FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Frances
Pickering
argues why tax
education is
a vital part of preparing
students for life in the real
world and introduces a
new school resource
HILE WE have probably
W
all had to study algebra,
quadratic equations and
calculus at some point in our
school lives, the chances are
we did not learn about the
one thing that will affect us
all when we leave school – tax.
In other words, when we enter the world of work,
we often do not know our income tax from our national
Tax matters
insurance, or our higher rate from basic rate, or what
any of that actually means. Neither do we know how
the tax collected is actually spent. Some of us may only
learn about tax from our payslips, the media, surfing (citizenship). All feature interactive elements that aim Matters materials, explained: “Learning about tax is an them about why we pay taxes and how it benefits
the internet, family and friends, or maybe a helpline or to bring the subject to life. For example, in the essential part of any pupil’s education. us all.
professional advisor. citizenship module, a game puts the players in charge of “Everybody at some time or the other will have to Taxes are a way of getting money to people who
government spending, while in the Income Tax module, make complex, financial decisions, whether it concerns really need it. They will learn the difference between
What is it?
students can help a DJ juggle his finances. a mortgage, pension, investment or a loan. Tax Matters employed and self-employed and why it matters,
Most students will probably be aware of tax because Two different plans are provided for each module will help to give students the knowledge they need to what they can earn before having to pay tax, and
they have heard adults moaning about it. In an effort – one for 11 to 14-year-olds and one for 14 to 16-year- make these decisions.” why some of the things they spend money on can be
to improve young people’s understanding of the tax olds. Each plan includes a set of activities that are ready claimed against tax and some not
system, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has for use by teachers in the classroom and focus on how
Who can use it?
In addition, it also looks at the records you need
launched a new, free, interactive teaching resource for to use the videos, games, facts and quizzes to help make The Tax Matters materials are aimed at all education to keep, what happens if a tax return is not sent in
secondary schools called Tax Matters. the teaching of financial capability and citizenship professionals who teach PSHE and citizenship to pupils on time, what Capital Allowances are and who gets
This high quality resource includes computerised issues relevant and interesting. aged between 11 and 19 years of age. them, how to get a National Insurance number and
videos, quizzes and games, as well as the key facts and Taught as part of the national PSHE curricula in As well as teachers, Tax Matters is also for use by why not everyone does, and what restrictions are in
figures, to help young people learn about tax and its England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the charities or volunteers who work with young adults place about what you bring into the country. SecEd
place in society. HMRC has tried to make the whole resource also has a quick facts section that is made up who are not in education. The tax modules have been
experience as enjoyable as possible by making it as of some rather quirky tax facts. given a pfeg quality mark for containing accurate • Frances Pickering is the Tax Matters project lead at
interactive as possible. financial information and educational benefits. HM Revenue and Customs.
Why it matters
How it works
Head of business and economics at London’s Mill
What will they learn? Further information
Tax Matters has been split into three modules: Hill County High School, Linda Trinder, who worked There are nearly one million young people who enter Tax Matters can be downloaded for free from
Income Tax, National Insurance, and Tax and Society for six months at HMRC helping to develop the Tax the tax system every year. Tax Matters tries to teach www.taxmatters.hmrc.gov.uk
Notes and jottings Psycho babble
Managing the media Bring on B&Q
I AM sitting in on a training session for headteachers physics, technology, engineering and maths lessons. DID YOU hear the news? DIY giant B&Q is set to positive and viable means by which to raise self-
learning to “manage” the media when the going Lego, I understand, manufactures specially designed teach secondary school pupils (aged between 11 and esteem and encourage independence. What’s more,
gets rough. And, as a person who worked for years education kits with which you can create, say, a robot 14) the art of painting or papering a wall, putting up it allows them to make a positive contribution to
as a senior teacher – occasionally falling foul of the or power plant using wind or water. a shelf, fixing a leaking tap, and hanging a picture, the household, gaining respect and encouraging a
media – but who has now turned gamekeeper and is Sponsored by Brunel University, the academy has among other useful skills. healthier dynamic in the process.
