Read about the impact of a primary school’s financial education journey, from Kate Sturdy.
Nestled in North East Wales, Ysgol Bryn Gwalia has embarked on an exciting journey to become a Young Enterprise Centre of Excellence. This primary school, part of Flintshire County Council, serves 139 pupils, with 120 of statutory school age and 18 in nursery classes. With 52.5% of our learners eligible for free school meals (significantly above the national average of 23.7%), teaching financial literacy is essential for building a stronger, more informed community.
Since partnering with Lisa Best from Young Enterprise in September 2023, we’ve taken significant steps to develop a robust, whole-school approach to financial education. Through comprehensive assessments, strategic planning and curriculum improvements, we’ve ensured that financial learning is effective, relevant and woven seamlessly into learners’ educational journeys. By listening closely to our learners, we’ve built a programme that resonates and empowers them with essential financial skills.
Why teaching money skills matters
Financial literacy is more than understanding numbers; it’s about preparing children for the future by giving them the tools to make informed decisions about money. Without these skills, young adults may struggle with debt, budgeting, and long-term financial planning. By integrating financial education into our curriculum, we help foster smart financial habits, resilience and a positive relationship with money that supports lifelong wellbeing.
Our journey to becoming a Centre of Excellence
Becoming a Centre of Excellence has been transformative for Ysgol Bryn Gwalia.
Here’s how we did it, in 7 steps:
- Joining the programme. We started by enrolling in the Centre of Excellence Programme, with myself as the appointed Financial Champion working closely with Lisa Best.
- Leadership briefing. Our leadership meetings laid out our goals and accreditation process.
- Strategic vision. We crafted a detailed financial education vision and gathered evidence showcasing our teaching practices.
- Initial assessments. Baseline evaluations helped us understand learners’ starting knowledge and informed our curriculum.
- Delivery and review. I led staff training, reviewed progress and ensured a steady learning trajectory.
- Embedding financial literacy. The programme became part of our strategic goals, sustained through continuous evaluation.
- Sharing success. We presented our progress at the Young Enterprise Financial Literacy Conference in London, sharing insights and achievements.
Our savings scheme
Our savings initiative at Ysgol Bryn Gwalia was set up to help our students learn practical financial skills and understand the value of money. We saw the need for real-life experiences to teach maths and numeracy effectively, so we integrated this initiative into our curriculum to cover both the practical and emotional aspects of financial decision-making. The programme involves our older pupils managing the school reward shop, fostering responsibility and promoting positive behaviour, which has, in turn, improved attendance rates.
Our school Senedd (council) played a key role by using a budget provided by Young Enterprise to stock the shop with items at various price points, designed to either tempt children to make immediate purchases or encourage them to save for delayed gratification. The children were also involved in setting up the shop, promoting it and creating a price list. As this initiative has become embedded in our school, students are now taking the next step by developing an online catalogue, allowing them to browse available items within their own classrooms.
To further support this, children are awarded 10p when they are recognised as Bryn Gwalia GEMS, linked to our school values: Gentle and Kind, Excellent in Attitude, Mindful of Others, and Supportive and Nurturing. They can also earn this reward by being named Role Model of the Week, receiving the Kindness Award, or being chosen as Kiva Kid of the Week as part of our anti-bullying programme. Additionally, 10p is awarded to every learner in the class with the best attendance each week, and 20p is given to any student with 100% attendance each term.
Children take on the responsibility of running the saving initiative by setting up the reward shop, keeping it tidy, opening it each Friday, stamping 10p in learners’ savings books, and crossing out money spent in the shop. Each child is also responsible for looking after their savings booklet, with the understanding that if they lose it, they also lose their savings, mirroring real-world consequences of losing money.
This comprehensive approach has led to better behaviour, a stronger sense of community, higher attendance – rising from 88-89% to 93% – and improved overall wellbeing and academic performance.
This initiative has been key in embedding financial literacy skills, helping our pupils become more financially aware and better prepared for the future.
Impact of our financial programme: a closer look
At Ysgol Bryn Gwalia, financial education is now a cornerstone of our curriculum, woven seamlessly into everyday learning. This integration has sparked significant change across the school. The notable rise in learner attendance demonstrates the positive effect of our reward-based saving initiative on learner engagement and motivation. Moreover, the emphasis on saving and managing money has nurtured a stronger culture of responsibility among learners and fostered a sense of community involvement. These changes have had a profound impact on the school environment, creating a cohesive and respectful atmosphere where values like accountability and collaboration thrive.
For staff, the introduction of financial education has been a transformative experience. Teachers report greater confidence in delivering lessons that are both practical and relevant to learners’ real lives. They feel empowered to prepare learners for future challenges, equipping them with the tools to navigate financial decisions with clarity and confidence.
Learners, too, have shown remarkable growth. By participating in the school’s saving initiative, they have developed practical money management skills, understanding the value of budgeting, saving and setting financial goals. This hands-on, incentive-based learning approach has significantly increased their engagement and sense of responsibility, encouraging them to take ownership of their choices.
Families have also benefitted from the programme. Communication between home and school around financial topics has improved, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations about money management. Parents have become active participants in reinforcing the financial principles taught at school, aligning values and strengthening the connection between learning at school and home life. This collaborative effort ensures that financial education extends beyond the classroom, embedding lifelong habits that benefit the whole community.
By addressing these core areas – school culture, staff confidence, learner development, and family involvement – we’ve created a robust, inclusive financial education programme that makes a lasting impact.
Next steps for educators
Are you inspired by our story? If so, becoming a Centre of Excellence can transform your school’s approach to financial literacy. Start by expressing interest on the Young Enterprise website. The process includes consultations, strategic development, evidence gathering and an application to achieve accreditation. Accredited schools benefit from official recognition and a framework for building a comprehensive, impactful financial curriculum.
Now you can get started empowering your learners with money skills for life.
Author
Kate is the Deputy Head of Ysgol Bryn Gwalia. A dedicated Year 6 teacher with a passion for creativity, she has presented for the Welsh Government, lectured at universities, and spoken at the Young Enterprise Financial Education Conference. Kate is a SkyArts Teacher Ambassador and an Adobe Express Innovator, training educators across Wales.
