Prime minister Rishi Sunak wants all pupils to study maths until the age of 18.

In a major speech this afternoon (January 4), Mr Sunak is expected to say the UK must "reimagine our approach to numeracy", as reported by the BBC.

Mr Sunak 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.

"And letting our children out into the world without those skills, is letting our children down".

But how would it work in practice? Not all students want to study maths and there isn't currently the capacity in schools and colleges to teach it to all 16 to 18-year-olds.

Half of 16 to 19-year-olds currently study maths, but this figure includes pupils doing science and those doing compulsory GCSE resits.

No new qualifications are planned immediately and there are no plans for compulsory maths A Levels.

The Government said it is exploring expanding existing qualifications and "more innovative options".

Currently, the plan is an aspiration rather than a fully developed policy, with the precise detail of how it would work not yet set out.

The Government said it won't be possible to bring it in before the next general election, although the PM is expected to begin working on the plan in this parliament.

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 this gives no extra funding to sixth forms or further education colleges.

Mr Sunak could struggle with implementing the plans, as the Association of School and College Leaders said there was a "chronic national shortage of maths teachers".

Punchline said: "Without the extra cash for more teachers, the figures don't add up."

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