Our reaction to the Numeracy for Life report
Sam Sims, CEO of the charity National Numeracy said: “We hope the Government will heed the findings of the excellent Numeracy for Life report, but we would go further. We want to see numeracy not just at the heart of the curriculum, but at the heart of our nation’s future growth and prosperity.
“For far too long, numeracy has been a poor relation to literacy, and it has been holding us back. Vision and investment from the Government could create a culture shift that puts numeracy on an equal footing with literacy, supercharging opportunities for individuals and communities.
“Last week, our charity announced a coalition to create a National Year of Numbers, like the current Year of Reading, and we are delighted the report recommends this course of action. This week, our seventh annual Number Confidence Week campaign is addressing another issue highlighted by the report; the harmful effect of low number confidence among people of all ages. We invite everyone to take part.”
National Numeracy contributed written and oral evidence to the House of Lords Numeracy for Life Committee inquiry.
Media contact: Julia Day, Director of External Relations, National Numeracy
Notes to editors:
- About National Numeracy: National Numeracy is a charity dedicated to helping people feel
confident with numbers and using everyday maths. We empower people to thrive by using
numeracy to open up opportunities and access brighter futures, targeting communities
where the need is greatest.
- The UK National Year of Numbers: We are building a coalition to put numeracy at the heart of UK
growth and prosperity. Find out more
- Number Confidence Week is this week - 2nd – 8th November 2026 - it's the UK’s only campaign dedicated
to number confidence. It aims to inspire and empower people to build number confidence,
leading to stronger numeracy skills that unlock new opportunities.
Photo: RDNE Stock Project, Pexels
