Teaching Finance Resources

 Financial education is already part of the National Curriculum in England.

In:

• Primary school it is mainly taught through mathematics (money, percentages, budgeting). 
• Secondary school it is taught through both mathematics and citizenship. 

The citizenship curriculum specifically includes:

• savings 
• insurance 
• credit and debt 
• pensions 
• financial products and services 
• taxation and public spending.  

The problem is that the amount of teaching varies hugely between schools.

In 2024, MPs produced a major report into financial education.

They concluded that:

• financial education is inconsistent across England 
• many teachers lack confidence teaching it 
• there is little accountability for whether schools actually deliver it 
• pupils leave school without practical knowledge of mortgages, pensions, investing and taxes. 

The Committee recommended strengthening financial education and improving teacher training. 

Since taking office, Labour has repeatedly said it wants financial education to become more prominent.

In Parliamentary answers during 2024 and 2025, ministers confirmed that:

• financial education will remain part of maths and citizenship 
• the Curriculum and Assessment Review is considering how it can be strengthened 
• all state schools will eventually be required to teach the reformed curriculum.  

In January 2026:

The Government announced that, as part of its Financial Inclusion Strategy, it intends to:

• make financial education compulsory in primary schools 
• place a renewed emphasis on financial education in secondary schools 
• work with experts to decide what should be taught, including pensions and long-term saving 
• consult publicly during 2026 before finalising the curriculum.