Prime Highlights
- Experts and educators stress that financial skills are just as important as academic grades for children to succeed in life.
- Schools are introducing personal finance lessons to equip students with the knowledge and confidence to manage money effectively and secure their future.
Key Facts
- All primary and secondary school pupils in the south will be taught personal finance, including budgeting, money management, mortgages, and compound interest.
- The new curriculum is expected to be implemented nationwide by 2028.
Background
All primary and secondary school students in the south will be taught personal finance under changes to the national curriculum. The new curriculum, expected by 2028, will include lessons on budgeting, managing money, mortgages, and compound interest.
Teachers say learning about money is important to prepare children for real life. At Queen’s Park Academy Primary School in Bournemouth, students are already learning how to manage money. Principal Sarah Simmons said the children are “very savvy” with their finances and understand debt, earning money, and spending wisely.
Many schools and charities believe financial education is an important life skill and are calling for it to be taught more widely. Sarah Porretta, CEO of the national charity Young Enterprise, emphasized that “it is very difficult to navigate the world as an adult without financial literacy.” She added that teachers will need support and training to confidently deliver these lessons, stressing the importance of a national approach to ensure consistency and effectiveness.
The Leaf Studio Academy, also in Bournemouth, which specialises in sport and performing arts, already incorporates financial literacy into its curriculum. Head of School Tim Clark explained that students learn about credit, online scams, mortgages, and taxes, giving them a clear understanding of real-world financial responsibilities. “If we don’t teach them these things, we are doing them an absolute disservice,” Clark said. “Good grades are not enough; children also need these skills to succeed in life.”
The plan shows that practical life skills are becoming as important as traditional subjects. Starting in 2028, schools across the country will teach students how to manage money, giving them the knowledge and confidence to handle finances and build a secure future.
