Responding to new research from Young Enterprise which found nine in 10 teachers say financial education should be taught in more than just maths lessons, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Schools recognise that financial education is really important in preparing children for the opportunities and responsibilities of adulthood.

“It can help protect children from the harm caused by everything from gambling and scams, to in-game purchases and online exploitation, and financial wellbeing also helps to support children and young people’s mental health.

“However, it can already be challenging for schools to cover the National Curriculum and qualification specifications in the time available – a situation made worse by education policy introduced under previous governments, including high stakes accountability measures focusing on particular subjects.

“We supported the recommendations of the parliamentary education committee earlier this year for improved teacher training around financial education and support to access high-quality learning resources. However, it’s vital that the current overcrowded curriculum is reduced before any expansion of requirements is considered.”