for STEM degrees and significant roles both within local communities and the global community of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, our students are equipped to become tomorrow’s industrial and academic researchers, innovators who will address the world’s greatest challenges, teachers who will inspire the next generation, wealth creators, entrepreneurs and problem solvers.  

We are particularly keen to ensure that students who have experienced disadvantage are given all the support they need to succeed and we are fortunate to have a number of supporters who provide additional funding to ensure that every student has what they need to succeed.  Enabling students who are, or have been, eligible for Free School Meals to study and succeed here and at university is a key priority for us, and we are able to support these students with their application and preparation for the test and interview, then give them additional support when they are here through our Garnett Scholars Programme.

We're an unusual school, so you may have some questions: you might find the answers to this in our Frequently Asked Questions page.  Our you can contact us if there's something specific you need to know.  Our YouTube channel and Instagram account will also give you a flavour of the many things we get up to at school.

Almost all of our students progress to degrees in mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science or economics.  While the majority of our students go to research intensive/ Russell Group universities, we encourage them to think broadly about what next steps will serve their needs most effectively and every year a few ULMaS students with excellent A-Level results will choose to go down a degree apprenticeship route, or choose a degree course that is more vocationally focused.

We are on the campus of the University of Liverpool and our students enjoy the opportunity to use university facilities like the University of Liverpool Library and Sport Liverpool.  We visit university departments for talks, experiments and practical demonstrations, and university lecturers visit us to work with students on research projects.

There's no doubt that being an ULMaS student can be hard work: many students travel a long distance to get to us every day, and they have a full week of lessons and lectures as well as homework to do in the evening.  Having said that, they enjoy the challenge a lot: students' feedback in the last annual survey told us that the school provides an exceptional academic environment, offering rigorous and engaging education with passionate and supportive teachers who inspire and challenge students. Students told us that they appreciate the opportunities to explore mathematics and STEM subjects beyond the curriculum, such as through lectures, projects, and supervisions, and value the collaborative and friendly atmosphere among peers.   

The result of all that hard work and engaging teaching is not just excellent examination results (some of the best in the country, in fact), but students who are equipped to succeed at university and beyond.  One student who is now in the third year of a demanding science degree told us

"ULMAS was by far the best school I've ever been to, the push to learn high level concepts moulded how I solve problems to this day, I'm still yet to find maths difficult in university. The staff were nothing short of accommodating and from the first day we all felt at home, there are times where I miss the community, but I'm thankful for the experiences as I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for all the amazing tutors and also administration staff, who stopped at nothing to make sure that everyone was perfectly equipped for the working world.  My biggest piece of advice for students who want to go down the physics route is to take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to code, the skills for solving problems using python are transferable and provide immense capability for your future !!  P.S. you are always going to be challenged in this school, so don't think for one minute that you can't do it, work harder as you will become the best version of yourself, you just don't know it yet. you're there for a reason, so there's never any need to doubt yourself."

In the annual survey, parents praise the school for its supportive environment, exceptional teaching staff, and transformative impact on their children’s confidence, independence, and academic progress, particularly in fostering a passion for mathematics and STEM subjects. Many highlight the nurturing and personalized approach that has allowed their children to thrive, often noting improvements in mental health and motivation.

We know that we aren't perfect so we also listen carefully to the feedback from parents and students and do our best to learn and respond effectively.  Recently improvements made in response to parent and student feedback have included developing the way our termly reports work, developing the support we provide for students experiencing mental health difficulties, improving the way we manage homework and giving more clarity about how we offer financial support for educational visits.  No school is perfect, but we enjoy the process of learning and developing as a supportive learning community.

If you are interested in studying the mathematical A-Levels we offer, we hope that you will apply for a place, or get involved in our outreach programme which supports STEM learners across the region.