The research suggests teacher trainees in arts subjects such as history and English were more likely to have good degrees than those training to teach maths or science.

BBC: Teachers: Nearly one in three trainees does not stay

According to Mr Smithers, they would rather teach maths.

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About 83% of history trainees and 77% of those planning to teach English had a first class degree or a 2:1, compared with 52% of those wanting to teach maths and 54% of science trainees.

BBC: Teachers: Nearly one in three trainees does not stay

And a clever redesign of the syllabus has made it easier to teach further maths over two years along with standard maths, thus boosting its popularity.

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"We teach English, maths and science to all students because they are fundamental to understanding society, " she said.

BBC: Technology

In countries where schools mainly seek to teach pupils to read, write and grasp some basic maths, centralisation seems to work.

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