Important notice:Congratulations to our new Year 7 cohort in securing your place for September 2026. We look forward to welcoming you. Please email rhian.speight@elawnswood.co.uk to accept your place as soon as possible.
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The Curriculum
Financial Education is a carefully planned and progressive element of our curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13, ensuring that all students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives. Our programme is underpinned by the Young Money Financial Education Planning Framework, providing a coherent sequence of learning that builds financial capability over time. This is enhanced through partnerships with leading financial institutions, including HSBC and Virgin Money, which provide expert input and authentic, real-world learning experiences.
Financial education is embedded across the curriculum through meaningful and relevant contexts that enable students to apply their knowledge. For example, students develop budgeting and financial planning skills by costing and managing a music festival, while exploring concepts such as ethical consumerism, sustainability and Fairtrade through cross-curricular learning. Through a cross-curricular approach alongside specialist teaching in maths, students develop their understanding of personal finance, saving, borrowing, risk, enterprise and the wider economy. This ambitious approach ensures that students are equipped with the financial literacy, critical thinking skills and responsible decision-making needed to participate confidently in modern society and to make successful transitions into further education, employment and adult life.
|
Year |
Topic |
Lesson Title |
To include |
Learning Objective(s) |
|
7 |
How money ‘works’ |
The economy |
Key terms: gross / net; tax; national insurance; VAT; budget; inflation & RPI Key roles: Chancellor of the Exchequer; national & local government; Inland Revenue Who makes the decisions & what decisions are made at the budget? |
To understand and explain what the Economy is and how it affects people. |
|
The household economy |
Key terms: Income: wage / salary; water rates; council tax. Food and non-food bills |
To understand budgeting and how it affects the household economy. |
||
|
Developing good money habits |
Key terms; income; outgoings Planning a personal budget; use of bank accounts & apps such as Monzo & Mint |
To know where money comes from and how to plan to spend and save it. |
||
|
8 |
Borrowing & Saving |
Interest rates |
Key terms: percentage; AER; credit How interest rates work; compound interest; annual rates; savings vs borrowing; mortgage rates |
To understand interest rates and how they affect people. |
|
Borrowing & the real dangers of debt |
Key terms: loan; overdraft; credit score (detail covered in Y10); arrears Reasons to have a credit card; payday loans; student finance; buy now - pay later |
To understand ithe real dangers of borrowing and debt. |
||
|
Making your money work |
Key terms; current account; savings account; standing order; direct debit; deposit; ISA; sort code Saving & investing; different types of bank account; banking (including standing orders / direct debits) |
To understand the difference between wants and needs so you can manage your money. |
||
|
9 |
The Best Deal |
Shopping around |
Key terms: How to shop around for the best deal; comparison sites (home & car insurance / energy bills / savings & investments / student bank accounts) |
To be able to make comparisons by shopping around for the best buys / deals. |
|
Fraud & Scams |
Don’t trust everything the adverts tell you; tricks in supermarkets to encourage us to spend; financial ombudsman Raising awareness of some of the common scams and how to avoid them; what to do if you get conned |
To be aware and identify fraud, scams and identity theft. |
||
|
Ethical consumerism & charitable donations |
Key terms: green-washing; boycott, Sadaqah (charitable giving in Islam); prohibited industries (for investment in Islam) Being a responsible consumer; Religious considerations; charitable giving |
To understand Ethical consumerism and charitable donations and the impact these have. |
||
|
10 |
Personal Finance |
Your bank statement |
Key terms: transaction; withdrawal; deposit; transfer; ATM; overdraft; balance What a statement looks like; fees & charges; why it is important to check |
To understand bank statements and how to use them to manage your money. |
|
Your pay slip |
Key terms: wage vs salary; gross vs net; PAYE; tax allowance; national insurance; deductions; payroll number; statutory sick pay; year-to-date; workplace benefits; maternity, paternity & adoption pay An employee’s right to a payslip (paper or digital); how to read / check a payslip; payroll giving |
To identify the information provided on a payslip and calculate tax and national insurance. |
||
|
Your credit history |
Key terms: student loan; credit card; mortgage; credit score What companies know about you; how your credit history is used to decide on offers of e.g. mobile phone contract; why having a credit card can be helpful |
To understand your credit score and how it affects your credit history. |
||
|
11 |
Preparing to Live Independently |
How to make money last |
Key terms: cash flow; expenses; discretionary spending; financial goals Developing a personal budget |
To identify their sources of income and understand how to create a budget that tracks income and expediture. |
|
Planning your pension |
Key terms: state pension; defined benefit; defined contribution; final salary scheme; tax benefit Why do I need to think about this? I’m only 16! |
To be aware of planning for your future and the importance of having a pension. |
||
|
Living Independently |
Key terms; income; income support; bursary; grant; utility bills Big questions: Rent or buy? career progression goals? |
Understand some of the costs associated with renting and buying a property and recognise needs and wants in the context of living independently. |
