Students to study maths until 18 under Rishi Sunak's pledge

Rishi Sunak pledges to “reimagine our approach to numeracy” as part of his first speech of 2023. Students will study maths up until the age of 18.

Rishi Runak explained: “Letting our children out into the world without those skills is letting our children down.”

The details of the “new mission” will be announced “in due course”, Number 10 said, though the government did not “envisage” making maths A-level compulsory.

The prime minister explained he wants people to “feel confident” when it comes to finances.

“In a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, letting our children out into that world without those skills is letting our children down,” he said.

He said he wanted people to have the skills they needed “to feel confident” with finances and things like mortgage deals.

Just half of 16 to 19-year-olds study maths, according to Mr Sunak – but this figure includes pupils doing science courses, and those who are already doing compulsory GCSE resits in college.

It is unclear what the plans will mean for students who wish to study humanities or creative arts qualifications, including BTecs. No new qualifications are immediately planned, and there are no plans to make A-levels compulsory.

The government is instead exploring expanding existing qualifications as well as “more innovative options”, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

The idea appears to be an aspiration rather than a fully developed policy, with the precise mechanics for how it would work not set out.

The government acknowledges it would not be possible to implement before the next general election, although the prime minister is expected to begin working on the plan in this Parliament.

The Autumn Statement unveiled an extra £2.3 billion in core school funding for five to 16-year-olds over the next two years – reversing the real-terms cuts of the last decade.

However, no extra funding was given to further education colleges, which teach many of the most disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-olds, nor to sixth form colleges.

Teacher shortage

Sir Peter Lampl, Founder and Chairman of the Sutton Trust social mobility charity and chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation, welcomed Mr Sunak’s aspiration and said the focus should be “on giving young people the practical maths skills that they need in the workplace and in their everyday lives”.

Critics have deemed this mission unreachable without an increase in maths teachers, due to the current severe shortage. In 2021 there were 35,771 maths teachers in state secondary schools across England, compared to 39,000 English and 45,000 science teachers.

A survey of secondary schools in England by the National Foundation for Educational Research found that 45% of respondents used non-specialist teachers to deliver some maths lessons in 2021.

The IET explained that although it is pleased to see the government place more emphasis on maths for young people, it’s no secret that there is an engineering skills shortage, and collectively we need to do more to demonstrate how these core subjects relate to careers.

David Lakin, IET Head of Education, Safeguarding and Education Policy, said: “As one of the main STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) subjects, and a core discipline of engineering, we’re pleased to see the government place more emphasis on maths for young people. However, it’s no secret that there is an engineering skills shortage, and we need to do more to show how these core subjects relate to careers.

“There is no point extending maths if it is not supported by clearer learning outcomes and career routes. Teacher training is also a key factor – if teachers aren’t supported in providing the real-life application of what students are being taught, this won’t help our profession and skills gap. Jobs of the future are only going to become more digitally focused, and STEM learning will be imperative to this.”

“Repeatedly acknowledged by Government, STEM subjects are of vital importance to the UK. They are the key in delivering the Government’s ambitions, for a high-skills, high-wage economy, levelling up, facilitating a green industrial revolution, and reinforcing the UK’s position as a science and technology superpower.

“We recently launched our Engineering Kids’ Futures report, which set out a number of recommendations including embedding engineering into the curriculum through STEM subjects. We need to nurture, develop, and give appropriate opportunities to young people allowing them to make better informed choices about their futures and, this in turn will help to ease the UK’s skills gap.”