Ysgol Bryn Gwalia Accredited as a Centre of Excellence for Financial Education

We are officially recognised as a Centre of Excellence in Financial Education by the UK’s leading financial and enterprise education charity, Young Enterprise.

This accreditation acknowledges our commitment to embedding practical, high-quality financial education across our entire school culture and curriculum. Ysgol Bryn Gwalia joins a select network of over 110 Centres of Excellence across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales dedicated to equipping young people with essential life skills.

What Being a Centre of Excellence Means

The Centres of Excellence programme is a whole-school improvement framework that identifies children’s learning needs, embeds sustainable financial education into everyday learning, and equips teaching staff with the skills and confidence to deliver impactful money management skills.

At Ysgol Bryn Gwalia, financial education is seamlessly aligned with the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales from Nursery through to Year 6. Our systematic approach ensures our pupils develop positive attitudes, critical skills, and sound knowledge around money, setting them up for a financially capable future.

 

Our Financial Education Highlights

• Real-World Applied Learning: Pupils gain authentic experience through our school shop—where they manage stock, set pricing, and publish catalogues—alongside taking part in the Fiver Challenge and running stalls at the Mold Christmas Fair.

• Community Connection (The Hope Hut): Developed alongside creative-industry partners, our award-winning Hope Hut directly supports local families and connects classroom financial learning with practical community action.

• Family Engagement: We offer interactive parent-and-child workshops focusing on practical topics such as cooking on a budget and saving money, extending financial capability into the home.

• Pupil Leadership: Our Year 6 Financial Education Ambassadors and active pupil Senedd ensure learning remains child-led and directly responds to real-world topics like savings, taxes, mortgages, and online safety.

• Partner Collaboration: We work with expert external partners including MyBnk, Young Enterprise, and local community organisations to enrich our pupils' learning experiences.

 

A Message from Our Leadership & Young Enterprise

"Financial education is at the heart of our vision to prepare every child at Ysgol Bryn Gwalia for life beyond the classroom. Achieving Centre of Excellence status reflects the dedication of our entire staff, governors, pupils, and wider community. We are proud to provide our young people with hands-on, meaningful financial skills that empower them to make informed choices now and in the future."

—  Kate Sturdy - Financial Champion 

"Financial education has the power to transform lives. Learning to earn and manage your finances are skills that stay with you throughout your life. Congratulations on your achievement of being accredited as a Centre of Excellence for Financial Education. Young Enterprise’s award recognises your school’s commitment to delivering practical and sustainable financial education to the young people in your care."

— Sarah Porretta, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise

 

Contact & Further Information

• Ysgol Bryn Gwalia: [Insert School Phone Number] | [Insert School Email Address]

• Young Enterprise: press@youngenterprise.org.uk

About Ysgol Bryn Gwalia:

[Insert 2–3 sentences summarizing the school's mission, location, and values].

About Young Enterprise:

Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading financial and enterprise education charity, which helps young people build confidence, manage money, discover entrepreneurship, and shape their own future. Through practical, hands-on experiences, Young Enterprise sparks big ideas, bold ambitions, and skills for life—giving every young person the chance to thrive, whatever their starting point. For more information, visit young-enterprise.org.uk.

Our Vision Statement 

Empowering the next generation with lifelong financial skills, fostering ambition, and preparing them to thrive in an evolving, diverse, and tech-driven world. Our curriculum equips children to navigate financial challenges with confidence, adaptability, and a deep understanding of money’s role in shaping their future. 

Financial Education in our Curriculum

As a school, we have worked hard to ensure that financial education is covered every half-term and is progressive across all year groups. We also celebrate My Money Week each year, providing our students with engaging activities that reinforce their understanding of financial concepts. To support this initiative, our staff have been upskilled in both the planning and delivery of financial education, ensuring they are equipped with the latest resources and strategies.

Additionally, our Head Teacher and Deputy Head presented at the Young Enterprise Financial Education conference in London in November 2023, showcasing our commitment to high-quality financial education and sharing best practices with other educators. This active involvement not only enhances our school’s reputation but also allows us to contribute to the broader conversation around financial literacy in education. Through these efforts, we aim to empower our students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate their financial futures confidently.

Our School Shop

Through pupil voice and the need to further improve attendance and uphold our school values, a school shop was established by our School Senedd. This initiative allows children to earn money for consistent attendance and for exemplifying our core values. Each Friday afternoon, students can choose to save or spend their earnings at the shop.

This programme has been a huge success, contributing to a 4% increase in attendance. Beyond improving attendance, it has fostered a sense of responsibility and financial literacy amongst students, as they learn to manage their money and make informed spending choices. The shop also promotes positive behaviour, as students are motivated to engage with our values in order to earn rewards.

Furthermore, the school shop encourages a sense of community and collaboration, as students work together to achieve common goals. It enhances social skills by providing opportunities for interaction and teamwork during shopping activities. Overall, this initiative not only supports our attendance goals but also enriches the school experience by instilling important life skills in our students.