Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect on the (a) number and (b) gender of those taking A-level mathematics of the requirement that schools put in place that only those with an A at GCSE can study A-level mathematics; and if she will assess how widespread this practice is.

Since 2010 there has been a 17 per cent increase in A level mathematics entries annually. A level mathematics is now the most popular A level choice, and the Government is committed to encouraging more young people to study this valuable subject. Decisions about which students should progress to A level mathematics lie with individual schools.

Good teaching is vital to achievement at A level, which is why we are continuing to invest to attract excellent teachers into the profession and to support continuing professional development for existing teachers. We offer incentives of up to £30,000 to attract the best graduates into teaching. We fund high quality professional development opportunities to teachers of A level mathematics delivered by the Further Maths Support Programme and the University of Cambridge.

Alongside this, Professor Sir Adrian Smith, Vice Chancellor of the University of London and Deputy Chair of the UK Statistical Authority is reviewing the case for increasing the number of young people studying maths post 16. The review will report later this year.