TJ’s Online School helping students to Breakthrough Maths
Five years ago, TJ Hegarty was standing in a draughty community hall in Glanmire, teaching just eight students with nothing but a whiteboard, a few folding tables and a sense that Maths could be taught differently.
He wasn’t setting out to build a business.
“At the time, it was just about helping a few kids who were struggling. That was it. There was no brand, no team, no real plan,” Hegarty says.
One student stood out. A teenager named Fionn who had been told college was off the table. His parents explained he had autism and had been written off academically. But Hegarty saw it differently.
“We just made steady progress. Week after week. The belief followed and the results started to come. Fionn is now finishing his Engineering Masters in MTU, which is inspiring.”
That one breakthrough — watching a student go from shutting-down to showing up — laid the foundation for what would become Breakthrough Maths.
From Cold Halls to Calm Homes
Breakthrough Maths runs four live online classes each week for each group. Every session is recorded so students can rewatch them as often as they need. It’s all done from home, with no commuting and no stress.
“Parents tell us the relief of not sitting in a car park at 7pm in the rain is worth it alone,” Hegarty says.
Each week, two topics are covered in a focused, structured way. That consistency is what helps students stay on track — not just for grades, but for confidence.
Beating the Fear of Maths
For Hegarty, the real mission isn’t just higher marks. It’s shifting how students feel about Maths.
“So many students have already decided they’re not a Maths person,” he explains. “But usually, they’ve just had one bad experience. Or they were too afraid to ask questions in class. We flip that.”
“At Breakthrough, students are encouraged to say they don’t get it. The atmosphere is low-pressure but focused. According to our most recent results, 96% of Leaving Cert students surveyed reported grade improvements after joining our programme.”
A Bigger Team. A Bigger Mission.
What started as one man band is now a full team of tutors, teachers, tech developers and support staff. Hegarty credits the team with making it all work.
“Maths anxiety is a real thing. But it’s fixable. With the right help, the right structure, and the right explanations, we see students transform week after week.”
Breakthrough Maths now works with students from Dingle to Donegal and has recently expanded into the UK. But the goal remains the same — to help students to Breakthrough Maths. With 3,000 students and counting, the company shows no signs of slowing down.
The next term kicks off with a free 3-day Back to School course starting August 20th.
To sign up, visit breakthroughmaths.ie.
