There are still too many people who are being held back by poor
maths both in their careers and in their personal lives.
Prime Minister has said that he wants to see
all students in England study some form of maths to 18 to ensure
that they leave school better equipped for the jobs of the
future.
Just half of all 16–19-year-olds study maths. Yet in a world
where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, our
children’s jobs will require more analytical skills than ever
before.
The Prime Minister set out the plans in a speech on 4 January
2023.
Here’s what you need to know.
Why is maths so important?
So many jobs and careers require a good level of maths –
particularly quantitative and analytical skills. But at the
moment around 8 million adults in the UK have maths skills lower
than those expected of a nine-year-old meaning lots of rewarding
jobs might not be available to them. Part of the problem is that
at the moment only around half of 16–18-year-olds study maths.
But it goes beyond careers and employment, so many aspects of
everyday life – from managing personal finances to understanding
offers in the supermarket – require a decent level of maths.
Many other countries – including Australia, Canada, France,
Germany, Finland, Japan, Norway and the USA – ensure students
take some form of maths until they’re 18 and the Prime Minister
has made clear that England will do likewise.
How will 16-18-year-olds study maths under these
plans?
Further detail will be set out in due course but we are exploring
existing routes, such as the Core Maths qualifications and
T-Levels, as well as more innovative options. This does not mean
compulsory A level maths for everyone.
What level of maths do pupils study at the
moment?
Maths is compulsory on the curriculum for all pupils in England
up to age 16. We expect them to leave primary school having
mastered the basics before going on to apply those fundamental
principles to more complex problems in secondary school. Pupils
that don’t get a grade 4 or above in their maths GCSE have to
resit the exam if they want to carry on studying in a school or
college after they’re 16 – this is already helping make sure
fewer young people leave school without basic maths skills.
Since 2010 we have seen a number of key changes in the way maths
is taught in school. These include the introduction of ‘mastery
teaching’ – based on a Singaporean model of teaching that fosters
a deeper understanding of the subject – and of Maths Hubs which
help teachers around the country share and develop best practice
in maths teaching.
