Rishi Sunak’s maths problem

Prime minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to ensure everyone continues to learn maths until age 18 is “disappointing in its lack of vision”, according to the National Education Union.

Joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said Sunak’s statement was “baffling in its failure to notice the obstacles to his ambitions to extend maths education: schools and colleges lack the teachers to deliver it”.

He pointed out that the government had missed its target for teacher recruitment for 12 years, and had also cut its recruitment target for maths teachers by 39% since 2020.