Levelling Up Strategy is 'like a car without wheels' after omitting mention of maths

The Protect Pure Maths Campaign responds to the Government’s White Paper on Levelling Up:

Add Maths to Levelling Up Strategy to drive social mobility

Leading mathematicians have called on Michael Gove to make maths central to the Government’s Levelling Up Strategy.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up committed to making the UK a ‘science and technology’ superpower when he unveiled the government’s Levelling Up White Paper yesterday. However, he failed to mention mathematics in his speech to parliament.

Professor Ulrike Tillmann, spokesperson for the Protect Pure Maths campaign said, “Referring to science and technology but not maths is like building a car without wheels. It makes no sense. Mathematics is not only the language of science it is also a most powerful tool.

“There would be no science and technology without the maths to underpin it so it’s disappointing that the Secretary of State omitted to pay proper heed to mathematics.”

While mathematicians have welcomed the government pledge to eliminate innumeracy and ensure that, 90% of all primary school students meet the expected standard in maths by 2030, they have urged the Government to make investment in mathematics at every level of education a priority.

The Protect Pure Maths campaign, which was founded in collaboration with the London Mathematical Society, has called on the Secretary of State to make the UK a ‘Science, Technology and Mathematics Superpower’ by investing in education and research. The government pledged an extra £300 million in funding for the mathematical sciences in 2020 but has yet to deliver the bulk of the funding. Protect Pure Maths has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to commit to that funding at the Budget on March 23 - also the date of International Maths Day.

Professor Ulrike Tillman, President of the London Mathematical Society and spokesperson for the Protect Pure Maths campaign said:

“Mathematics education can drive social mobility, it can boost an individual’s life chances and increase their future earning potential.

“We support and welcome the Government’s commitment to tackle innumeracy but the Government should be more ambitious in levelling up opportunities for maths education across the UK, by investing at all levels of maths education including higher education and research.

“While we welcome the announcements for investment in research and development to make the UK a science and technology superpower, this should also explicitly include mathematics.

“The Government needs to maintain the UK’s place as a ‘Maths Superpower’ by providing dedicated and enhanced funding for the mathematical sciences.”