STUNELL URGES STOCKPORT SCHOOLS TO GET ‘MONEY SMART’

Andrew Stunell, MP for Hazel Grove, has called for Stockport schools to get their pupils talking and learning about money, as part of a charity's new campaign to help improve the financial capability of young people.

Every primary and secondary school in Stockport has been sent free Get Money Smart posters and teaching materials by national charity pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), which wants to get children talking about money in the classroom.

Andrew Stunell MP said: "Young people need money skills more than ever before. That's why the Liberal Democrat schools minister has put financial education into the secondary school National Curriculum from September 2014. This new 'Get Money Smart' campaign goes one further, and starts with primary schools, which is great. Far too many people of all ages find managing their money a problem. It's even been a challenge for Chancellors of the Exchequers in the past, so the sooner young people get the knack, the better."

The charity's Get Money Smart posters - for children aged up to seven, 11, 14 and 16 - are designed to encourage classroom discussions about things children can do to learn more about money and personal finance. Ideas for different ages include checking your change, estimating the cost of a weekly shop, comparing mobile phone tariffs and planning and budgeting for a trip.

Schools in Hazel Grove are being encouraged to hold discussions with their pupils over 4 things the posters suggest they can do to learn about money - with the 5^th being left up to each class to decide. Ideas for the 5^th activity can then be shared with other classes across the country on Twitter using the #5thingstodo hashtag.

Andrew Stunell MP has thrown his weight behind the effort as a way of helping young people in Stockport to gain the vital skills and knowledge they will need to manage their personal finances throughout their lives. The move follows news that after years of campaigning by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People, pfeg and MoneySavingExpert.com's Martin Lewis, financial education will be taught in secondary schools as part of the National Curriculum from September 2014.

Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), said:

"We are thrilled to have the support of Andrew Stunell MP for this free new scheme for primary and secondary schools in Hazel Grove. I hope all local schools will seize the opportunity to use their Get Money Smart posters to bring money to life in the classroom. This is a crucial topic that every young person should learn. Getting pupils talking about money and the financial decisions they will face in the future is a great way to start."

The campaign has been made possible through a personal donation to pfeg from MoneySavingExpert.com's Martin Lewis, which has enabled the charity to send free copies of the Get Money Smart posters and teaching resources to primary and secondary schools in the Stockport area and across the country.