Rishi Sunak will set an “ambition” for all students to study “some form of maths” until the age of 18.
But the prime minister will only commit to starting work to introduce the new policy in this Parliament.
He will acknowledge in a speech tomorrow that the proposed reform would not be achieved during the course of this Parliament – which will come to an end in 2024 at the latest.
The government also “does not envisage” making maths A-level compulsory for all students, Downing Street has said.