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Rishi Sunak sets up review to tackle 'anti-maths mindset' Rishi Sunak sets up review to tackle 'anti-maths mindset'
(about 2 hours later)
Rishi Sunak will say an "anti-maths mindset" is holding the economy back, as he announces a review of the subject in England. We're not good enough at maths, says Rishi Sunak
We're not good enough at maths, says Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak has said an "anti-maths mindset" is holding the economy back, as he announced a review of the subject in England.
A group of advisers, including mathematicians and business representatives, will examine the "core maths content" taught in schools.A group of advisers, including mathematicians and business representatives, will examine the "core maths content" taught in schools.
It will also consider whether a new maths qualification is necessary.It will also consider whether a new maths qualification is necessary.
The PM will repeat his ambition to ensure all school pupils in England study some maths until the age of 18. In a speech, the PM blamed a "cultural" acceptance of poor numeracy for skills shortages in various sectors.
He also repeated his ambition to ensure all school pupils in England study some maths until the age of 18.
The government has already confirmed this will not involve making it compulsory to study an A-Level in the subject.The government has already confirmed this will not involve making it compulsory to study an A-Level in the subject.
Announcing the review in a speech, Mr Sunak will say "poor numeracy" has damaged economic growth in the UK.
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Speaking in London on Monday to an audience of students, teachers and business leaders, he will attack an "anti-maths mindset," saying that being bad at maths has become "socially acceptable". Speaking in London to an audience of students, teachers and business leaders, Mr Sunak said children risked being "left behind" in the jobs market without a solid foundation in maths.
He will say that maths skills will be vital for the jobs of the future, with poor numeracy levels costing the economy "tens of billions a year". A "cultural sense that it's OK to be bad at maths," he added, had left the UK one of the least numerate countries in the developed world.
But opposition parties attacked the government's record of recruiting maths teachers, with Labour saying targets for teacher recruitment in the subject has been repeatedly missed. Poor numeracy had proved a problem for employers, he said, and was costing the economy "tens of billions a year".
But opposition parties attacked the government's record of recruiting maths teachers, with Labour pointing out that targets for teacher recruitment in the subject have been repeatedly missed.
"The prime minister needs to show his working: he cannot deliver this reheated, empty pledge without more maths teachers," shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said."The prime minister needs to show his working: he cannot deliver this reheated, empty pledge without more maths teachers," shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said.
Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson said the government lacked a "proper plan" to recruit more maths teachers, adding: "You don't need a maths A-level to see that these plans don't add up."Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson said the government lacked a "proper plan" to recruit more maths teachers, adding: "You don't need a maths A-level to see that these plans don't add up."
The government has not put a number on how many more maths teachers will be required to increase the teaching of maths after the age of 16. Recruitment targets
Asked for a figure on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the number of teachers required would depend on the advisory group's findings. Experts recently told MPs that 12% of secondary school lessons in England are taught by someone who hasn't studied any higher than A-level themselves.
Downing Street has said the group will include mathematicians, education leaders and business representatives and study countries with high rates of numeracy. It will also consider how new technology can be used to help teachers. Targets to recruit new trainee teachers haven't been met for more than a decade, despite being lowered since 2019.
Mr Sunak will also commit to introducing "a voluntary and fully funded qualification" for teachers leading maths in primary schools and extending the 40 or so Maths Hubs across England, which aim to improve the standard of maths teaching. Mr Sunak said he accepted more maths teachers would be required to deliver his pledges, saying this was "not going to happen overnight".
Asked for a figure earlier, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the number of teachers required would depend on the advisory group's findings.
The prime minister said the group would report back with recommendations for improving the maths curriculum around July, with a delivery plan then announced later in the year.
Downing Street has said the group will include mathematicians, education leaders and business representatives.
It added that the group would look at how maths in taught in countries with high rates of numeracy, and would also consider how new technology can be used to help teachers.
'Excessive workload'
Mr Sunak also committed to introducing voluntary qualification for teachers leading maths in primary schools, and extending the 40 or so Maths Hubs across England, which aim to improve the standard of maths teaching.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said the prime minister's aim was "laudable" but warned it would be "thwarted unless he faces up to the reality of the state of education in England".Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said the prime minister's aim was "laudable" but warned it would be "thwarted unless he faces up to the reality of the state of education in England".
She said there was a "crisis of teacher retention as a result of low pay and excessive workload" and called on the government to explain how it would recruit more maths teachers.She said there was a "crisis of teacher retention as a result of low pay and excessive workload" and called on the government to explain how it would recruit more maths teachers.
In the short term, the sector is also set to experience more disruption after unions rejected a government pay offer for 2022.
In 2019, the UK was ranked 18th in the world for attainment in maths, based on tests taken by 15-year-olds.In 2019, the UK was ranked 18th in the world for attainment in maths, based on tests taken by 15-year-olds.
Almost a third of 16 year olds in England fail GCSE maths each year and face compulsory resits in college. The resit pass rate is about one in five. Almost a third of 16-year-olds in England fail GCSE maths each year and face compulsory resits in college. The resit pass rate is about one in five.
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