At Singapore Maths Academy, we’ve had a few parents recently ask about the new CSSE partnership with Atom Learning. Understandably, with so much buzz around this announcement, families preparing for the CSSE 11+ exams want to know how this affects their child’s Maths preparation—especially those already enrolled in specialist tuition with us.
Here’s what you need to know:
What Is the CSSE-Atom Learning Partnership?
The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) has partnered with Atom Learning to provide free online access to learning resources for pupils who are eligible for Pupil Premium funding (i.e., children who have received Free School Meals in the past six years).
Eligible families will get access to Atom Home, which offers online English and Maths resources, practice questions, and mock tests. The goal is to improve access and inclusion for children who may not otherwise afford private tutoring or exam preparation materials.
How Does This Affect Your Child’s 11+ Maths Preparation?
✅ The short answer: It won’t negatively affect your child’s preparation at Singapore Maths Academy. In fact, it highlights how crucial tailored, expert tuition remains for 11+ success.
Here’s why:
1. The Atom Learning platform isn’t focused on deep Maths mastery
Atom is a broad revision platform covering general 11+ content across English and Maths. Its Maths questions are designed for mass, self-paced practice—good for exposure but not for in-depth teaching, explanation, or high-level problem-solving.
Our approach at Singapore Maths Academy remains specialised, targeted, and mastery-focused, helping children truly understand tricky 11+ Maths topics and develop the problem-solving skills CSSE schools look for.
2. Atom’s questions are mostly multiple-choice
While Atom Learning offers MCQ-style Maths questions, the actual CSSE 11+ Maths exam is free-response, requiring pupils to show working out and apply reasoning—not just select an option.
We train pupils to lay out their working clearly, avoid common exam traps, and score highly in wordy, multi-step problems that online quizzes don’t always prepare them for.
3. One-size-fits-all platforms can’t replace tailored tuition
Atom’s platform is algorithm-driven, designed to offer a bit of everything to a broad audience.
At Singapore Maths Academy, every child gets personalised teaching, live feedback, detailed homework reviews, and targeted strategies based on their performance in real practice papers—not just online question banks.
We know where each child struggles, whether it’s algebra, problem-solving, tricky word problems, or exam technique. Atom can’t offer that kind of insight.
4. Many families still choose us alongside Atom
Even families eligible for the free Atom Home access are continuing with their specialist 11+ tuition. Some are using Atom as a supplement for extra practice at home, while relying on us for the real teaching, deeper Maths understanding, and exam technique training.
Our Focus Remains Clear: High-Quality 11+ Maths Success
Our mission has always been to give children an unfair advantage in the 11+ Maths paper through high standards, expert teaching, and Singapore-style problem-solving techniques.
The CSSE-Atom partnership is a welcome step for widening access, but it doesn’t change the fact that specialist, targeted 11+ Maths preparation is still the gold standard for exam success.
Let’s Compare…
| Feature | Singapore Maths Academy | Atom Learning (via CSSE Partnership) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Area | Specialised 11+ Maths tuition with emphasis on deep understanding, problem-solving, and exam techniques | Broad, self-paced practice across 11+ English & Maths (adaptive online platform) |
| Teaching Style | Live, interactive teaching with real-time feedback and individual attention | Online, automated, algorithm-based question delivery (self-study) |
| Question Format Practised | Free-response questions, multi-step problems, showing working out (matches actual CSSE exam format) | Mostly multiple-choice questions (MCQ), with limited written response practice |
| Level of Personalisation | Highly personalised: Tutors track each child’s strengths, weaknesses, and progress | Adaptive algorithm adjusts question difficulty, but no human-led personalised feedback |
| Feedback and Marking | Tutors provide feedback on homework and mock papers, including how to improve exam technique | Auto-marked by platform with correct/incorrect summaries—no written explanation feedback |
| Curriculum Depth | Deep focus on core and advanced 11+ Maths topics, including word problems, algebra, data handling, and reasoning | Covers KS2 and basic 11+ topics but not in the depth needed for top CSSE Maths marks |
| Exam Technique Training | Teaches timing strategy, working under pressure, and structured written answers | Practice is self-led with basic mock tests but lacks exam strategy coaching |
| Progress Monitoring | Regular tutor reviews, and parent feedback. Tutor is always available to discuss topics & exam results. | Basic online progress dashboard showing % correct and areas of focus |
| Access | Available to all families | Free only for Pupil Premium students, otherwise requires paid subscription |
| Motivation & Accountability | Children attend live sessions with teacher expectations and weekly goals | Self-motivation needed for independent study—risk of low engagement without parental oversight |
Final Thought
If you’re a current parent at Singapore Maths Academy—rest assured:
Your child’s preparation remains unaffected, on track, and ahead of the curve.
If you’re considering enrolling—now is still the best time to give your child the focused Maths support that no online platform can replace.
👉 Any questions?
Feel free to get in touch. We’re happy to chat about how your child can get the best of both worlds—online practice and expert tuition—to maximise their CSSE 11+ success.