This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64158179

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Rishi Sunak wants all pupils to study maths to age 18 Rishi Sunak wants all pupils to study maths to age 18
(32 minutes later)
Rishi Sunak is due to set out his plans for the year ahead in his first speech of 2023Rishi 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 maths in some form until the age of 18.The prime minister is looking at plans to ensure all pupils in England study maths in some form until the age of 18.
Rishi Sunak will announce the aim in his first speech of 2023 later, which he will use to set out his priorities. In his first speech of 2023, Rishi Sunak will also set out the priorities for his premiership, including tackling backlogs in the health service.
Mr Sunak's speech comes amid a winter of multiple strikes, a cost-of-living crisis and huge pressures on the NHS. The government is facing a wave of strikes, a cost-of-living crisis and huge pressures on the NHS.
He will be keen to use the speech to prove competence and grip, and set forward ideas after the political turmoil of last year. Mr Sunak will be keen to use his speech to prove competence and set out ideas after last year's political turmoil.
On Tuesday, No 10 said the government was "confident" it was "providing the NHS with the funding it needs".
The UK's problems will not go away in 2023 - PMThe UK's problems will not go away in 2023 - PM
Chris Mason: What to expect from politics in 2023Chris Mason: What to expect from politics in 2023
During his speech, Mr Sunak is expected to expand on his vision for the UK, and revisit comments made in December about giving people "peace of mind".During his speech, Mr Sunak is expected to expand on his vision for the UK, and revisit comments made in December about giving people "peace of mind".
The Daily Mail reports that Mr Sunak will take "personal charge of tackling the NHS crisis".The Daily Mail reports that Mr Sunak will take "personal charge of tackling the NHS crisis".
The prime minister is likely to use Wednesday's speech to acknowledge pressures facing the UK's health system, the paper adds. Problems getting an ambulance, waiting times for planned operations and social care in England are all likely to be referred to in his speech later, as critics demand immediate answers to what is widely seen as a crisis in the NHS this winter.
Those around Mr Sunak say his instinct is that to have more than a few priorities at any one time is to have no priorities at all, and the situation in the NHS is uppermost in his mind, according to BBC political editor Chris Mason.
On Tuesday, No 10 said the government was "confident" it was "providing the NHS with the funding it needs".
But opposition parties have accused the prime minister of being "missing in action", as senior doctors warn some accident and emergency units are in a "complete state of crisis".But opposition parties have accused the prime minister of being "missing in action", as senior doctors warn some accident and emergency units are in a "complete state of crisis".
With the Conservatives trailing in the polls, Mr Sunak will also be keen to set out the aims of his premiership beyond crisis management.With the Conservatives trailing in the polls, Mr Sunak will also be keen to set out the aims of his premiership beyond crisis management.
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.
In lines briefed to journalists ahead of the speech, Mr Sunak is expected to say the UK must "reimagine our approach to numeracy".In lines briefed to journalists ahead of the speech, 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."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".
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 and no new qualifications are immediately planned and there are no plans to make A-levels compulsory.It is not clear what the plans will mean for students who wish to study humanities or creative arts qualifications, including BTecs and 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 government is instead exploring expanding existing qualifications as well as "more innovative options", a 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 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 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. 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.
This is compounded by a predicted rise in the 16 to 18-year-old population in the next eight years. 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.
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. 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.
'Show working''Show working'
The Association of School and College Leaders said there was a "chronic national shortage of maths teachers".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.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. Tory MP Robin Walker, who is chair of the education committee, urged the prime minister to focus on childcare.
"It's great to hear the prime minister today committing to maths beyond 16," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "But if we don't get the right approach to stimulating and supporting children early on, they won't have the opportunities to thrive in the school system."
The year aheadThe year ahead
Mr Sunak will also use Wednesday's speech to outline his agenda for the coming months, as the Tories continue to trail Labour in the polls. Mr Sunak will also use Wednesday's speech to outline his agenda for the coming months.
He became prime minister towards the end of a turbulent political year which saw his two predecessors - Boris Johnson and Liz Truss - brought down by Conservative backbenchers.He became prime minister towards the end of a turbulent political year which saw his two predecessors - Boris Johnson and Liz Truss - brought down by Conservative backbenchers.
In the coming year, Mr Sunak faces the challenge of keeping his own MPs happy, while dealing with the rising cost of living and strikes in several sectors, including nursing and the rail industry. Mr Sunak faces the challenge of keeping his own MPs happy, while dealing with the rising cost of living and strikes in several sectors, including nursing and the rail industry.
In his new year message, he said: "I'm not going to pretend that all our problems will go away in the new year," said Mr Sunak, but added that "the very best of Britain" would be on display as it continues to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. In his new year message, he said "I'm not going to pretend that all our problems will go away in the new year", but added that "the very best of Britain" would be on display as it continues to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Previously Mr Sunak has promised "tough" legislation to clamp down on strikes by setting minimum service levels on railways.