WHY STUDENTS STRUGGLE
Maths does not fall apart because students are not trying
It falls apart because of how it is being taught. Most revision in school is passive. Read the textbook. Redo the same worksheet. Hope it sticks by exam day.
It does not stick. Not because your child is not capable, but because passive revision is not how memory works. When a student learns algebra in October and does not revisit it until the mock exam, most of it is gone. That is not a failure of effort. It is a failure of method.
The students who improve are not always the ones who work the hardest. They are the ones who study in a structured way, revisit material at the right intervals, and practise retrieving information under pressure rather than just re-reading it.
That is what every Tugo Maths session is built around.
WHY GROUP LEARNING WORKS FOR MATHS
Small group learning accelerates Maths progress. The evidence is clear.
The Education Endowment Foundation reviewed evidence from 62 studies and found that small group tuition produces an average of four additional months of academic progress per year compared to students who receive no extra support. The smaller the group, the stronger the effect.
The reason is straightforward. In a small group, the tutor can see exactly where each student loses confidence. Errors get caught early, before they become habits. Students who hear another student work through a problem out loud often understand it better than they would from a textbook explanation alone.
One-to-one tutoring has its place. But for Maths, there is a specific advantage to learning alongside peers who are working through the same material. You hear different ways of approaching the same problem. You are asked to explain your reasoning. You stay engaged because the session moves.
Tugo Maths groups typically have 3-6 students per session. Every class is led by a trained, DBS-checked tutor.
THE TUGO METHOD
How we teach Maths differently
Every Tugo Maths session uses three research-backed techniques. They are not buzzwords. They are the specific approaches that cognitive science has repeatedly identified as the most effective ways to build durable knowledge.
Spaced repetition
Rather than covering a topic once and moving on, we return to material at carefully timed intervals, precisely when your child is about to forget it. This is the difference between short-term cramming and long-term understanding. Algebra introduced in week one will be revisited in week three, then again in week seven, and again before the exam. Each time, it becomes more secure.
Retrieval practice
Instead of reading notes, students practise recalling information. In every session, we begin with low-stakes questions on previous material before introducing anything new. This is not a test. It is the act of retrieval itself that strengthens memory. Students who regularly retrieve information retain significantly more than students who review it passively.
Interleaving
We mix topics within sessions deliberately. Algebra followed by geometry followed by a ratio problem, rather than three weeks of algebra in a row. This feels harder in the moment and that is the point. Mixed practice builds the kind of flexible thinking that GCSE and A Level exam questions actually require.
TOPICS AND EXAM BOARDS
What we cover in Maths
GCSE Maths (Year 9 to Year 11)
We cover the full curriculum for AQA, Edexcel, and OCR across both Foundation and Higher tier. Topics include:
- Number: fractions, percentages, standard form, surds, indices
- Algebra: equations, inequalities, sequences, functions, graphs
- Geometry and measures: angles, area, volume, Pythagoras, trigonometry
- Ratio, proportion, and rates of change
- Probability and statistics
We also cover exam technique, mark scheme awareness, and how to structure working in a way that earns method marks.
A Level Maths (Year 12 and Year 13)
We cover Pure, Statistics, and Mechanics for AQA, Edexcel, and OCR A. Specific focus areas include:
- Pure: proof, algebra and functions, coordinate geometry, sequences, trigonometry, exponentials, calculus, numerical methods
- Statistics: statistical sampling, data presentation, probability, distributions, hypothesis testing
- Mechanics: kinematics, forces, Newton's laws, moments
UPCOMING CLASSES
Reserve your free Maths spot
COMMON QUESTIONS
Maths tutoring: your questions answered
Does group maths tutoring work as well as one-to-one?
For most students at GCSE and A Level, yes. The Education Endowment Foundation found that small group tuition produces an average of four additional months of progress per year. In small groups, students benefit from hearing different ways of approaching the same problem, which deepens understanding in ways that a single tutor working with one student cannot replicate. That said, we also offer one-to-one sessions for students who need targeted individual support.
How long does it take to improve a GCSE Maths grade?
Most students start to notice a change in confidence within four to six weeks. Grade improvement depends on where they are starting from, how frequently they attend, and how far they are from their target. Students who join in Year 10 with consistent attendance over a year typically see a shift of one to two grades. Students joining in Year 11 with focused exam preparation can still make meaningful progress in a shorter window.
What maths topics are hardest at GCSE?
The most commonly struggled-with topics at GCSE Maths Higher tier are algebra (particularly rearranging formulae and simultaneous equations), trigonometry, circle theorems, and questions involving proof. At Foundation tier, fractions, percentages, and problem-solving questions that require applying multiple skills in one question tend to cause the most difficulty. We target these areas directly in every GCSE Maths course.
What is the Tugo Method for Maths?
The Tugo Method applies three cognitive science techniques to every session: spaced repetition (revisiting material at intervals timed to prevent forgetting), retrieval practice (testing recall before reviewing notes), and interleaving (mixing topic types within sessions to build flexible problem-solving). This approach is based on the same research that informs teaching at leading UK independent schools.
How much does online Maths tutoring cost in the UK?
Online one-to-one Maths tutoring typically costs between £25 and £50 per hour depending on the tutor's qualifications and the level of study. Tugo GCSE group sessions are £18 per session, with typically 3-6 students per group. This means your child receives structured, expert-led tuition at a fraction of the cost of private tutoring.
What exam boards does Tugo cover for Maths?
We cover AQA, Edexcel, and OCR for both GCSE and A Level Maths. If your child's school uses a different board, get in touch and we will confirm whether we can accommodate them.
What happens in a Tugo group Maths session?
Each session opens with a short retrieval exercise on previously covered material. The tutor then introduces new content or works through a problem type in detail, stopping to check understanding at each step. Students practise questions and explain their reasoning back to the group. The session closes with a brief review of what was covered and a note of what will be revisited in the next session. Every group typically has 3-6 students.
When should my child start Maths tutoring?
If your child is in Year 9 and heading into their GCSE years, starting early gives the most time for spaced repetition to work. Year 10 is the most common entry point. Year 11 students approaching exams can still benefit significantly, particularly with focused exam technique sessions. For A Level, we recommend starting in the first term of Year 12 before the content volume increases.