Chancellor George Osborne makes studying maths compulsory until the age of 18

Chancellor George Osborne has announced that mathematics will now be compulsory for all children until the age of 18.

In today's budget, presented to the House of Commons, George Osborne announced that maths would no longer be an optional subject and students will have to study until 18.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer made the changes to the current education system as part of a budget that has seen a package of sweeping change across the board.

Laws surrounding compulsory subjects have been in flux recently and have already changed once since the Conservative Party first came to power in 2010 as part of the Lib Dem coalition.

Before 2013 pupils in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were allowed to drop any subjects at the age of 16 without having a qualification in them.

Then the rules were changed slightly in September 2013 when Tory Education Secretary Michael Gove announced that teenagers who failed to get a C grade in maths would have to continue studying.

But the latest changes to the law means that even those who gain the necessary qualification and covetable C pass mark will have to keep studying until the age of 18.

This is news that will undoubtedly strike fear into the hearts of any adults who ever had to try and pass a maths GCSE, and no doubt will also cause arguments in households up and down the country this evening as parents have the unenviable task of explaining to their offspring that they should really hold on to that compass.

Not only has George Osborne announced the maths news, but he's also revealed that there's to be a tax on all sugary drinks too.

The Chancellor made the announcement, praised by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver as 'amazing news' as part of a long-term plan to combat child obesity.

The funds raised through the new sugar tax will be allocated to spending on child sports facilities.