Financial Education in Schools

23rd May 2013

Fiona Bruce MP calls on local schools to take part in My Money Week

Fiona Bruce MP has called on local schools to take part in My Money Week (3 to 9 June), giving pupils the chance to learn more about money and personal finance.  Every primary and secondary school in Congleton is being given the chance to take part for free in My Money Week, which has returned for its fifth year.

Fiona Bruce MP, Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Financial Education for Young People and Chair of the APPG’s second Inquiry which is currently taking place in Parliament, this one focusing on Financial Education for Vulnerable Young People, commented:

“Financial Education is vitally important and is an issue I have focused on since I was elected in 2010 – I firmly believe it is critical that children are equipped to manage their finances. Debt is such a huge problem in our society and there is tremendous value in teaching our children how to manage their money. I believe that, over time, investment in financial education will reap exponential benefits for our society and firmly believe that financial education is necessary – prevention is better than cure.

I am currently chairing a Parliamentary Inquiry on Financial Education for Vulnerable Young People. One clear theme that has come out of the work of this Inquiry already is that the majority of parents feel ill equipped to teach their children how to manage money and in a sense therefore virtually all children are vulnerable when it comes to knowing how to handle money. Secondly, it is also clear that we need to start building awareness of how to manage money when children are younger than seven and work jointly with parents and children in this regard.

I would therefore encourage all schools in my Constituency to take part in My Money Week to improve young people’s financial skills, knowledge and confidence.”

Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of the charity pfeg, which is dedicated to improving financial education, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have the support of Fiona Bruce MP in promoting My Money Week this year, and I hope all schools in the Congleton Constituency will seize the opportunity to take part through our free activity pack, advice and support.”

Fiona and colleagues who are also passionate about this issue met with the Prime Minister last year to call on the Government to introduce financial education to the curriculum following an Inquiry of the APPG which resulted in financial education being introduced into the National Curriculum.

Fiona Bruce MP, welcoming this huge victory in the campaign for financial education in schools commented: 

“Our first Parliamentary Inquiry into Financial Education in 2011/12 recommended that personal financial education should be a compulsory part of every school’s curriculum, that it should be assessed and that financial education should be cross-curricular, overlapping with maths and PSHE. I am absolutely delighted our hard work has borne fruit and that the Government is implementing our recommendations.”

Teachers in Congleton can pre-order their free My Money Week Activity Packs at www.pfeg.org/mymoneyweek

 

·         Photograph shows a Hearing of the Inquiry into Financial Education for Vulnerable Young People in the Houses of Parliament with (left to right) Kristina Leonett (Quaker Social Action), Jerry Jarvis (Chairman of Maths Action and former Chief Executive of Edexcel), Shirley Conran OBE (author and founder of MONEY STUFF), Dr Samantha Callan (Centre for Social Justice), Fiona Bruce MP (Chair of the Inquiry), Scott Craig (Bite the Ballot) and Tracey Bleakley (Chief Executive of pfeg).

·         More information about the Inquiry can be found at http://www.pfeg.org/policy-campaigning/pfeg-and-parliament/appg-vulnerable-young-people-strand

About My Money Week 2013

·         My Money Week will improve young people’s financial skills, knowledge and confidence through special lessons, activities and debates in schools and other settings across the UK.  Teachers in Congleton can order a free Activity Pack, developed by pfeg, full of creative and engaging financial resources and ideas for how to deliver financial education to young people, from the age of four up to 19.  Young people in Congleton can also take part in the ‘A-Z of Money’, a national competition challenging them to learn more about money through creative writing.

·         My Money Week is taking place in schools throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 3^rd June – 9^th June 2013

·         Since the first My Money Week in 2009, more than three million young people have been helped to understand more about money and personal finance through focused activities in schools.  In 2012 around 500,000 young people took part in My Money Week activities, with 99 percent of teachers reporting an increase in skills and knowledge and 91 percent of teachers reporting a shift in students’ attitudes towards money.

·         My Money Week is a financial education programme developed and executed by pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), the UK’s leading financial education charity.  My Money Week 2013 has been made possible by funding from Barclays

·         Over the last four years the week has become the most widely recognised personal finance education initiative in England, and has helped a total of more than three million children and young people understand more about money

15^th March 2013

Fiona Bruce enlists stellar support for next stage in Financial Education project

‘Superwoman’ Shirley Conran has joined forces with Fiona Bruce MP to bring opportunities for financial education and training for young people beyond the classroom walls.  

