Lessons in completing tax returns are being considered as part of Rishi Sunak’s plans to make maths compulsory until 18 in a bid to make the subject more practical, i can reveal.
Reforms being looked at also include a review of the maths GCSE, as the Government fleshes out the PM’s ambition for a revolution in maths education.
Sources close to the discussions also told i that ministers will look again at the current resits rule, which forces students who fail to get a grade 4 in their maths GCSEs to repeat it until they pass or turn 18 – condemning many to a demoralising cycle of failure.
i revealed last week that senior Tory MPs are pressuring the Government to urgently address the issue following this year’s record maths GCSE resit fails.
Members of an expert group appointed to advise on how to achieve Mr Sunak’s goal of compulsory maths to 18 – announced in January – have told i they are recommending it should be as relevant to students’ lives as possible, and must include lessons on topics such as taxes and inflation.
The group has passed its report on a potential overhaul of the existing maths system to ministers, who are currently reviewing it.
One member also said that the maths GCSE itself could be changed, partly in recognition of the resits problem, although this does not fall under the remit of the expert group.
