I got accepted onto Cathay's fully-sponsored scheme and I did not study Maths or Physics beyond GCSE level.
Being good at Maths or Physics alone does not necessarily make someone a good pilot. In fact, airlines such as BA place as much emphasis on your personality and background as they do on your ability to add or subtract...you can be Mathematician of the year and yet be totally incapable of working in a team, or leading a team. That would make you a serious liability in the cockpit.
Hence I suspect this is the reason A-Level Maths/Physics are not required.
I understand what you are saying, but it
tends to be the case that they either ask for both or state that they are
preferred. Fair play to you either way!