Click on a question to be taken to the answer:

Q: What is Learning Money Matters?
Q: Why is it needed?
Q: How does Learning Money Matters work?
Q: Who are pfeg consultants?
Q: How do you know that your consultants are any good?
Q: Who could I be working with from pfeg in my part of the country?
Q: How much does support through Learning Money Matters cost?
Q: Can you come in to schools and take sessions?
Q: Can a school have more than one level of support?
Q: Do we have to start at level one and work upwards?
Q: How long can I get support for?
Q: How do people sign up?
Q: If I sign up am I tied into a contract?
Q: Why is Learning Money Matters only available in England?
Q: Why is Learning Money Matters only available in secondary schools?
Q: How is Learning Money Matters funded?
Q: What is the Financial Services Authority (FSA)?
Q: What is the National Strategy for Financial Capability Schools Project?
Q: How will Learning Money Matters raise standards of education in schools?
Q: How do you measure results?
Q: Can you really teach personal finance in all parts of the curriculum - how does it work in practice?
Q: Is there any kind of secondary school which would not be appropriate for this help?


Q: What is Learning Money Matters?
A: Learning Money Matters is a financial education initiative from pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group) - with support from the FSA - Financial Services Authority. It is a programme which provides free advice, support and resources to secondary schools and teachers in England wishing to teach quality personal finance in a way that both meets the individual needs of their school and helps children and young people develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need in financial matters to equip them for the future.

Q: Why is it needed?
A: The level of debt in the UK is at an all time high with a large proportion of those in debt under the age of 40. If we are to remedy this situation we need to educate people so that they understand how to manage their money, how to shop around amongst the vast array of financial products and services on offer - and most importantly how to save for the future. It is vital that we educate young people - as early as possible - in how to manage their money so that they are fully equipped to make financial decisions wisely in the future.

Q: How does Learning Money Matters work?
A: Trained consultants work with individual schools and teachers to help them deliver personal finance education by helping them build their skills and confidence, assisting in lesson planning and offering support, advice and resources. Consultants make sure that the services they provide are tailored to the specific needs of each school and provide as much or as little as the school needs - from intensive support - up to three days in school, to email or telephone support. Click here for a list of the levels of support available.

Q: Who are pfeg consultants?
A: pfeg uses a number of trained employed, certificated and freelance consultants that have expertise in working with teachers to develop personal finance education. Most pfeg consultants come from an education background and have been teachers, headteachers or Ofsted inspectors or have worked with other statutory bodies in the past.

Q: How do you know that your consultants are any good?
A: pfeg consultants are carefully recruited for their experience in education and ability to work with schools and teachers. Training, induction and a certification process ensure that consultants are working to the highest standards - and ongoing feedback is sought from schools to monitor consultants' effectiveness.

Q: Who could I be working with from pfeg in my part of the country?
A: pfeg has 5 regional offices based in London and the South East, the South West, Central England, the North East and the North West. Click here to link to our regional office information.

Q: How much does support through Learning Money Matters cost?
A: All the support offered through Learning Money Matters is free.

Q: Can you come in to schools and take sessions?
A: We work in partnership with schools and teachers. We believe that teachers know their students best and therefore our support is designed to help teachers develop their own skills so that they can teach the students in their schools. pfeg provides teachers with the background knowledge and assistance they need to teach personal finance effectively and with confidence. Sometimes our consultants help deliver lessons in the classrooms alongside teachers.

Q: Can a school have more than one level of support?
A: It is possible for schools to have more than one level of support as pfeg recognises that every school is different and may need more support in a given area, or at a given time.

Q: Do we have to start at level one and work upwards?
A: The levels of support offered through Learning Money Matters are designed to give teachers and school leadership teams the opportunity to get as much or as little support as they need. For example if a school has already begun to teach personal finance or is experienced in delivering finance education as a matter of course they will need less support than a school who are considering the concept for the first time. The pfeg consultant assigned to you will discuss the levels of support with you and help you assess exactly what you need.

