The government is to delay the introduction of new maths AS and A-levels to September 2017.

It is the opinion of MPs that putting back the launch date will provide teachers and students with sufficient time to get to grips with the new syllabus.

In a letter to Ofqual's chief regulator Glenys Stacey, school reform minister Nick Gibb said that he agreed with the latter's assessment that there will be a "significant gap" between the current GCSE and the new A-level.

"Your concern is that the current GCSE does not have the same building blocks as the new GCSE to prepare students for the mathematical problem-solving content in the new A-level," he wrote.

"I know your view is supported by ALCAB [A-level Content Advisory Board] and by many in the mathematics community.

"I am content to accept your recommendation to defer first teaching of the new mathematics and further mathematics A/AS levels until September 2017."

It is unclear whether this delay will be unique to maths or spread to the introduction of other new AS and A-level subjects, although Ms Stacey has said that everyone is keeping to the timetable, although "not slavishly".

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, welcomed news of the rescheduling of the introduction of the new AS and A-levels maths subject.

"It takes a long time for schools to prepare for a new exam properly," he said. "This includes changes to teaching programmes, resources and even staffing. Schools need plenty of time if they are to do right by pupils, so we welcome this delay. There are few more important subjects to get right."

Speaking to the BBC, Prof Richard Craster of Imperial College, explained that the new maths A-level delivers "substantial changes in emphasis and content".

"At its heart are the aims of ensuring that students can embrace fluency, reasoning and mathematical problem-solving," he concluded.