Following the recent announcement by the Department of Education that Financial Education will be included in the curriculum in schools, Fiona Bruce is now extending her campaign for help with money management and advice to reach young people who would not ordinarily be able to access financial education within the school day. This could be because they have left school early, found maths lessons at school difficult, or simply lack support at home. The interactive online learning ‘MONEY STUFF’ programme enables people to access a 40 hour course anywhere at anytime to develop their maths ability in a fun and engaging way.

MONEY STUFF has been developed by Shirley Conran, author of whose books include Lace, and Superwoman and former columnist for Vanity Fair, women's editor of The Daily Mail and a feature writer for The Observer newspaper, with an aim to raise the aspirations of young women across the country.

Short stories are threaded through the exercises and the programme is written from the point of view of the learner-reader – not the author or teacher. The Course is available as an iPad ebook, using iBooks Author Textbook application. It can also be individually printed.

This programme will be made available to young people across the country in after-school clubs, youth centres, job centres, or on the internet for all.

Shirley Conran says “This cause is appropriate for anyone aged 13 to 99 and aims to enable people to control their finances –however much (or little) they have – rather than be controlled by them.”

At present this scheme is only available to girls but the one for boys is currently being worked on.

Fiona Bruce is also launching a Parliamentary Inquiry into how vulnerable young people can be helped to have a better understanding of managing money. The Inquiry will run for two months starting later this Spring.

Fiona Bruce MP commented:

“I believe Financial Education is vitally important and is an issue I have focused on since I was elected in 2010 and firmly believe it is critical that all are equipped to manage their finances. The well designed MONEY STUFF course is comprised of four components starting with simple addition and ending with personal budget setting and an understanding of interest calculations, so that our young people are equipped for life.

MONEY STUFF makes the vitally important link between maths and money. The programme includes DVD input, coloured illustrations, photographs and interactive areas which encourage readers to pay attention, to focus: visuals break up the text and project a real life relevance that is missing from most maths textbooks; they also remind us why maths is useful!

It is vital to ensure that members of the next generation are better equipped than those of the present generation to make informed financial decisions, for the sake of their well-being and that of our whole society. I believe that, over time, investment in financial education will reap exponential benefits for our society and firmly believe that financial education is necessary – prevention is better than cure.”

15^th February 2013

Fiona Bruce MP welcomes huge victory in her campaign for financial education in the curriculum

Fiona Bruce MP welcomes the huge victory in the campaign for financial education in schools following the publication of the new draft National Curriculum for England.  The new curriculum, which is currently open for consultation, will see financial education embedded in both mathematics and in Citizenship education, making financial capability a compulsory part of the curriculum for the first time. Fiona was a lead member of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Financial Education in Schools which made recommendations for such a change.

Fiona and other MP colleagues who are also passionate about this issue met with the Prime Minister last year to call on the Government to introduce financial education to the curriculum.

Fiona Bruce MP commented:

“This vitally important issue is one I have focused on since I was elected in 2010 – indeed, it was the subject of one of my first speeches in the House. I firmly believe it is critical that children are equipped to manage their finances in a society where they are bombarded with complex financial products. I am therefore delighted the hard work of the Parliamentary Inquiry has now borne fruit and the Government have listened to our concerns

It is vital to ensure that members of the next generation are better equipped than those of the present generation to make informed financial decisions, for the sake of their well-being and that of our whole society. The heavy price paid by families in serious debt is now recognised by all. I believe that, over time, investment in financial education will reap exponential benefits for our society and firmly believe that financial education is necessary – prevention is better than cure.”

Fiona Bruce continued:

“The Parliamentary Inquiry into Financial Education in schools recommended that personal financial education should be a compulsory part of every school’s curriculum, that it should be assessed and that financial education should be cross-curricular, overlapping with maths and PSHE. I am delighted the Government have taken action are consulting on introducing these proposals into the curriculum.”

