First ever financial education textbooks to hit schools

3,400 schools are to finally receive 100 free copies of financial education textbooks, after it became part of the National Curriculum back in 2014.

‘Your Money Matters’, written by financial education charity Young Money and funded by the money saving expert Martin Lewis, is the first textbook of it’s kind to aid teachers and pupils in the crucial new subject.

The textbook, which is aimed at ages 15 to 16, has received the support of the government. All 3,400 state-funded schools will receive 100 copies, which is typically enough for one textbook per two pupils.

Martin Lewis, who’s £325,000 personal donation funded the project, said: “I passionately believe that financial education could have a huge impact on the future wellbeing of millions of young people. When we got financial education on the national curriculum in 2014, we celebrated thinking the job was done. We were wrong.

“We live in one of the world’s most competitive consumer economies, with companies spending billions on advertising, marketing and teaching their staff to sell, yet we don’t get any buyer’s training. That needs to change. The best place to teach is the classroom. I hope this textbook will help make that easier.”

Financial education is currently split across the maths and citizenship curriculums, as well as within the non-statutory element of PSHE. The educational textbook contains facts and information for children about how to manage their money, as well as interactive activities and questions.

Michael Merciieca, CEO at Young Money said: “We’re delighted to have worked with Martin Lewis on this pioneering project to produce these important educational materials which will help many students and teachers across the country.

“It’s vital to the personal wellbeing of individuals and to the country that we improve the education of young people in this area to give them the best possible chance of success in the future.”