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7 August 2011
Last updated at 20:50 ET
School pupils in England should study maths up to the age of 18, a report commissioned by the government says.
It says radical change is needed to give children the mathematical skills needed to succeed in a workplace where numeracy is increasingly important.
The report, by TV presenter Carol Vorderman, said the current system was failing young people.
Almost half of 16-year-olds fail to achieve grade C at GCSE, with 15% studying maths beyond that level.
This compares to a rate of 100% in most industrialised nations.
In June, 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.
He said there were strong arguments for "making certain subjects compulsory for longer".
Ms Vorderman said more than 300,000 16-year-olds each year completed their education without enough understanding of maths to function properly in their work or private lives.
She said 24% of economically active adults were "functionally innumerate", and universities and employers complained that school-leavers did not have necessary maths skills.
Split exams The report, commissioned by Mr Gove and Prime Minister David Cameron when they were in opposition in 2009, says the problem lies within the education system.
It says many primary school teachers are not adequately prepared to teach the subject and staff shortages mean a quarter of secondary pupils are taught by non-specialist maths teachers.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
It also says the GCSE curriculum leans towards advanced topics needed by those who will study maths at A-level, which puts off less-gifted pupils.
The report recommends that the current maths GCSE should be split into two separate exams.
One would offer a higher standard of education in the core areas of the curriculum, such as basic numeracy and personal finance, while the other acted as a preparation for A-level.
It says all pupils should study maths to 18, but this should not necessarily be in the form of an A-level or AS-level course, but should include a range of options to suit all abilities.
The report also called for better training to improve primary teachers' subject knowledge and confidence; the active encouragement of maths activities outside the daily lesson; and a new assessment for 11-year-olds to replace SATs.
Ms Vorderman said: "Mathematics is a critically important subject. It is a language without which the entire global infrastructure is struck dumb.
"This report does not make comfortable reading. It is aspirational but this does not mean making maths "harder" for everyone; it means making the teaching better and what is taught much more suitable for those who are learning it."
Mr Gove said: "This comprehensive report, looking at all the important areas, will be of great help as the government continues its drive to equip our children with the skills that they need to compete with their global contemporaries and thrive in the 21st Century."
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It says radical change is needed to give children the mathematical skills needed to succeed in a workplace where numeracy is increasingly important.
The report, by TV presenter Carol Vorderman, said the current system was failing young people.
Almost half of 16-year-olds fail to achieve grade C at GCSE, with 15% studying maths beyond that level.
This compares to a rate of 100% in most industrialised nations.
In June, 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.
He said there were strong arguments for "making certain subjects compulsory for longer".
Ms Vorderman said more than 300,000 16-year-olds each year completed their education without enough understanding of maths to function properly in their work or private lives.
She said 24% of economically active adults were "functionally innumerate", and universities and employers complained that school-leavers did not have necessary maths skills.
Split exams The report, commissioned by Mr Gove and Prime Minister David Cameron when they were in opposition in 2009, says the problem lies within the education system.
It says many primary school teachers are not adequately prepared to teach the subject and staff shortages mean a quarter of secondary pupils are taught by non-specialist maths teachers.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
The report is aspirational but this does not mean making maths "harder" for everyone”
End Quote
Carol Vorderman
Report's author
It also says the GCSE curriculum leans towards advanced topics needed by those who will study maths at A-level, which puts off less-gifted pupils.
The report recommends that the current maths GCSE should be split into two separate exams.
One would offer a higher standard of education in the core areas of the curriculum, such as basic numeracy and personal finance, while the other acted as a preparation for A-level.
It says all pupils should study maths to 18, but this should not necessarily be in the form of an A-level or AS-level course, but should include a range of options to suit all abilities.
The report also called for better training to improve primary teachers' subject knowledge and confidence; the active encouragement of maths activities outside the daily lesson; and a new assessment for 11-year-olds to replace SATs.
Ms Vorderman said: "Mathematics is a critically important subject. It is a language without which the entire global infrastructure is struck dumb.
"This report does not make comfortable reading. It is aspirational but this does not mean making maths "harder" for everyone; it means making the teaching better and what is taught much more suitable for those who are learning it."
Mr Gove said: "This comprehensive report, looking at all the important areas, will be of great help as the government continues its drive to equip our children with the skills that they need to compete with their global contemporaries and thrive in the 21st Century."
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