But researchers claim there is an especially strong link between early maths skills and future pay.

BBC: Maths skills add up to higher earnings, study finds

Some students already take GCSEs early, usually maths and maybe a language such as French.

BBC: GCSEs 'too easy' for brainy pupils

The poorest children are twice as likely to struggle at maths early on at primary school, research suggests.

BBC: Poorest pupils 'weaker at maths'

This highlights the importance of investing in skills, particularly maths skills, early.

BBC: Maths skills add up to higher earnings, study finds

An early check of the A-level further maths paper on 31 May found an error and the paper was returned to the printers to be altered.

BBC: exam pic generic

The results, based on test performances of samples of 9, 13 and 17 year olds, suggest that apart from maths, average school standards have not risen since the early 1990s.

BBC: Handwriting

Yet an extensive study found that between the early 1970s and late 1990s American colleges produced more than enough graduates in science, technology, engineering and maths to meet demand.

ECONOMIST: Can higher productivity fill the gap?