DS bored of maths-how to help

[SweetsAndChocolates]

DS is in year 7, generally enjoying school. However, he's finding maths lessons slow and boring (says the work is too easy).

I don't know how to help, he wants to go through the GCSE books with me, and wants to carry on learning 'new topics', I don't know if that's wise idea, or he just needs access to sites that will challenge him more?

Side note: he was home educated throughout primary and maths was his 'thing', the one subject he flew through (definitely didn't take after me 😂).

First steps.

Are they set? And if so is he top set. If he was HomeEd they may have played it safe.
Is he asking for extension work?
Contact maths teacher.

I would say don't just access GCSE topics as it will make the next years boring too. Find things outside the GCSE syllabus, such as binary numbers.

Then there is the UKMC stuff.

In a similar situation, the following helped us

Used past GCSE papers to find problems from areas DC already knows - so we are not covering new topics, just slightly harder problems. Covering new topics is slightly problematic because, as other poster said, it will make the next years boring too.

There are much more challenging (also quite different from normal GCSE problems) in the UKMT papers. The old papers are downloadable from their website and they also sell printed books, past papers etc. Take a look at the book 'First Step for Problem Solvers' which is a primer for beginners on how to approach UKMT problems.

UKMT is also on Twitter where they post a weekly problem to solve (answers posted next week). Most of these are doable by a motivated year 7. Here -

twitter.com/UKMathsTrust

Thank you the replies. I will definitely take a look at extension work.

I agree, covering topics that he will study will just make things harder-and he'll be 'forever' bored at school.

Maths has been his favourite subject, he already knows he would like to take maths and further maths at a level, and go on to (hopefully) get a degree in mathematics.

@TeenDivided the school don't use sets for year 7 and 8, and as much as I understand why, I don't think it's helping people like DS. I haven't spoken to the maths teachers, as i wasn't sure if it was something that would last this long.

Forgot to mention Dr Frost website - www.drfrostmaths.com/ that has UK Mathematics Trust old questions and solutions. (also GCSE questions)

The problems can be solved online, and if wrong, the website tells you so and gives another chance. After second failed attempt, it shows the solution.

Very good for independently working without relying on an adult to check answers.

It is very unusual to not set for maths, unless this is a selective school of course. I have seen mention of a few occasions here on MN, though tbh I have no idea how a school would manage it effectively.

I would definitely contact the teacher and explain he is feeling unchallenged and ask how he should go about getting more stretching work. You can use the 'he was home ed so doesn't know what the system for this is' excuse if you felt like it.

@justanotherdaduser thank you, will definitely take a look at that site too.

@TeenDivided he is at a grammar school, so I'm guessing it's similar in most.
We do have a parents meeting soon, so I will mention to his maths teacher (thank you for the suggestions)

OK, I can understand not setting at a grammar as they're all on for 7-9 at GCSE anyway. In that case they probably don't normally have to do much differentiation.