Maths to 18 is an "admission of failure from the Prime Minister"

EMBARGO: 22:30 TUESDAY 3rd JANUARY 2023

In response to the Prime Minister's anticipated Maths to 18 speech tomorrow, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: 

"This is 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.

"The Prime Minister's words mean nothing without the extra funding and staff to make it happen. You don't need a maths A-Level to know it takes more teachers to teach maths to age 18 than to 16. But schools are already struggling with a shortage of maths teachers, and the Conservatives have no plan to turn that around.

"If Rishi Sunak is serious about reversing the Conservatives' awful record on numeracy, he should start by cancelling the planned cuts to early years education and come forward with a real plan to recruit and retain the teachers we need."

ENDS