FE colleges have warned that new practical maths courses for 16-year-olds will be a “challenge” for them to introduce.

The government’s new core maths qualification, which is backed by a number of major employers, is designed to give young people the maths knowledge they need in everyday life, such as working out interest rates.

It is available to students who achieve a C or above in GCSE maths, and is worth the same number of Ucas points as an AS-level.

It is being introduced in schools and colleges this week, alongside the new maths and English GCSEs, and is aimed at students who would not normally study maths at A- or AS-level, but require maths skills in further study.

Although several colleges have helped pilot the new qualification, the Association of Colleges (AoC) today warned that it would not be easy for others to deliver.

Gill Clipson, deputy chief executive of the AoC, said: “There is a general consensus that a good standard of numeracy is important for young people to help them progress in their study and in the workplace.

“Introducing this is likely to be a challenge, particularly when national funding rates for post-16 education are fixed at £4,000 and there is a significant shortage of maths teachers.”