Poll reveals secondary school pupils in region lack basic numeracy skills

However they did perform better than the national average. The poll carried out by Nationwide also suggests a significant proportion of youngsters would drop mathematics at GCSE if it was not a compulsory subject.

Around 2,000 12 to 14-year-olds were asked to calculate the change they would be given from £100 if they bought shopping worth £64.23.

Nationally just under half, 48 per cent, came up with the correct answer, while just over one in four (26 per cent) of those who gave the wrong answer were more than £1 out.

In Yorkshire 60 per cent got the right answer but 22 per cent were more than more a pound out

The survey also found that 65 per cent of the young people in Yorkshire polled were unable to select the best value supermarket multi-buy when given three choices and 64 per cent could not identify the cheapest mobile phone package from three choices. In total, 74 per cent of those questioned said that they would pick to take maths at GCSE, even if it were not compulsory, with the subject proving slightly more popular with boys than girls.

Nationwide said the “extremely poor results” demonstrate a lack of basic numeracy skills among young people.

Stephen Uden, of Nationwide, said: “We’re not talking about anything complex here, yet our research suggests that gaps developed in the crucial early years of understanding leave young people unequipped for everyday situations in later life, including how to make the most of their money.” The poll was commissioned to mark the launch of Nationwide’s Talking Numbers maths programme.

The online survey questioned 2,000 pupils in years eight and nine.