Pupils learn valuable financial skills

Pupils learnt valuable life skills when they took part in a specialist workshop to boost their financial literacy.

Year 6 pupils at Ormsgill Primary School put their knowledge to the test in the interactive session which challenged them to think about ‘needs rather than wants’.

Following discussions about priorities, they created their own budget ensuring that essential bills were paid before treats could be included in the weekly shop.

They then entered the virtual world with a game on the ipads meeting characters from a different world and guiding them through tricky financial choices.

Kiera Wilkins, of international tech company Everfi who led the session in partnership with Cumberland Building Society, challenged the group to look at things they need in life.

Pupils suggested a range of needs including food, shelter, clothing, medicine, money for emergencies and love.

“The idea is to raise awareness of managing money and where it goes and to help the characters in the game make financial choices,” said Kiera. “It is about learning to balance budgets and making sure they are more prepared.”

Jessica Corless is Assistant Head and Year 6 Teacher at Ormsgill Primary School, which is part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, said it was important to expand the personal development curriculum to include life skills.

“Money is something they will be using as an adult and this will help them to understand this better and improve their confidence with money from an early age.

“There is also a careers element as some of the mathematicians in the class that don’t want to go into engineering might now think more about careers in the financial services industry.”

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