FT FLIC’s All-School Financial Literacy Curriculum: Empowering the Next Generation

FT FLIC (Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign) has won the Best School-age Financial Education Project by a Non-profit award, the most popular category at this year’s Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIA) 2024. Their innovative all-school financial literacy curriculum, implemented at the City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, is revolutionising financial education for young students.

“FT FLIC’s project truly stood out in a really competitive field for its comprehensive and engaging approach to financial literacy,” says Trudi Harris, co-founder of the MAIAs. “Their curriculum is a crucial step towards equipping young people with the financial skills they need for the future.”

Target Community: Reaching Disadvantaged Youth

The project focuses on students at the City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, located in one of the top 5% most deprived areas in England. The curriculum is designed to meet young people where they are, providing essential financial education to those who need it most. By targeting a diverse student body, FT FLIC aims to bridge the financial knowledge gap and foster financial resilience among disadvantaged youth.

“We wanted to create a curriculum that addresses the unique needs of our students,” explains Neal Fuller, project lead at FT FLIC. “Our goal is to provide them with the skills and knowledge to navigate their financial lives confidently.”

Making Money Accessible and Beneficial

The FT FLIC curriculum makes financial education accessible through a comprehensive, spiral approach that builds on students’ knowledge year after year. Each lesson is tailored to the developmental stage of the students, ensuring that the information is relevant and practical. By covering topics such as budgeting, taxes, savings, investments, and navigating payslips, the curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in financial literacy.

The project also leverages social media to enhance engagement. FT FLIC identified and vetted diverse social media content creators to produce short, dynamic videos that are embedded in the lessons. These videos bring key financial concepts to life, making learning fun and relatable.

“Our collaboration with social media influencers helps make financial education engaging and accessible,” says FT FLIC’s executive director Aimee Allam. “Students relate to these familiar faces, which enhances their learning experience.”

Innovation and Impact

FT FLIC’s curriculum is the first all-school financial literacy curriculum in the UK, incorporating innovative methods to ensure effective learning. The programme includes a mix of written exercises, verbal discussions, and video content to cater to different learning styles. It also uses representative case studies and examples that resonate with students’ experiences, particularly focusing on gender-specific issues like the pay gap and caring responsibilities.

The curriculum’s impact has been significant. Pre- and post-curriculum surveys revealed a 38% improvement in financial knowledge among Year 11 students. Additionally, 100% of teachers would recommend FT FLIC resources to their peers, and 81% found the materials appropriately pitched.

“The effectiveness of this curriculum is evident in the remarkable improvements in students’ financial knowledge and confidence,” notes Michael Gilmore, co-founder of the MAIAs. “FT FLIC’s innovative approach sets a new standard for financial education.”

Testimonials: Voices of Change

The success of the FT FLIC curriculum is best illustrated through the testimonials of teachers and students. One biology teacher remarked, “Seeing how much they’ve learned and retained over these six weeks and that they’ll have the opportunity to do this all the way until they leave school is really, really positive.”

A drama teacher, added, “As my background is drama, not financial literacy or maths, it really supported me in delivering the lessons.”

Students also expressed their appreciation for the programme. One student shared, “It was incredibly helpful on how to protect myself from scams!” Another noted, “I really liked how they made it educational but fun!”

Expanding Financial Literacy Nationwide

Looking ahead, FT FLIC plans to roll out this transformative curriculum nationwide. The goal is to broaden access to financial literacy education, ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have the skills they need for financial success. The organisation is also exploring alternative iterations of the curriculum, including Welsh translation, sign language adaptation, and one-to-one formats for mentoring.

“We see our materials as the gold standard in financial literacy: engaging, realistic, modern, and timely,” says Fuller. “With appropriate funding, we will gamify the content, making it portable, competitive, and fun, while retaining the educational components.”

FT FLIC’s vision is to be a key catalyst for social mobility by dramatically broadening access to critical financial skills for all under-served groups.