Why Rishi’s maths plan is tutu much for Darcey

RISHI SUNAK announced plans amid great fanfare last year to keep children studying maths until the age of 18, claiming the ‘ anti-maths mindset’ was undermining the efforts to improve numeracy in Britain.

The Prime Minister may not, though, have reckoned on facing opposition from one of the country’s most prominent dames.

Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcey Bussell believes children need to study less mathematics, not more.

Asked what she thinks should change within the education system, she replies: ‘Less maths, more dance — there, I said it.’

Once principal dancer at the Royal Ballet, she now runs her educational charity, DDMix. Standing for Diverse Dance Mix, it delivers a dance and fitness programme for primary school children as well as offering adult dance classes. ‘Technology is all there at our fingertips, but what we don’t have is proper movement available to all, and people understanding how it can help break up those long classroom hours,’ she explains. ‘A small movement class could help children to focus and get their attention back, which can really facilitate their learning. Dance, and picking up steps, are really very good for sharpening the brain as well as promoting a sense of wellbeing.’

Dame Darcey, 54, says use of new technology is making children less active. ‘We’re very good at getting kids involved in technology, and they’re very savvy about that, but they’re not so brilliant at moving any more. ‘Time spent on screens means that they are potentially becoming more sedentary.’ Darcey, who has two children with her businessman husband Angus Forbes, retired from the world of ballet in 2007. She later quit as a Strictly judge in 2019.