Week 1 - Diagnostic and number fundamentals
We start with a diagnostic, then move into fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio. This is where many grade 3 students drop marks and where the easiest gains often live.
Got a 3 in GCSE Maths? Here is what to do.
If your child got a 3 in GCSE Maths, you are probably reading this on a hard day. Maybe you have just opened the results. Maybe school has already mentioned the November resit. Maybe you have spent the last hour searching for GCSE Maths resit help and feeling more confused than when you started.
The November resit is not about relearning GCSE Maths from scratch. Your child has around 10 weeks. There is nowhere near enough time to cover the whole syllabus again, and most students do not need that anyway.
A grade 3 is usually only a handful of specific topics away from a grade 4. Find those topics, fix them, practise the right exam questions, and the grade can move. That is what this Bootcamp is built to do.
What your child will achieve
- Identify the topics blocking progress towards grade 4.
- Build fluency on common Foundation exam questions.
- Improve calculator and non-calculator exam technique.
- Enter the November resit with a clear revision plan.
Course overview
A focused autumn GCSE Maths resit course for students who opened results in August and know they need a clear plan before the November resit.
The course works through the high-impact Foundation topics that most often hold students below grade 4, combining live teaching, guided practice, confidence building and exam-style questions.
Parents can use this route when their child needs more structure than independent revision but does not need a full year of weekly tutoring.
How the course works
This is a small live group programme, not a recorded course. Every week students meet Sophie on Zoom, work through the week's topic together, and tackle exam-style questions in real time.
Each week your child gets
- One 90-minute live lesson on Sunday evenings, recorded for catch-up.
- A weekly worksheet covering the topic, with a worked-solution video released afterwards.
- A past-paper section to attempt, with answer walkthrough.
- A private student question space for support during the week.
Each week you get
- A Sunday email summarising what your child is learning.
- Visibility on attendance, completion and progress.
- Direct access to Sophie if you have questions.
Total time commitment is around 3 hours per week.
The course breakdown
The curriculum is built around the topics that historically separate grade 3 students from grade 4 students. We do not try to cover everything; we cover what moves the grade.
Week 2 - Algebra essentials
Solving linear equations, substitution and simplifying expressions. The non-negotiable algebra that appears on every paper.
Week 3 - Working with formulas and rearranging
The skills that unlock many higher-mark Foundation questions. Students practise the standard steps until the process feels less intimidating.
Week 4 - Geometry: angles, area, perimeter and volume
Predictable exam marks that students often leave behind. We focus on spotting the question type and choosing the right method.
Week 5 - Ratio, proportion and rates of change
A topic that appears in different forms across the papers. We unpack the wording and practise the standard approaches.
Week 6 - Probability and statistics
Students learn how to decode the wording, choose the right representation and apply the standard methods calmly.
Week 7 - Graphs and coordinates
Reading, plotting and interpreting graphs. High-frequency exam content with question styles students can learn to recognise.
Week 8 - Exam technique and reading the question
How to read GCSE questions, spot what they are really asking, pick up method marks and manage time across the paper.
Week 9 - Full past paper under timed conditions
A complete dress rehearsal. Students sit a real past paper, receive feedback and review the key lessons in the live session.
Week 10 - Final preparation and exam mindset
Last consolidation, common pitfalls in the November paper and a calm final plan before students walk into the exam hall.
About Sophie
I'm Sophie. I have a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Exeter and a PGCE in Mathematics from the University of York. I'm a fully qualified teacher with QTS, and I spent five years teaching maths in schools before moving into full-time online tutoring in 2022.
Across school teaching and tutoring, I've worked with students from Year 6 to Year 13 across Edexcel, AQA, OCR and Cambridge IGCSE. I teach Foundation, Higher, IGCSE, IGCSE Further Maths and A-Level.
The work I find most meaningful is helping students who have been told, directly or indirectly, that they are just not maths people. They usually are. They have normally missed a key idea, lost confidence, or never had someone explain it in a way that clicked.
What parents and students say
My daughter took lessons with Sophie for 3 months in preparation for her GCSE maths retake. Her grade went up from a 4 to a 5, and in the end she was only a couple of points off a six. She would never have achieved that without Sophie's help. She also really enjoyed the sessions, Sophie was friendly and professional at all times.
Sophie has given my grandson the confidence he needed. She has found ways to explain things that he did not get the chance to do at school. She has a lovely friendly approach, takes the time, and is happy to reiterate ways to solve problems.
Sophie tutored our son to help him achieve a grade 5 at GCSE. Throughout his lessons, she was patient, supportive and professional. Sophie tailored the sessions to suit our son and he achieved the result he needed.
For the first time, I started to look forward to Maths lessons. Sophie is a wonderful teacher, kind and understanding. She encourages me to improve but also makes me feel that it is absolutely okay to make mistakes.
What's included
- 10 x 90-minute live group lessons on Zoom.
- Session recordings for catch-up.
- Weekly topic worksheets with worked-solution videos.
- Weekly past-paper sections with walkthroughs.
- A timed full-paper mock in week 9 with feedback.
- Private question support during the week.
- Weekly parent progress emails.
- A final predicted-grade report before the November exam.
Who this is for
This is right for your child if
- Students who got a grade 3, or a close grade 2, and are resitting in November.
- Students studying for the Foundation tier.
- Students who can attend most Sunday evening live sessions.
- Students willing to complete around 3 hours of Maths work per week.
This is not the right fit if
- Students targeting grade 6 or above. They need a different course or 1:1 tutoring.
- Students who need intensive 1:1 support and will not engage in a group setting.
- Students with very limited basic number fluency. They may need foundational pre-GCSE support first.
Pricing and enrolment
£399 paid upfront, or 3 x £140 monthly instalments.
Price
£399
Duration
10 weeks
Live teaching
10 sessions
- Course starts: Sunday 6 September 2026.
- Course ends: Sunday 8 November 2026.
- Enrolment closes: Thursday 3 September 2026, or when full.
- Capacity: 30 students per cohort.
- Refund policy: if your child attends the first session and it is not the right fit, email Sophie within 7 days for a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
My child has always struggled with maths. Will this work for them?
Probably yes if they are around grade 3 and can engage with weekly practice. If they got a grade 1 and are not comfortable with basic number work, email Sophie first because foundational support may be better.
How is this different from school resit support?
School resit support is often stretched. This course is small, focused on the specific topics that move the grade, and designed to complement school rather than replace it.
Is this enough on its own?
For many grade 3 students targeting grade 4, yes, if they attend and complete the work. Some students may benefit from optional 1:1 sessions for specific gaps.
What if my child misses a session?
Every session is recorded and uploaded for catch-up. Missing an occasional session is fine; missing most of them will make progress difficult.
Is this for Foundation or Higher tier?
This Bootcamp is Foundation-focused, which is the tier most November resit students sit.
Which exam board is this aligned to?
The course covers the content common to Edexcel, AQA, OCR and Cambridge IGCSE, with attention to question-style differences where useful.
Can the course help with exam anxiety?
Yes. Exam technique, timed practice and calm routines are built into the course, with a dedicated final preparation session before the exam.
Can I speak to Sophie before enrolling?
Yes. Use the contact form and include your child's result, exam board if known, and the support you are considering.
Ready to enrol?
Sundays, 7:00-8:30pm - 6 September to 8 November 2026 - £399 or 3 x £140
Not ready to enrol yet?
Ask for Sophie's free GCSE Maths Resit: What to Do in the First Two Weeks guide and she will send it over with practical next steps.
Send Me The Guide
