Why Maths Matters: Exploring its Contribution to the UK

 This episode looks the vital contribution of mathematics to the UK, focusing on a debate happening in Westminster Hall. We explore how maths education is structured in England, from primary schools to universities, highlighting attainment levels and disparities for disadvantaged pupils. We'll look at popular qualifications like A Levels and programs like the AMSP and Multiply aimed at improving skills. Discover the economic impact of mathematical sciences, estimated at £495 billion in 2023, and hear about calls for a National Mathematics Strategy.

Key Takeaways:

• A Westminster Hall debate on the contribution of maths to the UK is scheduled for 5 June 2025.
• Mathematical sciences are estimated to have contributed £495 billion to the UK economy in 2023.
• While 73% of primary students met the expected standard in maths in 2024, only 59% of disadvantaged pupils did.
• At GCSE level in 2024, 65% achieved a standard pass in English and Maths, but only 43% of disadvantaged pupils met this threshold.
• Maths is the most popular A Level subject, but entries are majority male.
• The Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP) supports post-16 maths and is adapting its focus, partly towards maths for AI and machine learning.
• The Multiply programme offered free numeracy courses for adults but closed on 31 March 2025.
• There are calls for a National Mathematics Strategy and increased investment in teaching, research, and collaboration.

Important Definitions & Concepts:

• Maths Hubs: A network supporting state-funded schools in England to improve maths education, coordinated by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics. They promote a 'teaching for mastery' approach.
• Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP): A government-funded program providing resources and support to improve post-16 maths teaching and increase participation, particularly for under-represented groups.
• Multiply programme: A £560 million government initiative (2022-2025) offering free numeracy courses to adults to improve functional maths skills.

Source: Maths: Contribution to the UK
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No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.

Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0...

Transcript

Ivan 0:00

Hello and welcome once more to The Bench Report. You're listening to Amy and Ivan.

Amy 0:03

Hello.

Ivan 0:04

We have some information here focusing on the contribution of maths to the UK. It ties into a debate happening in Westminster Hall led by MP Ian Sollum.

Amy 0:14

Right.

Ivan 0:15

Let's look at what this tells us really from education right through to the economy.

Amy 0:18

And what's fascinating here is just how foundational maths is. The info covers changes in maths education policy in England.

Ivan 0:25

Yes. And it notes how previous plans like, you know, requiring maths to 18. Yeah. Well, they've been dropped by the current government.

Amy 0:32

That's a key shift. But you still have initiatives like the maths hubs across England. They use a teaching for mastery approach.

Ivan 0:40

Which is about really understanding the concepts deeply.

Amy 0:42

Exactly. Helping teachers, designing curriculum. But when you look at attainment, well, the picture's mixed. In summer 2020, In 2024, 73% of primary kids met the expected standard in maths.

Ivan 0:54

Which sounds pretty good initially.

Amy 0:56

It does, but there's a gap. Only 59% for disadvantaged pupils compared to 79% for others. That's, you know, quite a difference.

Ivan 1:04

Hmm. And does that gap continue later on?

Amy 1:06

Unfortunately, yes. At GCSE level, 65% got a standard pass in English and maths.

Ivan 1:12

Grade 4 or above?

Amy 1:14

Correct. But again, look at the gap. 43% for disadvantaged students versus 73% for non-disadvantaged, it actually gets wider.

Ivan 1:22

That's quite stark. So after GCSEs, what are the maths options?

Amy 1:26

Well, you have A-levels. Maths is actually the most popular A-level subject overall.

Ivan 1:30

Oh, interesting.

Amy 1:31

But the entries are still majority male.

Ivan 1:33

Still? What about other routes?

Amy 1:35

There's core maths and functional maths, too. There may be less academic than A-level, more focused on sort of practical application.

Ivan 1:43

Keeping those numeracy skills up.

Amy 1:44

Precisely. And there's that policy requiring students without a GCSE grade four pass to continue studying maths in some form post-16.

Ivan 1:54

And the government's involved in supporting this.

Amy 1:55

Yes. Programs like the Advanced Math Support Program, the AMSP, they offer teacher development, student support.

Ivan 2:01

And it's evolving.

Amy 2:02

It seems so. From September 2025, there's a a new focus on encouraging girls in post-16 maths, supporting disadvantaged high attainers and skills for, well, AI.

Ivan 2:11

AI. That's crucial now.

Amy 2:13

Absolutely. Plus, there are financial incentives for schools offering core maths and A-level maths and bursaries for maths teacher training. And for adults, there was the multiply program.

Ivan 2:25

Right. The free numeracy courses.

Amy 2:26

Yes. For adults without that GCSE grade four running from 2022 up to March 2025.

Ivan 2:33

So a lot happening in schools and colleges. How does this feed into higher education, into university?

Amy 2:39

Well, interestingly, the proportion of total university students studying maths degrees has actually fallen slightly. This is looking between 2012-13 and 2021-22. A

Ivan 2:49

slight dip despite all the focus.

Amy 2:51

A slight dip in the proportion, yes. And there's also a significant shift towards research-intensive universities like the Russell Group for those who do study maths.

Ivan 2:59

So a concentration in certain types of institutions.

Amy 3:02

And a concentration of certain demographics, too. These students are more likely to be men of Chinese and Indian ethnicity, younger and critically from more advantaged backgrounds compared to the general student population.

Ivan 3:16

Which raises questions about access, doesn't it?

Amy 3:18

It certainly does.

Ivan 3:19

Now, let's connect this back to the, well, the bigger picture, the economy.

Amy 3:23

This is where the numbers get really, really big. The Academy of Mathematical Sciences estimates the value of maths to the UK economy. And get this, at 400 495 billion in 2023. Wow.

Ivan 3:37

Nearly half a trillion.

Amy 3:38

It's about 20 percent of the total UK GBA. It's just massive.

Ivan 3:42

And campaigning groups are making the case for its importance.

Amy 3:45

Definitely. The Campaign for Mathematical Sciences argues advanced math skills boost productivity, boost wages. They're calling for a national mathematics strategy.

Ivan 3:54

Which would evolve.

Amy 3:55

Increased research funding, university support, better teacher recruitment, more industry collaboration. They really highlight math research's role in A.I., cybersecurity, defense, all critical areas.

Ivan 4:06

So you have this huge economic And at the

Amy 4:10

same time, these persistent gaps in who's achieving in maths, who's accessing higher level study.

Ivan 4:15

It really makes you pause. Given how vital maths is economically, what does this disparity mean for the UK's future skills base? And perhaps more fundamentally, who actually gets to participate in and benefit from that high value part of the economy? It's a crucial question.

Amy 4:33

Indeed.

Ivan 4:34

As always, find us on social media at Bench Report UK. Get in touch with any topic important to you. Remember, politics is everyone's business. Take care.

Amy 4:41

Check it.