Lily Allen calls for life skills like ‘how to apply for a mortgage’ and ‘introduction to divorce’ to be taught in school

The singer sparked a debate after challenging a Tory MP on how useful some maths and science lessons are in adulthood

Lily Allen is back on top of the UK albums chart with Sheezus (Getty Images)

Lily Allen has proposed introducing topics such as how to apply for a mortgage and national insurance onto the curriculum for schoolchildren during a phone-in with LBC.

Allen, 30, surprised the radio show by calling in after challenging Education Minister Nick Gibb on why children are not taught life skills such as how to apply for a mortgage, claiming she had never used Pythagoras's theorem once or “even seen a Bunsen burner” since leaving school at 15.

Her exchange with Mr Gibb prompted debate on Twitter which then became a topic of discussion on LBC, leading Allen to ring in and explain her stance.

Speaking to LBC, Allen said she raised the issue to highlight that everyone will have to deal with personal finance at some point in their lives, whether they are employed or unemployed.

“I've never been able to get my head around my finances,” she said. “I was terrible at maths. I've had an accountant in employment since the age of 19.

“I just don’t understand why they don’t teach something that is so basic, that everybody needs to use as soon as they leave school.

”If my daughter came to me with any questions about any of this stuff [mortgages for example], I would not have a clue. It's more me worrying about my children and them having to face the big, bad world without the necessary tools to do so.”

Allen jokingly said her perfect curriculum would include “a beginners guide to getting food”, “an introduction to divorce” and the “dangers of marriage”.