Will Spendilow of New Life Church Congleton who teaches good financial management to school pupils and who gave evidence to the Parliamentary Inquiry said:

“These recommendations are most welcome.  They are timely and hit exactly the right areas where we need to educate our young people and encourage positive habits handling money decisions which can only be a good thing. I look forward to the implementation of these recommendations” 

·         There is a public consultation open on the following proposed changes to the curriculum:

o    Mathematics Key Stage 3 - students will develop their use of formal mathematical knowledge to solve and devise problems within and outside mathematics, including financial mathematics.

o    Citizenship Key Stage 3 - includes the functions and uses of money, the importance of personal budgeting, money management and a range of financial products and services.

o    Citizenship Key Stage 4 - includes wages, taxes, credit, debt, financial risk and a range of more sophisticated financial products and services.

·         The consultation period will run until 16^th April 2013 and interested parties can view the consultation and register their thoughts by visiting https://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/consultations/a00221262/reform-national-curriculum

20^th January 2012

Fiona Bruce MP meets with Prime Minister to discuss Financial Education in Schools

Fiona Bruce MP and other MPs met with Prime Minister, David Cameron, to discuss improving financial education in schools.

Fiona is a lead member of the Parliamentary Inquiry on Financial Education in Schools after she raised this issue in Parliament. 

At the recent meeting with the Prime Minister, he expressed his positive view of the importance of improving financial education in schools and agreed to look at how this could be improved as part of the current Government review of the Curriculum. 

-Fiona Bruce MP’s original speech highlighting the need for Financial Education in Schools to be improved was made on 21^st December 2010 and can be accessed on Hansard via http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101221/debtext/101221-0002.htm#10122139001000

- Fiona Bruce MP’s second speech on this issue was made on the publication of the report “Financial Education and the Curriculum” on 15^th December 2011 after extensive work of the APPG (of which Fiona Bruce is a lead member) over the period of almost a year. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111215/debtext/111215-0003.htm#11121581000209

-The Full Report, “Financial Education and the Curriculum”, launched December 2011 can be found at http://www.pfeg.org/curriculum_and_policy/appg_on_financial_education_for_young_people/appg_strands/appg_inquiry_report.html

"Twin Assassins" Campaign

Minister for Public Health backs Olympians campaign to combat child obesity in the Congleton Constituency

On Tuesday 16^th April Fiona Bruce MP attended the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity with Robbie Brightwell and Ann Packer, Olympic silver and gold medallists, who have launched the ‘Twin Assassins Campaign’ which is aiming to raise £3 million to develop the facilities at Eaton Bank Academy as a lifestyle centre for the community.

 

Fiona Bruce MP, Robbie Brightwell, Ann Brightwell (nee Packer) and Anna Soubry MP

During the London 2012 Olympic Games celebrations in the Congleton Constituency the President and Vice-President of Team Congleton (Ann Packer and Robbie Brightwell) were drawn to the disturbing levels of obesity and physical fitness within the community and are now the biggest threat to the health of the younger generation.

Speaking at the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity, The Rt Hon Anna Soubry, Minister for Public Health enthused:

"Obesity in children for me is at the top of my priorities. I am therefore very keen to support Ann and Robbie’s excellent campaign - it is exactly in tune with what the Government and I are seeking to do to fight the critical level of child obesity in this country.”

Fiona Bruce commented:

“Having invited Ann and Robbie to Parliament in support of their inspirational Twin Assassins campaign, I was delighted at the Health Minister’s interest and positive response – to the extent that she invited Ann and Robbie to return to Westminster for a meeting with her specifically to discuss their campaign further. With 1.3 million children across the country now classed as obese, Robbie and Anna have really hit the mark with this campaign which I hope the whole Congleton community will get behind.”

Ann Packer, a Gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 commented:

“We are delighted to have the support of Fiona Bruce in tackling the obesity crisis. She is passionately committed to the health and well-being of her Congleton constituents’, and her energetic involvement in our campaign is deeply appreciated.  It is especially rewarding that she recognises the need to provide the best possible facilities for our schools in order that they may be enjoyed by pupils and community alike.”

Robbie Brightwell, a Silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 commented:

“Obesity and poor physical fitness levels caused a multitude of maladies and medical complications – notably diabetes, heart disease, cancer and respiratory problems. Unless radical measures are taken to remedy this situation, the NHS will be brought to its knees in 10 years’ time.  It is particularly urgent to address the problem in our schools. Once anti-obesity lifestyle measures are imbedded in these institutions, they can spread their informed message to other members of the community.”

