Rishi Sunak is expected to soon unveil plans that will make it compulsory for all pupils in England to study maths up until the age of 18.
It's believed to be part of the Prime Minister's "new mission".
According to UK government figures, it's thought that around eight million adults in England have the numeracy skills of primary school aged children, and 60% of disadvantaged pupils nationwide do not have basic maths skills at 16.
But the Prime Minister is expected to set out a pledge to address this in his first speech of the year today and explain why he wants pupils to study some form of maths until 18, The Manc reports.
Mr Sunak will apparently make his mission to "reimagine our approach to numeracy" clear in his speech, while enforcing his belief that "letting our children out into the world without those skills is letting our children down."
He is expected to say in his speech today: "One of the biggest changes in mindset we need in education today is to reimagine our approach to numeracy. Right now, just half of all 16-year-olds study any maths at all. Yet in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, our children's jobs will require more analytical skills than ever before."
A spokesperson for Number 10 said details of the Prime Minister's "new mission" will be announced "in due course", but that the government did not "envisage" making maths A-Level compulsory, and is instead exploring the right route for these plans.
These include the Core Maths qualifications, T-levels, and other "more innovative options".
During the speech, Mr Sunak is expected to acknowledge that "reform on this scale won't be easy", and this will likely mean that the policy will not come into force until the next parliament.
Downing Street said pupils studying maths until 18 would put England on a par with most other OECD countries - including Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, and the US - although, these initial plans haven't been met well by opposition parties, with Labour saying the whole thing would be "an empty pledge" if they could not recruit more maths teachers.
Rishi Sunak to make it his 'mission' that all pupils in England study maths until 18 / Credit: Jeswin Thomas (via Unsplash)
Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson criticised the plan and Mr Sunak, saying: "He cannot deliver this reheated, empty pledge without more maths teachers.
"Yet the government has missed their target for new maths teachers year after year, with existing teachers leaving in their droves. Now, maths attainment gaps are widening yetRishi Sunak as chancellor said the country had 'maxed out' on COVID recovery support for our children."
Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson echoed Labour's view and said the Prime Minister's words "mean nothing without the extra funding and staff"
"You don't need a maths A-level to know it takes more teachers to teach maths to age 18 than to 16," she added.
Featured Image - Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (via Flickr)
News
Leeds City Council begin search for new Christmas Market operator for 2026
A hunt for a new operator of the Leeds Christmas Market on City Square has begun.
Cast your mind back to 2023 and the welcome return of Leeds' Christmas Markets on City Square.
The operators at that point were awarded a three-year contract to produce the market until 2025.
Now that that's been and gone, if you can believe, a search for a new operator to take on the next three-year period has begun.
The market on City Square which is most famous for its food offerings and unique gifts is a completely different entity to the council-run 'Ice Cube at Christmas' attraction on Millennium Square and Cookridge Street.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
A council report said: “The Christmas Market is an important footfall driver for the city centre at a key time of year for retail and hospitality businesses. The additional footfall and associated spend supports the city centre economy.
“The continuation of the Leeds Christmas Market will allow the Council to build on the previous three years, where the market has been re-established in the city centre.
"This is an opportunity to build on the overall quality of the Christmas Market and continue to promote Leeds as an attractive visitor destination at Christmas time, encouraging day trips as well as driving overnight stays.”
The new contract period would run until 2029 with the option to extend for one year beyond that.
We'll keep you updated as and when we know more, and we do profusely apologise for mentioning the C word in January.
Leeds to make history as the host for Tour de France Femmes 2027
Danny Jones
It’s official: both the male and female Tour de France are coming to Leeds and nine other destinations across the UK in 2027.
As one of the biggest locations on the list, it’s a big sporting landmark for us Leeds lot.
Confirmed on Thursday, 15 January, the men’s race will be passing through Leeds next summer whilst the Tour de France Femmes (TdFF) will be hosted here.
Revealing the news in an exciting announcement video on social media, you can see the other cities and towns that the world-famous endurance event will be hitting here:
It’s been more than a decade since the Tour de France last took place in the UK, with London and Yorkshire hosting three stages of the biggest date on the annual cycling calendar back in 2014.
Fast forward a dozen years, and not only will they both be participating again, but Great Britain will see dual Grand Départs for men and women for the very first time.
You can see the full route map broken down below.
🇬🇧 Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, London 🇬🇧
💛 Grand Départ Great Britain 2027: in the footsteps of the pioneers!
— Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (@LeTourFemmes) January 15, 2026
Speaking in an official press release, race director Christian Prudhomme said: “The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details we are revealing today reflect the beauty and diversity of Britain’s terrain.”
"Bringing both Grand Départs here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK.”
TdFF counterpart, Marion Rousse, added: “The UK has played an important role in the history of women’s cycling, with champions such as Lizzie Deignan.
“Starting the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Leeds is a strong choice, closely linked to this heritage and to the enthusiasm of a public that knows and loves the Tour. These stages clearly reflect the race’s ambition: to continue growing women’s cycling and to inspire future generations.”
Emily Sergeant -
4th January 2023 
