YOUNG people leave their primary school with a wealth of knowledge on how to manage money.;

Devonshire Road Primary School in Heaton has been recognised for the work it does to teach its children financial literacy by becoming only one of 10 schools nationwide to become a accredited centre.

This recognises not only the quality of the ‘lessons’ but how the school had embedded it.

The school runs the DebtAware Money Skills for Life Programme, the financial education work of national debt advice charity Debt Advice Foundation.

The programme is aimed at children aged nine-to 12-years-old and is free. The scheme is supported by the DebtAware team which also trains up young mentors to deliver the programme to their peers.

The school in Heaton was one of the first to implement the programme ago and it says it “really values the importance of giving young children the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to develop a sensible attitude towards money management”.

Headteacher Pam Barnes said: “ ‘I am delighted that our financial education work has been recognised through this accreditation. I believe managing money is an essential life skill and all children should learn how to do this at an age appropriate level.”

Farah Atcha, Financial Education Coordinator at the school added: “ At Devonshire Road we believe it is important that we equip our children with the knowledge of how to make positive financial decisions in the future.

“We have been working with Debt Aware for the past three years and during that time have trained over 60 Money Mentors who have led the teaching of their class.

“We are really happy to have received the accreditation which recognises the amazing work we have done in school.”

The education programme was set up by a former headteacher Brian Souter after he was approached to help change today’s ‘buy now pay later’ and managing money and keeping it save by teaching children in primary and high school about money matters.For more information visit http://www.debtaware.org/