Tom Bowler
@ridermeister.bsky.social
Dad, Husband, Maths Teacher & Tutor, UKMT Trustee/Volunteer, STEP Marking Supervisor, Lego Collector, Twisty Puzzler and Yoyoer! 🪀
At the same time, I understand this can be a complicated issue and schools will have various reasons for saying no.
December 5, 2025 at 11:22 AM
At the same time, I understand this can be a complicated issue and schools will have various reasons for saying no.
I think it's really sad that some schools stop pupils sitting BMO (in some cases even when qualified).
December 5, 2025 at 11:01 AM
I think it's really sad that some schools stop pupils sitting BMO (in some cases even when qualified).
SMC and BMO are so different, one is not a measure of success for the other. I always let pupils enter via the discretionary route. I'm impressed when they want to take it on, why would I stop them!? I hate the time pressure of SMC, it's just not testing the right things for success in BMO.
December 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM
SMC and BMO are so different, one is not a measure of success for the other. I always let pupils enter via the discretionary route. I'm impressed when they want to take it on, why would I stop them!? I hate the time pressure of SMC, it's just not testing the right things for success in BMO.
How much contact time, a week, do you have with them?
December 5, 2025 at 7:27 AM
How much contact time, a week, do you have with them?
That's funny, I've got my quietest Year 12 class ever too! Maybe I should try this...
December 5, 2025 at 7:26 AM
That's funny, I've got my quietest Year 12 class ever too! Maybe I should try this...
This is simply amazing! To have all the problems and solutions in one easily accessible place is fantatsic. I will enjoy sharing this with eager pupils.
November 18, 2025 at 8:02 AM
This is simply amazing! To have all the problems and solutions in one easily accessible place is fantatsic. I will enjoy sharing this with eager pupils.
Incredible! Thank you for your time on this.
November 18, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Incredible! Thank you for your time on this.
They look quite sketchy.
November 15, 2025 at 8:03 AM
They look quite sketchy.
It's arc for trig and ar for hyperbolic functions because the first set give arc lengths and the second set give areas.
November 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
It's arc for trig and ar for hyperbolic functions because the first set give arc lengths and the second set give areas.
Initially I was surprised but now I've taught it a few times in Year 8, I rather like it.
November 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Initially I was surprised but now I've taught it a few times in Year 8, I rather like it.
This is great, I'm recapping Trigonometry with Year 9 on Friday (we introduce it in Year 8) 😁
November 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
This is great, I'm recapping Trigonometry with Year 9 on Friday (we introduce it in Year 8) 😁
I think that describes a large proportion of teenagers studying A-Levels. To some extent, you can't blame them when they are in school for 30-40 hours a week already!
October 14, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I think that describes a large proportion of teenagers studying A-Levels. To some extent, you can't blame them when they are in school for 30-40 hours a week already!
Stop marking it. Tell the pupils you will set a class test after each topic and tell them what they should do to prepare. I found when I did this a few years ago, overall they did more independent practice because they wanted a good test result. You can't cheat if I'm watching you do the work!
October 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Stop marking it. Tell the pupils you will set a class test after each topic and tell them what they should do to prepare. I found when I did this a few years ago, overall they did more independent practice because they wanted a good test result. You can't cheat if I'm watching you do the work!
I love this question, perfect for Year 7 to Year 13!
October 8, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I love this question, perfect for Year 7 to Year 13!
Hard for the little people to get justice against the big machine that is Pearson! How much are they worth again? Bizarre that other exam boards are charities.
October 7, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Hard for the little people to get justice against the big machine that is Pearson! How much are they worth again? Bizarre that other exam boards are charities.
I'd love to know how they dodged that particular bullet! I'm hoping Ofqual did take action but it isn't yet published. Surely there was at least another hefty fine for Pearson (as there was last year).
October 7, 2025 at 7:19 AM
I'd love to know how they dodged that particular bullet! I'm hoping Ofqual did take action but it isn't yet published. Surely there was at least another hefty fine for Pearson (as there was last year).
I like the link with Geometric series and these factirisations. Amazing how many students don't realise they can already factorise 1-x^n.
September 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I like the link with Geometric series and these factirisations. Amazing how many students don't realise they can already factorise 1-x^n.
We were happy to stop at 2x2, but appreciate we could go further!
September 18, 2025 at 4:23 PM
We were happy to stop at 2x2, but appreciate we could go further!
I posted the below yesterday and derived the unique 2x2 determinant from these properties.
September 18, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I posted the below yesterday and derived the unique 2x2 determinant from these properties.
Mostly my experience on Bluesky has been very positive and people have engaged well. Character limit means I often don't flesh out a context, but also I like people to ask. It's like starting up a conversation in the maths office.
September 18, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Mostly my experience on Bluesky has been very positive and people have engaged well. Character limit means I often don't flesh out a context, but also I like people to ask. It's like starting up a conversation in the maths office.
I think the 3x3 expansion looks ugly.
September 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I think the 3x3 expansion looks ugly.