Speed of Emergency Vehicles

MP supports Middlewich mother’s ongoing campaign following son’s accident

Fiona Bruce MP today welcomed Lorraine Neal to Parliament to offer her full support to the campaign being run by the mother from Middlewich following the horrific accident in which her son, 19 year old James Harrold, lost both his legs after being hit by a police car travelling at speed.

During the visit, Lorraine, her husband, Tony, and James watched Home Office Questions from the House of Commons Gallery and saw Fiona raise James’ accident with the Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP.

Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con):

My young constituent, James Harrold, aged 19, from Middlewich, lost both his legs after being hit by a police car travelling at speed. In 2011-12, police vehicles were the cause of 18 deaths and many serious injuries such as those sustained by James. What are the Government doing to ensure that the number of such tragic incidents is reduced?

Mrs May:

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue, and certainly the case to which she referred is very distressing. While speed limits do not apply to vehicles used for emergency service purposes if observance of the limit is likely to hinder that purpose, I can assure her that emergency services drivers remain subject at all times to the law on careless and dangerous driving, of which exceeding the speed limit may be a component. The Department for Transport has recently consulted on the issue of extending the exemption to other emergency services, but it has also looked at amending road safety legislation so that emergency drivers will be required to complete high speed driving training before they are allowed to exceed the limit, and it proposes to base that training on the code drawn up by the emergency services.

Speaking from Parliament, Fiona said:

‘I was delighted to welcome Lorraine, Tony and James to Parliament today and to have the opportunity to raise such an important issue with the Home Secretary.

James has displayed amazing fortitude in the wake of his accident and I feel it is very important to support the campaign which Lorraine is leading to prevent such appalling accidents occurring again the future.

No family should ever have to experience such a horrific accident and I can assure James, Lorraine and Tony I will continue to pursue this matter within Government in conjunction with their campaign.’

Middlewich Rail Link Campaign

House of Commons Hansard

Oral Answers to Questions: Transport

15 September 2016

Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)

I am delighted to hear that the northern powerhouse is alive and well. Does the Minister agree that if it is to have real effect, it is important that investment is made in connectivity not just between the cities of the north, but between the towns? I thank Ministers for the initial investment in the Middlewich bypass, but will they also look at the business case for the reopening of the Middlewich railway station?

Paul Maynard

As someone born and bred in a town very close to Middlewich, I am well aware in my 40 years of the importance of the town’s connectivity at the heart of Cheshire. I know that there are good plans for Middlewich’s new station and look forward to working with my hon. Friend on progressing the business case.

Full steam ahead for railway campaign as Fiona Bruce MP presents petition to re-open Middlewich Railway in House of Commons

Fiona Bruce MP presented a petition of more than 2000 signatures to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in proceedings in the Chamber of the House of Commons on Tuesday asking for the Sandbach to Northwich branch line of the railway to be re-opened to passengers.

Speaking when presenting the petition Fiona Bruce said, as recorded in Hansard the official recording of all proceedings at Parliament:

“I rise to present a petition from the Middlewich rail link campaign, supported by more than 2,000 residents from people in the towns of Middlewich and Sandbach in my constituency and from Northwich, in the constituency represented by my hon. Friend the Member for Weaver Vale (Graham Evans), who is in the Chamber and also supports the petition. The petition asks for the reopening of the Sandbach to Northwich branch line and the reintroduction of passenger services at Middlewich station along the line.

The humble petition of the Middlewich rail link campaign and its supporters says:

The Petition of residents of Middlewich and the surrounding area declares that the Petitioners call for and fully support the reopening of the Sandbach to Northwich branch line to passenger traffic and the vital reopening of Middlewich railway station.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Department for Transport to consider the reopening of the Sandbach to Northwich branch line to passenger traffic and the reopening of Middlewich railway station.”

The campaign, spearheaded by the Middlewich Rail Link Campaign Group, of which Fiona has been a keen supporter since her election, has been on-going for some 20 years and even has celebrity rail enthusiast Pete Waterman as Patron after Fiona invited him to the House of Commons to discuss the scheme.

The campaign also has the support of Edward Timpson MP for Crewe and Nantwich who was also in the Chamber for the petition presentation and George Osborne MP, in his capacity as MP for Tatton.

A full copy of the petition will now be sent to the Department for Transport and the Department is expected to offer observations on the petition.

 For more information on the MRLC please visit http://middlewichstation.blogspot.co.uk/