Secondary PFE in England
The new secondary curriculum has aims which reflect the Every
Child Matters (ECM) outcomes, including achieving economic
wellbeing. They require schools to plan a curriculum to
enable all young people to become:
- successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and
achieve
- confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and
fulfilling lives
- responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to
society.
In England, the teaching of PFE has not explicitly been a part
of the curriculum in the past. This changed in September 2008
with the introduction of the new subject Personal, Social, Health
and Economic Education (PSHE Education) to replace Personal Social
and Health Education (PSHE). It includes economic wellbeing
and financial capability as one of its two main (not-statutory)
areas.
While PSHE Education is currently non-statutory, the findings of
a review by Sir Alasdair Macdonald confirm that PSHE education
should become a statutory subject.
Within the new curriculum, the programmes of study for
Citizenship and Mathematics also make explicit reference to money
and financial capability.
The DCSF has now also published new guidance on financial
capability in the secondary curriculum: Key Stages 3 and 4.
This explains what financial capability is and where it fits in the
new secondary curriculum.
The target is that by the end of the Key Stage 4 (14-16), pupils
in England should be capable of managing their money, understanding
financial risk and reward, explaining financial terms and products,
and identifying how finance will play an important part in their
lives and in achieving their aspirations.