Young people have a lack of knowledge of the many career paths dependent on maths and physics, despite employers calling for these skills.

This is the message from a report by the ‘Your Life’ campaign, which found that students are unaware of the opportunities that knowledge in these subjects can provide, and how study of maths and physics beyond the age of 16 is very relevant to the job market.

The report claims that these subjects can appear too abstract and theoretical to young people with little real-life application. Other reasons cited for lack of uptake include:

• A lack of confidence in the ability to do well
• These subjects are only for the “ultra bright”
• The absence of adult encouragement
• Diminishing interest and enjoyment in these subjects, particularly where they become less practical
• A lack of appeal to girls where certain science-related careers seem to have a “masculine” image.