Low maths attainment (not achieving grade 4 at GCSE) Other
Conditions
Interventions
Pupils randomised to the control arm will experience usual practice at their school. Pupils randomised to the intervention arm will be organised into small groups (no more than three) and will experie
Sponsors
National Foundation for Educational Research
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
11 Years to 16 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Each school will select between 26 and 40 pupils (half of whom will be randomly assigned to receive tutoring and half to a control group receiving usual practice) in each of Year 7, 10 and 11 who meet the following criteria: 1. Year 11 pupils must start the year working at GCSE grades 3–5 in maths 2. Year 10 pupils must start the year working at GCSE grades 2–5 in maths 3. Year 7 pupils must have narrowly achieved or narrowly missed the expected standard in their maths SATs. At least 65% of pupils selected by the school to take part in the trial must be eligible for the Pupil Premium grant and all pupils must meet the maths attainment criteria listed above (linked to being at risk of not achieving a grade 4 in their maths GCSE without additional support). All pupils must meet the attainment criteria, but schools can offer up to 35% of places to pupils who are not eligible for the Pupil Premium. To the best of the school’s knowledge, no more than 15% of the pupils overall should be accessing professional, paid, private tuition.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Pupils who do not meet the inclusion criteria
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| GCSE maths fractional grade, measured through controlled examinations in May/June 2026 | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. A binary variable indicating whether the pupil achieved grade 4 or above in GCSE maths, converted from the primary outcome measure 2. Access Mathematics Test scores, measured through test papers administered in June 2026 3. Percentage weekly absences during the period of tutoring, recorded by schools in the 2025/26 academic year 4. Mathematical self perceptions measured using the Maths and Me survey (online) in June 2026 5. Enjoyment of mathematics measured using the Maths and Me survey (online) in June 2026 | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactSarah Lynch
Outcome results
None listed