One of the most constant comments from the older generation on the maths learnt at school today is that the teaching does not equip them for the real world. After all, fractions and square roots are all very fine and can even be interesting if you are maths minded but do they really have any bearing on real life?

Some people do call for a more practical approach for maths, one that would not just teach the kids about theoretical calculations but about real life situations such as how to calculate mortgage payments, fill in your tax forms or understand equity release

Let's face it, many of these situations hit us hard when we reach the adult world and we have no idea on how to handle them. A few hints on how to calculate expenses and set up a cash flow would serve well in later life.

Social insurance contributions and tax are often a mystery to us throughout our adult life and we are equally stuck when it comes to taking out our first mortgage or working out our pension scheme for our retirement.

There is a place for pure maths in the education system, especially for those who are very good at it and plan to take it further at school or university, but spare a thought for those who will just need it for everyday uses.