Maths-Whizz
Adviser / Board Role
Whizz Education is an established EdTech company specialising in adaptive online mathematics tutoring through its Maths-Whizz platform. Founded in 2004 by Richard Marett, the company works with schools and governments to improve learning outcomes through intelligent, data-driven teaching tools.
In most classrooms, a single teacher must balance the needs of pupils working at very different levels. Maths-Whizz helps to bridge that gap by using adaptive algorithms that adjust the speed, depth, and difficulty of lessons for each child. Faster learners can move ahead without being held back, while those who need more time receive additional support and practice. The result is steadier progress across the class and clearer insight into each pupil’s development.
Independent research has shown that pupils using Maths-Whizz for 45–60 minutes per week achieve learning gains equivalent to roughly one and a half times the expected annual progress, at a fraction of the cost of traditional one-to-one tutoring.
International Impact and Evaluation
In Kenya, Whizz Education was a key partner in Project iMlango, where students achieved learning improvements of nearly threefold. Building on that success, the company is now working with government partners on an ambitious plan to bring digital maths education to more than 11 million children nationwide over the next five years.
In the UK, Whizz Education was selected by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) for a major independent impact study — a significant recognition and opportunity for the company. The study, conducted throughout 2024, evaluated the effectiveness of Maths-Whizz in improving maths attainment within state schools. The results will be published shortly and are expected to inform future education policy and digital learning strategy within the Department for Education.
As part of my advisory role, I have been supporting Whizz Education in analysing and presenting the findings of the study to the EEF and to government stakeholders.
Advisory Focus
Whizz Education’s commercial model has traditionally been based on partnerships with schools, multi-academy trusts, and education ministries — a business-to-education (B2E) approach, with annual per-student subscriptions typically in the £30–£40 range.
In my capacity as an adviser, I have been supporting the development of an additional, complementary strategy that expands this model to include business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) channels. The goal is to strengthen financial sustainability, broaden access, and reduce cost barriers for schools and families adopting the platform.
This includes a corporate partnership and sponsorship programme that offers a commercially valuable opportunity for companies to engage with families and educators, while also aligning with responsible business practices and measurable social impact. Sponsors can build authentic relationships with parents, teachers, and education leaders through initiatives that deliver educational benefit alongside brand value.
A parallel initiative involves incorporating Maths-Whizz into corporate employee benefit schemes, giving employers the ability to offer high-quality maths tutoring for their employees’ children as a valued family benefit. Another strand aims to make the platform available directly to parents, creating a more flexible route for families to access personalised tutoring outside the school environment.
Together, these complementary approaches expand Whizz Education’s reach from a purely institutional model to a broader, more sustainable mix of B2E, B2B, and B2C engagement — helping more children gain access to adaptive learning, regardless of geography or circumstance.
Whizz Education’s mission remains simple and compelling: to make high-quality, individualised maths tutoring available to every child, wherever they live and whatever their starting point. I’m pleased to play a part in supporting that goal.