Maths and Science teaching a priority, says Cameron

David Cameron announced the opening of a National College of Digital Skills in London in 2015, to enhance economic competitiveness in the global race.

There will be specialist training to improve the skills of 17,500 maths and science teachers.

However, Labour says the government has already failed to meet its teacher recruitment targets. They warned that the government’s teacher training policy was already leading to shortages. The Association of school and College leaders also warned recently that schools would have to recruit from overseas to fill vacancies, including maths and science teachers. They said “Shortfalls in the recruitment of maths and physics teachers are especially concerning”

Mr Cameron argues that maths, science and technology are the key skills for a modern globalised economy.

“There’s no secret to success in the modern world. If countries are going to win the global race and children compete and get the best jobs, you need mathematicians and scientists – pure and simple”

“So today, we commit to deliver more maths and science teachers”

“This is all part of our long-term economic plan for Britain – making sure our children have the right skills they need to thrive and get on”

The Prime minister announced the extra training as pupils visited Downing Street for a lesson in computer coding, as part of the international Hour of Code project.

“It will take time but it’s absolutely vital for the success of our country that we teach maths and science and computing in a modern way, because that will be one of the things that will determine whether we succeed or not” said Mr Cameron.

A £67 million initiative, covering the next five years, will give extra maths and science training for 15,000 existing teacher and recruit an additional 2,500 teachers.

Improving maths skills will benefit the competitiveness of the economy and improve job chances of individuals, said the Prime Minister.