The RBS Personal FinanceEducation Awardsfor Schools 2009In association with pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group)

For the attention of the Head of PSHE/PSE/PSD

Does your school have a really successful approach to personal finance education that is worth shouting about? If so, these awards are for you.

What are the awards? This academic year, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), in association with pfeg

(Personal Finance Education Group), is looking for examples of excellence in personal finance

education (PFE). All schools teaching 11–18s in England, Wales and Scotland can enter. Entering

is straightforward, and details of how to do it are set out in this leaflet. There will be great prizes

both for schools and individuals, across a range of different categories.

Find out more at

www.pfe-awards.co.ukThe deadline for entries is Friday 24th April 2009

Why has RBS createdthese awards?

• ToraisetheprofileofPFE

• Tocelebrateoutstanding achievementinPFE

• Tohelpspreadbest practiceinPFE

RBS introduced the awards in recognition of the

growing importance of PFE in schools today. It is

vital that young people learn how to understand

and manage their finances at an early age.

Now in its second year, the award scheme is

looking to discover and recognise the best efforts

made by schools and individual teachers in PFE.

The 2008 awards proved that there are great

examples of teaching going on in schools across

the UK. The scheme represents an ongoing

commitment to building awareness of

the importance of PFE and sharing best practice

across the educational community.

RBS has a longstanding commitment to PFE, working with teachers to deliver the RBS

MoneySense for Schools programme which promotes good money management skills

– go to www.rbs.co.uk/moneysenseforschools to find out more.

The awards are offered in association with

pfeg, the leading independent charity

providing free support, resources and expert

consultancy to help schools plan and teach

financial capability. Its mission is to ensure that

all young people leaving school are equipped

with the confidence, skills and knowledge they

need in financial matters to take part fully in

society.

pfeg works with teachers, government,

consumer bodies and financial industry

representatives to assist schools in delivering

personal finance education to the highest

possible standards — making sure that

children and young people are able to

understand money and make informed

choices which will help them to build security

and economic well-being in the long-term. For

more information please visit www.pfeg.org.

www.pfe-awards.co.uk

What are the different categories of award?There are four separate categories in which prizes will be awarded. These are:

oneSchool award for best all-roundapproach to PFE

We will be looking for an exciting and effective

approach to personal finance education (PFE)

for a year group or the whole school that might

involve a range of resources, teaching methods

and experiences for young people. This doesn’t

necessarily need to be a well-established

programme – it could be a relatively small-

scale or recent initiative that shows a new and

interesting approach.

For example

Last year’s winner in this category was a school

which ensures that the financial understanding

and education of their pupils begins before they

arrive at the school and continues throughout

their school career. During the Year 6 induction

day school banks are introduced, and a Year

7 finance morning involves groups working

with an employee volunteer from a financial

organisation. These activities are then reinforced

through a variety of engaging and relevant

financial activities as pupils progress through

the school.

twoSchool award for most original idea in the delivery of PFE

Rather than a whole programme, we will be

looking for an outstanding single idea, event or

innovation which teaches PFE. This could be

in a particular subject area. Perhaps you have

come up with a great idea to help your students

see the relevance of learning how to manage

their finances, or set up a hands-on experience

or event?

For example

Last year’s winner in this category was a school

that ran a whole-school financial literacy week

where Maths lessons focused on personal

finance issues. An innovative reward and

banking system was introduced where pupils

were awarded a specially designed currency

featuring the faces of members of the senior

management team.

threeSchool award for most impressive cross-curricular approach

We will be looking for a successful and

engaging example of integrating PFE across the

curriculum. This may be through a curriculum

area such as Enterprise, or through multiple

subjects. The entry must demonstrate clear and

explicit PFE learning outcomes.

For example

In a special school in Milton Keynes, PFE

is integrated across the curriculum as an

essential component of the development of

life skills. Personal finance topics are covered

in Mathematics, PSHE and work-related

learning. The school also timetables ‘life skills’

sessions which allow learners to consolidate the

knowledge and skills gained in the classroom in

real situations such as shopping and banking.

There are also extra-curricular opportunities to

develop financial capability and enterprise skills.

fourTeacher award

This individual award will be given to a teacher

or group of teachers who has/have been the

inspiration behind the successful development

of a PFE programme. Have you or a colleague

really driven the development of a programme

that enables your students to develop their

personal finance skills?

For example

Last year’s winner in this category was a new

member of staff nominated by a colleague in

the Maths department who recognised a need

to focus on personal finance and decided to

run a whole-school financial literacy week. By

introducing a new pupil reward and banking

system, where teachers where given a supply of

specially designed currency featuring the faces

of members of the senior management team,

this teacher brought personal finance to life for

both pupils and teachers.

Go to www.pfe-awards.co.uk to find out more

New for2009

How do you apply?Entering is simple. You will need to fill in a short application form on the RBS Personal Finance Education Awards website at

www.pfe-awards.co.uk

You will be asked to enter your school details, give a description of your entry, state the category that you wish to enter and in 400 words or fewer outline your school’s approach to PFE and why you feel your entry ought to win an award. You may then wish to attach up to four files, in support of your application.

School approaches could link to a number of subject areas and multiple entries are allowed from each school so you might want to pass this leaflet on to other colleagues such as those in charge of Enterprise or Business Studies and encourage them to send in their own entries. A letter has also been sent to the Head of Maths at your school to let them know about these awards.

The deadline for entries is Friday 24th April 2009.

Application criteriaJudges will be looking for individuals or approaches that demonstrate an ongoing and sustainable commitment to PFE and which go the extra distance to deliver an approach that really engages students. A description of the impact on students would be useful for judges.

Entries that demonstrate a particularly innovative or creative approach to PFE will be rewarded.

All schools in England, Scotland and Wales with pupils in the 11-18 age range will be considered, including special schools. You must fill in an online application form to enter.

The judging panel will include PFE experts, teachers, and representatives from RBS and pfeg. Tips from the judges are available on the website.

Celebrating outstanding achievement in personal finance education (PFE)

What are the prizes?The prizes will be as follows:

Categories 1, 2 and 3: Winner – £1,500 for the school Runners up – £500 for the school

Category 4: Winner – £1,500 for the school and a prize for the individualAll winners will receive a trophy and a certificate, and all runners up a certificate. All category winners will be awarded a school bank, under the RBS ‘School Money’ programme, enabling pupils to set up and run their own bank. The prizes will be awarded at a special ceremony in London in June 2009. Schools and other attendees will have a chance to hear from other winners.

Last year’s winners at the ceremony held at Shakespeare’sGlobe Theatre in London with special guest three timesFormula One Champion Sir Jackie Stewart

Contact us The RBS Personal Finance Education Awards website can be found at:

www.pfe-awards.co.uk

The site includes further information on the awards and the online entry form. Full terms and conditions for the awards are available on the website.

If you have any questions about the awards please email:

questions@pfe-awards.co.uk