Rishi Sunak to say Britain must end its anti-math culture in order for the economy to flourish

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By David Churchill Chief Political Correspondent 00:21 Apr 17, 2023 Updated at 02:11 Apr 17, 2023

Britain must end its anti-math culture in order for the economy to thrive, warns Rishi Sunak today.

The PM wants all pupils to study some form of maths up to the age of 18 and will say the subject is “as essential as reading” to a thriving, modern economy.

Will uses a speech at an academy in London to warn that underachievement in the subject is becoming ‘socially acceptable’ and to announce a new advisory group to consider a possible new maths qualification for 16-18 year olds.

While the UK has risen up the international education ranking tables over the past decade, it remains one of the poorest countries by account in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) group of 38 developed nations.

More than 8 million adults have math skills below those expected of a nine-year-old and about a third of students fail GCSE Maths.

Rishi Sunak wants pupils to study maths until the age of 18 and will say today that the measures will be vital to long-term growth in the economy More than 8 million British adults have math skills below those expected of a nine-year-old (file photo)

Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of disadvantaged pupils do not have basic math skills by the age of 16.

Mr Sunak is expected to say: ‘If we are going to grow the economy not just in the next two years, but in the next 20 years, we simply cannot allow poor arithmetic to cost tens of billions of dollars a year or let people double that amount. They are just as likely to be unemployed as those with arithmetic proficiency.

“We have to fundamentally change our education system so that it gives our youth the knowledge and skills they need – and that our businesses need – to compete with the best in the world.”

Mathematicians, heads of education and business leaders will be appointed to the new Advisory Group, which will advise ministers on what teaching content will enhance young people’s prospects.

It will look at what countries with high account rates are doing and talk to employers across the country about how to close the skills gap.

Mathematicians, heads of education and business leaders will be appointed to the new Advisory Group on Improving Numeracy in Britain (file photo)

The prime minister will add: “We are not going to introduce this change overnight. We will need to recruit and train maths teachers.

Read more: Schools will be required to ‘tell parents’ if children begin to use a different gender identity and ‘ban them from using opposite sex changing rooms’

We will need to figure out how to harness technology to support them. And we’ll need to make sure that this math is in addition to – not in place of – other subjects.

Experts warned the target would be difficult, saying a shortage of maths teachers and a focus on exams meant a “fundamental reform” was needed.

Mr Sunak first laid out his vision for Maths to 18 in January, saying there was a need to “reimagine our approach to computation”.

The government is exploring how to deliver this, including through core maths qualifications, T-levels and “more innovative options”.

Professor Ulrike Thielmann, of the London Mathematical Society, said: “Mathematics up to the age of 18 will help prepare the next generation for a more data-driven job market that requires quantitative skills at all levels.”

“From making sure you don’t get robbed with credit to settling rent, mortgages and bills, Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy, said: [confidence with numbers] It can make a huge difference in our lives.

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