often the one asking the awkward questions, I am spent £20,000 on materials, software programmes, The idea behind the programme, which was There is plenty of research to suggest that kids who
fascinated. furniture and staff training. Sounds to me like developed with backing from the Department for learn to problem-solve grow up to be independent,
Australian-born broadcaster and journalist practical science with real creativity thrown in. Children, Schools and Families, was sparked after responsible and happier adults. For one thing, the
Michael Dodd is the trainer – suitably ruthless and Probably just what budding, engineers, mechanics research suggested that parents are no longer passing challenge of undertaking a project guides their energy
forthright. And his advice is very practical. Don’t – and even spacecraft designers – need. on basic skills, and youngsters are forced to rely on in a positive direction, reducing the need for unhealthy
wear a black and white shirt on television, grandparents for advice about ways of maintaining risk-taking. Furthermore, puzzling through problems
he tells one hapless headteacher who Well, where do you stand on the mobile a home. encourages resiliency skills, the development of
happens to be wearing one. The stripes phones in class debate? For years I applaud this initiative on every front realistic expectations, the ability to identify obstacles,
will disappear and you will appear now they’ve been a no-no. Now – not just because passing on lifeskills as well as persistence and optimism, all of which
to be dressed in dirty grey. Gesture Mick Brookes, general secretary of to kids is something of a dying activity encourage healthy emotional development in
with your hands at chest height on the National Association of Head in most modern-day families, but teens. Resilient teens are able to research
television, he tells another. Sitting Teachers, says that pupils should be because it will teach students much, and use information to solve problems,
with them demurely in your lap allowed to have their phones so that much more than DIY. We live in and this encourages critical thinking that
makes you appear wooden and they can get information quickly a consumer society, where broken can then be applied to both personal
insincere. without having to memorise it. items are simply replaced, rather and academic problems.
Mr Dodd’s best piece of advice, How, I wonder, does Mr Brookes than mended or adapted. Why fix Other research shows that kids
however, relates to being interviewed think teachers would cope with pupils a lamp when you can purchase a who develop problem-solving
when something has gone horribly wrong making calls and chatting while they new one for a couple of quid? skills are less likely to bully – and
in your school. Answer the interviewer’s are supposed to be doing something As a result, today’s kids have be bullied – and are more likely to
question, he says, but never repeat negative else, or taking photographs of each acquired a “throwaway” approach stop and think before acting. They
words because it only reinforces them. other which most schools have rules to life in general. If things don’t will also be more likely to resist peer
Thus, if the interviewer says “what about? work out immediately, they all too pressure if they are confident about
sort of health and safety policies do While one doesn’t wish to leap on quickly throw in the towel and their ability to work things through.
you have in your school which allowed the right-wing, bring-back-the-cane- give up. They have lost the art of Understanding self and others is a
a pupil to fall downstairs to her death?”, and-Real-Discipline bandwagon, problem-solving, which has deep- big part of cognitive development,
you say: “Very good ones but, sadly, no there is no point, surely, in deliberately seated ramifications. and healthy problem-solving skills are
health and safety policy will prevent a creating further opportunities for It may sound trite, but maintaining essential to this process.
tragic accident of this sort.” unacceptable behaviour? a home does pass on extremely useful It may sound extreme to suggest that
What you don’t say is: “Nothing we do lessons about life in general – seeing learning to wire a plug will have such a long-
in our school allows a pupil to fall downstairs Oh how I love to hear of energetic teachers projects through, planning and then working lasting effect on so many elements of a teenager’s
to her death.” breaking new ground. My latest discovery out solutions when things don’t go according to life; however, the truth is that the simple things that
If an interviewer says “why is there a drugs is Mort Rhind-Tutt, head of music at Millfield plan, budgeting, time-management, and persistence we all once took for granted are often absent in the
culture in your school?”, you answer “very few School in Somerset, who has written an innovative are all skills that will be developed. You can’t put up lives of today’s kids, and their social, cognitive and
of our pupils take drugs although it is true, as in most A to Z school textbook for beginners in music half a shelf, assemble half a chest of drawers, or paint personal development has undoubtedly been affected
schools, that a few do”. technology. half a room without some niggling sense that the job by this shortfall. What’s more, this type of activity
You don’t flash back angrily: “Our school does Music Technology from Scratch, which describes is unfinished. can actually be fun, which encourages kids to come
not have a drugs culture!” And so on. Think about it. how sound works, how you can record a range of Furthermore, kids discover a sense of back for more.
It makes good sense and is a pretty straightforward instruments, how to record, mix and master a track, accomplishment, satisfaction and pride when they When the programme is on offer in your area, I
principle to hang onto in a stressful situation. and how to use MIDI for sequencing and arranging, assess, plan and then complete a project, no matter strongly suggest you take it up. Wiring a plug may be
is published by Rhinegold this month. how small – when they learn new skills and work just what’s needed to hard wire the teens in your care.
I see that Stockley Academy in Uxbridge, west out resolutions for problems that inevitably crop up
London, is the first school outside Scandinavia to • Susan Elkin is a freelance education journalist and when doing anything practical. And, for students • Karen Sullivan is a bestselling author, psychologist
adopt Lego as a teaching and learning resource in former teacher. who find academic work taxing, this can be a and childcare expert. Email kesullivan@aol.com
SecEd • November 5 2009 7
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