Maths education failing in England, says report

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The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) warned that England risks falling behind other countries in the subject.

Scotland is outperforming its neighbours south of the border, with a quarter of students studying maths until the age of 18 compared to 15% of those in England.

RSA associate director Emma Norris said: "With nearly 50% of our students failing to achieve GCSE mathematics, long term reform should be an urgent priority for ministers.

"English students would benefit from maths education that's flexible to learner needs, rather than the regimented exam-driven approach that currently characterises England's mathematics qualifications."

The RSA said lessons could be learned from other countries, such as Hong Kong, where all pupils study maths until either getting a job or starting university.

The report also showed that many students do not realise maths is needed for a wide range of subjects, including psychology and social sciences.

The RSA recommended the introduction of flexible qualifications that would allow students to