Royal Society responds to cut in funding for the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said: “Our maths education is not up to scratch – too many young people are leaving school without the skills they need for life or the well-paid jobs that will drive economic growth. Ahead of its own review of education, which is already looking unambitious, it would be spectacularly short-sighted to pull funding from programmes designed to support teachers and schools to deliver better maths provision. 

“There is a well-documented shortage of maths teachers - removal of this programme would exacerbate shortages and deprive young people, particularly from disadvantaged areas, access to specialist teachers and opportunities to progress with these vital skills. This decision would impact the availability of Core maths which is especially valuable for students who need a more practical alternative to A-level maths.”