Britain wants personal finance lessons to replace religious studies on the school curriculum, new nationwide research suggests.
The research, using data from a survey of 2,000 adults via OnePoll in June 2023 and conducted on behalf of online teacher discount hub Discounts for Teachers, revealed that 67 per cent of respondents believe managing personal finances should be added to the modern-day school curriculum,.
An overwhelming 88 per cent of those polled said more needs to be done to educate children on personal finances, while over half (56 per cent) stated they wish they were taught how to manage money when they were at school. Less than a third of those surveyed (29 per cent) felt well-prepared to handle the cost-of-living crisis thanks to skills they learnt in school.
This was also supported within the education sector, with the site reporting that 63 per cent of teachers quizzed said they believe managing personal finances should be added to the school curriculum.
Elsewhere, first aid (46 per cent) and how to write a CV (36 per cent) were also named among the top three life skills respondents said they wish they were taught at school.
The survey also revealed that English (49 per cent) and Maths (48 per cent) were considered the most useful subjects for adult life.
When it came to what the life skills might replace, at the opposite end of the scale over a quarter (28 per cent) named RE the least useful subject currently taught in schools, with 26 per cent stating they would remove it from the school curriculum. Drama (13 per cent) and psychology (10 per cent) were also popular candidates for replacement.
Storm Postlethwaite, managing director of Discounts for Teachers, said: “The cost-of-living crisis has made it incredibly difficult for people in the UK over the past few years. Our survey reveals that the nation felt ill-prepared and that more needs to be done to help educate children on how to manage their personal finances.
“Education professionals do an amazing job to help prepare children for adult life, but there are almost definitely gaps in the curriculum in which key life-skills needed are missed.”
To help manage personal finances, Discounts for Teachers provides a series of exclusive discounts, cashback & vouchers to support teachers & education staff.
