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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Sunak wants all pupils to study maths to 18 | Sunak wants all pupils to study maths to 18 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rishi Sunak is due to set out his plans for the year ahead in his first speech of 2023 | Rishi Sunak is due to set out his plans for the year ahead in his first speech of 2023 |
| The prime minister is looking at plans to ensure all pupils in England study some form of maths until the age of 18. | The prime minister is looking at plans to ensure all pupils in England study some form of maths until the age of 18. |
| The aim will feature in Rishi Sunak's first speech of 2023 on Wednesday, which he will use to set out his priorities for the year. | |
| It comes amid a winter of multiple strikes, huge pressures in the NHS and a cost of living crisis. | |
| Mr Sunak is expected to say the UK must "reimagine our approach to numeracy". | Mr Sunak is expected to say the UK must "reimagine our approach to numeracy". |
| "In a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, our children's jobs will require more analytical skills than ever before," he will say. | |
| "And letting our children out into the world without those skills, is letting our children down". | "And letting our children out into the world without those skills, is letting our children down". |
| The number of 16 to 18-year-olds is projected to rise by a total of 18% between 2021 and 2030. | The number of 16 to 18-year-olds is projected to rise by a total of 18% between 2021 and 2030. |
| 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. | 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 not clear 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. | 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 10 Downing Street spokesperson said. | |
| The prime minister is expected to begin working on the plan in this parliament and finish it after the next general election. | |
| The Autumn Statement unveiled an extra £2.3bn in core school funding for five to 16-year-olds over the next two years - reversing the real terms cuts of the last decade. | The Autumn Statement unveiled an extra £2.3bn in core school funding for five to 16-year-olds over the next two years - reversing the real terms cuts of the last decade. |
| But no extra funding was given to further education colleges, which educate many of the most disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-olds, nor to sixth form colleges. | But no extra funding was given to further education colleges, which educate many of the most disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-olds, nor to sixth form colleges. |
| This is compounded by a predicted rise in the 16 to 18-year-old population in the next eight years. | This is compounded by a predicted rise in the 16 to 18-year-old population in the next eight years. |
| According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies the number of 16 to 18-year-olds is projected to rise by a total of 18% between 2021 and 2030, equivalent to 200,000 extra students. | According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies the number of 16 to 18-year-olds is projected to rise by a total of 18% between 2021 and 2030, equivalent to 200,000 extra students. |
| 'Show working' | 'Show working' |
| The Association of School and College Leaders said there was a "chronic national shortage of maths teachers". | |
| And Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson called on Mr Sunak to "show his working" on how greater participation in maths will be funded. | |
| "He cannot deliver this reheated, empty pledge without more maths teachers, yet the government has missed their target for new maths teachers year after year," she said. | "He cannot deliver this reheated, empty pledge without more maths teachers, yet the government has missed their target for new maths teachers year after year," she said. |
| Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, Munira Wilson, called the aim "an admission of failure from the prime minister on behalf of a Conservative government that has neglected our children's education so badly". | Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, Munira Wilson, called the aim "an admission of failure from the prime minister on behalf of a Conservative government that has neglected our children's education so badly". |
| "Too many children are being left behind when it comes to maths, and that happens well before they reach 16," she added. | "Too many children are being left behind when it comes to maths, and that happens well before they reach 16," she added. |
| In 2011, the then education secretary Michael Gove said he would like to see the "vast majority" of pupils in England studying maths to the age of 18 within a decade. | In 2011, the then education secretary Michael Gove said he would like to see the "vast majority" of pupils in England studying maths to the age of 18 within a decade. |
| The year ahead | The year ahead |
| Mr Sunak will also use tomorrow's speech to set out his priorities for 2023 after one of the most tumultuous years in politics. | Mr Sunak will also use tomorrow's speech to set out his priorities for 2023 after one of the most tumultuous years in politics. |
| Strikes have disrupted everything from train services to postal deliveries and hospital care. | |
| More workers are expected to take industrial action, as demands grow for better working conditions and pay increases to keep up with rising prices. | More workers are expected to take industrial action, as demands grow for better working conditions and pay increases to keep up with rising prices. |
| Previously Mr Sunak has promised "tough" legislation to clamp down on strikes by setting minimum service levels on railways and in the NHS. | Previously Mr Sunak has promised "tough" legislation to clamp down on strikes by setting minimum service levels on railways and in the NHS. |