Charles Clarke will today set out reforms to improve the teaching of mathematics in schools.

The plans include the creation of an elite corps of highly paid teachers and the lifting of a cap on salaries for classroom staff.

Outstanding teachers who have been awarded advanced skills status could earn up to £60,000 a year to raise the profile of maths in schools.

Meanwhile, the government will this week announce a major expansion in the number of city academies in England over the next five years.

On Thursday the education secretary will brief the Cabinet on the ambitious target of 200 city academies being either open or in the pipeline by 2010.

Clarke has been forced, however, to deny allegations of a rift with Number 10 over the plan.