UK PM Rishi Sunak wants all pupils to study mathematics till 18 years

He said he was making numeracy a central objective of the education system.

"That doesn't have to mean compulsory A-level in math for everyone. But we will work with the sector to move towards all children studying some form of maths to 18," he added.

It is not clear what the plans will mean for students who wish to study humanities or creative arts qualifications, including BTecs and no new qualifications are immediately planned and there are no plans to make A-levels compulsory.

The government is instead exploring expanding existing qualifications as well as "more innovative options", a Downing Street spokesperson said.

The idea appears to be an aspiration rather than a fully developed policy, with the precise mechanics for how it would work not set out.

The government acknowledges it would not be possible to implement before the next general election, although the UK prime minister is expected to begin working on the plan in this parliament, the BBC said.

The Association of School and College Leaders, however, said there was a "chronic national shortage of maths teachers" in the UK.

And Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson called on Sunak to "show his working" on how greater participation in math will be funded.

"He cannot deliver this reheated, empty pledge without more math teachers, yet the government has missed their target for new math teachers year after year," she said.

Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, Munira Wilson, called the aim "an admission of failure from the prime minister on behalf of a Conservative government that has neglected our children's education so badly."

"Too many children are being left behind when it comes to math, and that happens well before they reach 16," she added.

Tory MP Robin Walker, who is chair of the education committee, urged the UK PM to focus on childcare. "It's great to hear the prime minister today committing to math beyond 16," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "But if we don't get the right approach to stimulating and supporting children early on, they won't have the opportunities to thrive in the school system." Sunak became the UK PM towards the end of a turbulent political year which saw his two predecessors — Boris Johnson and Liz Truss — brought down by Conservative backbenchers.

Sunak faces the challenge of keeping his own MPs happy, while dealing with the rising cost of living and strikes in several sectors, including nursing and the rail industry.