4.25 We will continue to provide additional support for the uptake of mathematics and the sciences. A strong national base of technological and scientific skills is essential to growth and employers continue to report shortages of these skills.
4.26 This deficit will be tackled by providing support to increase the number of specialist teachers in physics, chemistry and mathematics and to improve the skills of existing teachers. We need more specialist mathematics teachers in primary schools and will encourage and support schools in developing this specialism. We will support schools which offer students the chance to study GCSE physics, chemistry and biology as separate subjects by exploring how performance tables can reward this raising of aspirations. The teaching of A Level further mathematics will be supported by funding initiatives such as the further mathematics support programme. We will also look at ways of supporting the in-depth study of physics. Already other organisations, for example the Physics Factory, are enabling more state school students to enjoy high-quality physics teaching. And we will initiate two new competitions with prizes for the best engineering projects from male and female students in state schools.
