Subject Leader: Miss N dela Fuente

KS4

LiFE Programme

Exam Board: LIBF
Level: 1

Course Overview

LiFE aims to ensure more students gain valuable financial awareness.

LiFE focuses on:

• relevance: it gives real-life engaging activities and contextual maths
• flexibility: it's cross-curricular.
• employability: it prepares students for adulthood and the world of work.

Assessment: Units 1-3 Tested by multiple choice papers.

 

Curriculum Content

Year 9 (Sets 2 and 3)

Term 1: 

• Money: What is money? What is income? How do we calculate income?
• Sources of money
• Storing money safely: Where can we store money? How do bank accounts work?
• Spending and budgeting
• Modern banking
• Pay and calculations
• Types of payment card
• The cost of borrowing: Borrowing basics
• Borrowing types and legal issues

Term 2: 

• Saving and selling: How can we save money? What is selling?
• Borrowing: What is borrowing? How do we borrow sensibly?
• What is insurance?
• How do we keep our money safe?
• Using money abroad
• Financial difficulties and their consequences
• Financial advice and protection

Term 3:

• Employability: Applying for a job
• Roles and career paths
• The financial services industry
• Routes into financial careers

Term 4:

• Revision of units covered in terms 1-3

Term 5:

• Project work based on topics covered in terms 1-3

Term 6:

• Revision and Assessments

 

Year 9 (Sets 1 & G)

Term 1

What it means to be a citizen:

• define the term ‘citizen’
• describe how being citizens affects our identity;
• outline the role and duties of a citizen in the UK.

Personal finance and the economy:

• describe how government policies influence personal finance;
• describe the impact of values held by UK citizens on personal financial choices.

What is money:

• define money;
• explain the purposes of money
• outline the sources and features of money.
   

Term 2

What is income:

• define income;
• describe the difference between money and income;
• outline the different sources and features of income.
   

Term 3

Understanding tax:

• define tax
• describe the features and purposes of tax;
• describe different types of tax;
• describe the impact of changes in tax.

How the economic system works:

• explain the nature and role of money in society;
• describe the different ways that businesses and other organisations contribute to the economy of a country.

The economic impact of financial choices:

• describe how good personal financial choices affect society
• describe how poor personal financial choices affect society.
   

Term 4

How inflation and interest rates affect personal finance:

• define inflation;
• define the features of inflation
• define interest;
• describe the features of interest;
• explain the impact of inflation and interest on investments and loans.

Impacts of economic cycles:

• outline the short-term and long-term effects of economic cycles;
• understand the impact of demographic changes on personal finance.

Term 5

Foreign exchange rates and trade:

• define foreign exchange;
• describe the impact of exchange rates on countries, society and individuals.

The personal life cycle

• outline the nature and stages of the personal life cycle and linked key events;
• identify changes in attitude towards risk and responsibility throughout the personal life cycle.
   

Term 6:

Revision and assessment

 

KS5

Certificate in Financial Studies

Exam Board: LIBF
Level: 3

Course Overview

The course consists of two units, Unit 1 is Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short Term, Unit 2 is Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term. The course develops the knowledge and skills required for young people to make informed financial decisions by introducing them to the risks and challenges involved in personal finance and the tools for effective planning. Pupils become aware of the need for creating financial inclusion, they explore social-economic trends and their relationship with an individual's circumstances and attitudes.

Assessment: 100% examination. A multiple choice and written paper for each unit.

Course content

Term 1: (Unit 1 Topics)

• The Purpose of Money
• The Personal Lifestyle
• Payment Methods
• Everyday Banking
• Savings Products
• Borrowing Products
• Providers
• Consumer Protection
• Budgets and Forecasts

Term 2: (Unit 1 Topics)

• Dealing with unexpected events
• Dealing with debt
• Earnings
• Written Exam Practice
• Case Study Analysis
• Revision

Term 3: (Unit 2 Topics)

• Part A and Part B Examination
• Needs, Wants and Aspirations
• Savings and Investment Products
• Borrowing Products
• Dealing with Long-Term Risks
• Financial Planning
• Financial Planning and Informed Choices

Term 4: (Unit 2 Topics)

• Financial Planning and Informed Choices
• Dealing with Unforseen Events
• Ethics and Sustainability
• Sources of Information and advice
• Making an informed choice 
• Revision

Term 5: (Unit 1 Topics)

• Resit Revision
• Part A resit Exam
• Case Study Analysis
• Part B resit Exam

Term 5: (Unit 2 Topics)

• Part A Exam
• Part B Exam

Term 6: (Unit 2 Topics)

• Resit Revision
• Resit Case Study Analysis
• Resit Exam Part A
• Resit Exam Part B

 

Diploma in Financial Studies

Exam Board: ifs
Level: 3

Course Overview

DipFS builds on the skills and knowledge acquired through successful completion of the Certificate in Financial Studies and extends this to include areas such as financial sustainability within the wider financial services system, and the long-term impact of debt. Within DipFS course pupils explore the political, economic, social, technological, ethical and legal impacts of personal finance in the short, medium and longer terms. They consider the impact that global events can have upon consumers and how the wider financial services industry is developed.

Assessment: 100% examination. A multiple choice and written paper for each unit.

Course content

Term 1: (Unit 3 Topics)

• Personal and Financial Sustainability
• The impact of external factors
• How the state can help
• Monitoring and adapting personal finance plans
• Good Debt, Bad Debt
• The impact of global events and ethics
• The impact of recent changes

Term 2: (Unit 3 Topics)

• Revision
• Past Paper Written Exam Practice
• Case Study Analysis
• Part A Exam
• Part B Exam

Term 3: (Unit 4 Topics)

• The Financial System
• Competition in the Financial Services Sector
• Sustainability in the Financial Services Sector
• External Influences on financial service providers and their products
• Marketing Materials and their effectiveness
• Attracting, retaining and satisfying customers

Term 4: (Unit 4 Topics)

• The impact of the media on sustainability of the financial services industry
• Completion of Topic 5 and 8
• The impact of changes and uncertainty on financial products
• Market Segment and product development
• Case Study Analysis
• Case Studies
• Revision
• Part A and Part B Exam

Term 5: (Unit 3 Topics)

• Revision
• Resit Case Study Analysis
• Resit Exam A and B

Term 6: (Unit 4 Topics)

• Revision
• Resit Case Study Analysis
• Resit Exam A and B

 

Useful Links

LIBF Website