What I do

I’m Ilse Roets, the founder of Square Roets Maths, and my work centres on one goal: helping students feel confident, capable, and calm when learning maths.

My teaching journey began in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where I completed a BSc in Mathematics and Geography and a Higher Diploma in Education. Over 30 years later, I still love teaching as much as I did on day one. My experience spans schools, universities, tutoring centres, publishing, and now online course creation,  each role strengthening my commitment to helping young people thrive in GCSE Maths and IGCSE Maths.

In 2013, I completed my Master’s in Education and Leadership at Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK. My dissertation on Managing and Leading Dyslexia in the Maths Classroom shaped the heart of my work today. It helped me understand how deeply learning differences and maths anxiety affect students, and how transformative the right support can be.

How I Teach

I tutor students in small groups and 1-to-1, creating a relaxed, friendly learning environment where understanding comes before speed. My lessons are personalised, visual, and paced around the learner not the curriculum. I specialise in supporting students preparing for GCSE Maths exams, IGCSE Maths (Higher Tier, Grades 7–9), and those who need structured confidence-building after years of feeling “behind.”

Lessons take place online via Zoom, using a visualiser, graphics tablet, and digital tools to model solutions clearly and support each student’s learning style. We revisit topics regularly, helping students build strong foundations and long-term retention. During exam season, students complete weekly GCSE past papers to strengthen exam technique and readiness.

Support doesn’t end when the session does.  I’m available to guide students through homework, revision questions, and moments of uncertainty during the week.

My Approach

Over the years I’ve learned that:

• There is always more than one way to explain a maths concept, and my role is to find the explanation that makes sense for that student.
• Confidence is key. Progress in GCSE maths and IGCSE maths grows when students feel safe, supported, and capable.
• Independent learning is essential, and I nurture it gently and consistently.
• A warm tutor-student relationship builds trust, and trust builds progress.

My Work Beyond Tutoring

I also write and create resources that support young people beyond the classroom. My book, Life Skills for Young Adults, is available on Amazon, with two more books in development focusing on essential life and maths skills, emotional intelligence, and self-belief.

At Square Roets Maths, we’re expanding into evergreen online courses, workshops, and parent-friendly resources that help families understand the topics students struggle with most, especially fractions, percentages, decimals, ratios, and the foundations needed for success in GCSE and IGCSE maths.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: maths confidence is not built overnight, and it’s not built through worksheets alone. It grows through clarity, consistency, encouragement, and the belief that every learner can succeed, because they can.