PM calls for more science study

Gordon Brown will talk about making the economy more science focused

Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants to double the number of schoolchildren studying science.

Mr Brown is in Oxford to set out his ambition to boost the number of state pupils taking single-subject science within five years.

He will say: "The time has come to build a society that seeks high-value engineering not financial engineering."

Currently 32% of state schools offer single-subject science but Mr Brown wants that to increase to 90% by 2014.

He will say: "We have a scientific record to be proud of.

"The question now is how we build on this strength to make Britain the best country in the world in which to be a scientist in the months and years to come."