
Maths Revolution
How to turn resistance into GCSE success
Julia Smith(Author)
Bloomsbury Education (Publisher)
Published on 26. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-1-80199-822-2 (ISBN)
Description
Maths Revolution is an essential guide giving you powerful tools to break through where traditional methods have failed, transforming resistant maths learners into confident achievers.
Based on Julia Smith's pioneering 5Rs curriculum, real-life case studies and two decades of frontline teaching, this practical resource offers breakthrough strategies that have helped countless resistant learners achieve passing grades. Through compelling case studies (including students who found success after multiple attempts), Julia demonstrates how changing your approach can dramatically improve GCSE results.
The book addresses the core challenges that undermine student confidence: calculation difficulties, mathematical anxiety, problem-solving barriers, and exam technique. Each chapter combines evidence-based methods with ready-to-use classroom activities that can be implemented immediately, regardless of your own maths confidence.
Particularly valuable for FE colleges, lower-set GCSE classes, and intervention specialists, this guidebook equips you to transform "I hate maths" into "I can do this" - and turn disappointment into achievement.
Based on Julia Smith's pioneering 5Rs curriculum, real-life case studies and two decades of frontline teaching, this practical resource offers breakthrough strategies that have helped countless resistant learners achieve passing grades. Through compelling case studies (including students who found success after multiple attempts), Julia demonstrates how changing your approach can dramatically improve GCSE results.
The book addresses the core challenges that undermine student confidence: calculation difficulties, mathematical anxiety, problem-solving barriers, and exam technique. Each chapter combines evidence-based methods with ready-to-use classroom activities that can be implemented immediately, regardless of your own maths confidence.
Particularly valuable for FE colleges, lower-set GCSE classes, and intervention specialists, this guidebook equips you to transform "I hate maths" into "I can do this" - and turn disappointment into achievement.
Reviews / Votes
This book is an invaluable resource for teachers of reluctant or struggling mathematicians. It's packed full of practical advice that teachers can directly apply in the classroom, including activities, scripted dialogues and teaching strategies. Julia has decades of experience working in education - in this book she draws her own experience and the expertise of others, as well as relevant academic research, to present a very clear and sensible analysis of what's wrong and how we can fix it. This book is unlike any I've seen before - it focuses on a very specific but widespread problem and addresses it head on. It serves as a comprehensive guide on how to teach the teenagers and adults who are most in need of our support. This book is going to be highly beneficial to the teaching profession. -- Jo Morgan * @mathsjem - maths teacher and writer of resourceaholic.com * This excellent book practical advice will help you guide your students through resistance to resilience, from anxiety to confidence and from resignation to determination to get them over the line of Grade 4. -- Graham Cumming * Former Pearson Maths Subject Specialist, @MathsNot * Packed with effective strategies to tackle maths resistance head-on, Julia has created an essential and practical guide for every maths teacher looking to engage and motivate pupils with mathematics. -- Jonathan Hall * Maths Teacher and creator of MathsBot.com * This book is packed full of practical advice for supporting struggling learners in an array of different contexts. There are classroom activities, prompts for reflection, and even ready-made scripts for tackling the issues that struggling learners can present with. A must read for anyone teaching teenagers or adults that have had difficulties with maths. -- Peter Mattock * National Education Lead for Secondary Maths @MrMattock *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 154 mm
Width: 234 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
330 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80199-822-2 (9781801998222)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2026
Bloomsbury Education
€21.99
Available for download
Person
Julia Smith is a National Teacher Trainer and author with a passion for helping teachers support reluctant and resit GCSE maths learners. She has written for Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, BBC Bitesize, and AQA, and is the creator of the widely adopted 5Rs Curriculum. With years of experience both in the classroom and in national education training, Julia combines practical insight with proven strategies to help teachers rebuild student confidence and engagement in maths. This book brings together her most effective approaches to making maths accessible-and even enjoyable-for those who've previously struggled.
Content
Introduction
Part One Understanding Resistance
1 'I Hate Maths!': What's Your Answer?
2 Maths is Good for You!
3 Motivation: Moving People to Action
Part Two Building Foundations
4 Mathematical Fluency and Core Skills
5 Fundamental Maths Knowledge
6 Mathematical Methods
Part Three Creating Connections
7 Vocational and Real-life Relevance
8 Mathematical Hooks
9 Tools in the Toolbox
Part Four Achieving Success
10 Solving the Problem with Problem Solving
11 From Exam Panic to Exam Power
12 Re-vision: Seeing Maths Differently
Conclusion: Changing the Narrative
References
Further Reading and Resources
Index
Part One Understanding Resistance
1 'I Hate Maths!': What's Your Answer?
2 Maths is Good for You!
3 Motivation: Moving People to Action
Part Two Building Foundations
4 Mathematical Fluency and Core Skills
5 Fundamental Maths Knowledge
6 Mathematical Methods
Part Three Creating Connections
7 Vocational and Real-life Relevance
8 Mathematical Hooks
9 Tools in the Toolbox
Part Four Achieving Success
10 Solving the Problem with Problem Solving
11 From Exam Panic to Exam Power
12 Re-vision: Seeing Maths Differently
Conclusion: Changing the Narrative
References
Further Reading and Resources
Index