Computer science teachers to be trebled, Chancellor announces

The number of computer science teachers is to be trebled, the Chancellor announced as he set out plans to create a National Centre for Computing.

Philip Hammond pledged £84 million to train up another 8,000 GCSE teachers for computer science, a relatively new subject that only became part of the national curriculum three years ago. 

The Government also plans to work with industry to create a new National Centre for Computing, to produce teaching resources for the subject. 

Mr Hammond declared there will be “more maths for everyone” before joking that he knows how to "show the nation a good time".  

More than £80 million will be available for the drive to boost the numbers of students opting to study maths, with schools awarded £600 for each student who decides to take Maths or Further Maths A-levels or Core Maths.

Mr Hammond told MPs: "Knowledge of maths is key to the hi-tech, cutting-edge jobs in our digital economy. But it is also useful in less glamorous roles, such as frontline politics.”

He said the new cash injections into maths will enable “highly talented young mathematicians” to “release their potential wherever they live and whatever their background.”

Mr Hammond added: “More maths for everyone. Don't let anyone say I don't know how to show the nation a good time."

He announced that £177million will be made available to promote maths skills, with a fund of £18 million to inject cash into specialist maths colleges.

A further £42million will be spent on a pilot scheme to give teachers in underperforming schools £1,000 for training, and £20 million will go towards preparing teachers for T-levels.

Venki Ramakrishnan, President of the Royal Society, welcomed the extra money for maths and computer science, saying it sends a “clear signal” that the Government is “focused on the UK’s technological future”.

But Kevin Courtney, joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, criticised the Budget, saying the Government has chosen to “ignore the anger of parents” adding that there is “no significant new money for education”.

He also warned that offering schools a financial reward in return for students taking up Maths A-level “could steer students towards subject choices that may not be in their interest”.