Q: How long can I get support for?
A: Learning Money Matters is a 5 year initiative which started in 2006. By 2011 we are hoping that all secondary schools in England will be teaching financial education with confidence - as a natural part of their work. Life will go on after Learning Money Matters and our website, resources and staff will continue to answer your questions and concerns.

Q: How do I sign up?
A: By phoning us on 0845 241 0925 or by clicking here to sign up online.

Q: If I sign up am I tied into a contract?
A: No. Signing up for Learning Money Matters simply means that you are registered on our database so that you can receive information and help from the right regional office for you. You will be contacted by our consultants and can then access the support you need. There is no obligation to continue using pfeg's services any more than you need to - although we would like to stay in touch to see how you are getting on, and so that we can tell you about new resources and projects.

Q: Why is Learning Money Matters only available in England?
A: The differences in the curriculum between England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and the level of funding currently available mean that Learning Money Matters is only available to secondary schools in England. pfeg is a UK wide organisation and continues to work closely with the Scottish Centre for Financial Education and organisations based in Northern Ireland and Wales.

Q: Why is Learning Money Matters only available in secondary schools?
A: Learning Money Matters is the schools strand of the FSA's National Strategy for Financial Capability and has the specific remit of working with the full range of secondary schools across England. pfeg does also offer resources and support to primary schools, and has now launched What Money Means, our new project for primary schools - click here for more information on our offer for primary schools.

Q: How is Learning Money Matters funded?
A: Learning Money Matters is funded by the Financial Services Authority as part of the National Strategy for Financial Capability Schools Project (with significant contributions in year one from Bank of America, AEGON and UBS).

Q: What is the Financial Services Authority (FSA)?
A: The FSA is an independent body which regulates the financial services industry. To find out more about the FSA go to www.fsa.gov.uk.

Q: What is the National Strategy for Financial Capability Schools Project?
A: The Schools Project is a key priority of the FSA. The aim is to work with the grain of education to create a step change in the level of personal finance education in schools. Learning Money Matters builds on pfeg work in schools.

Q: How will Learning Money Matters raise standards of education in schools?
A: Good achievement is a result of all sorts of factors - not least the degree to which students feel interested and engaged in what they are learning. Finding lessons interesting and enjoyable will help some students to get better examination results. pfeg aims to make this happen through personal finance education which is relevant to their interests. For example, because they want to know how credit cards and loans work, students learn how to calculate percentages more effectively in mathematics. Personal development outcomes like enhancing personal and economic wellbeing are also important indicators of the standard of education in schools and having confidence and skills in personal finance are important factors in achieving educational goals.

Q: How do you measure results?
A: The whole Learning Money Matters project will be subject to systematic and ongoing evaluation from an external evaluator. We will also obtain regular feedback on the impact and effectiveness from pupils and teachers via our close partnership approach with schools. We will change our approach and develop solutions quickly and sensitively in response to any problems or concerns which are identified.

Q: Can you really teach personal finance in all parts of the curriculum - how does it work in practice?
A: Yes, you can. For example, in PSHE, students could look at family budgets and how they might be managed differently and better; in citizenship, students could look at taxation and what the government uses it for, as well as debating and voting for how much tax people should be required to pay on their income. In enterprise education, students could study how to write a business plan in order to obtain money for a business idea they have in mind, and in mathematics, they can calculate the costs of taking different types of summer holiday. Looking at the use of the Euro in modern foreign languages and at the implications of our consumer choices on peoples' lives in other countries within geography are further examples.

Q: Is there any kind of secondary school which would not be appropriate for this help?
A: All secondary schools and sixth form colleges in England are eligible for the resources and support provided by Learning Money Matters - no-one is exempt. However, pfeg only works with schools after a full and detailed discussion of their needs and the needs of the student body. Learning Money Matters works because it is carefully tailored to individual schools, the needs of its students and the best fit with the curriculum. We do not favour a 'one size fits all' approach.


Do you have a question that is not answered here? Email us or speak to one of the team on 020 7330 9470.

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