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Tearing up money - 07/01/2009 |
“What percentage of people didn’t pay their credit card off in full last month?” Vanessa Bailey of the Personal Finance Education Group asked Shiplake teachers when she gave a training session on how to improve young people’s financial skills and competence. The answer is 75%.
Teachers were shocked to learn that 36% of adults would survive for only 11 days if they lost their source of income, 53% don’t save regularly and 64% run out of money 5 days before their next pay date.
Leif Tarry and Vanessa Bailey aim to show schools how to educate pupils to understand the difficult concepts of where their money goes, how much things cost and how best to save in their own personal situation.
“It is not about how affluent or intelligent you are,” said Vanessa quoting the example of one high earning Oxford graduate she knows who is permanently in debt. “Many of us have lost the skill of budgeting.”
Teachers were provided with a variety of inspirational methods for teaching financial competence across the curriculum, from English through to Science. “Money doesn’t exist in a vacuum, every decision we make is dependent on finance,” concluded Vanessa.
One enlightening exercise involves tearing strips off of a "toy" bank note which represents your total income. So pupils could tear off strips showing how much they spend on music, mobile phones and fast food. It is rare for any of the bank note to remain representing savings.
Pfeg is a charity funded by the Financial Services Authority and aimed at improving the public understanding of finance. They are kept very busy in the current climate as more and more schools begin to appreciate how crucial it is that pupils gain control over and understand their finances in a complicated world.
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Schoolblazer Sale - 06/01/2009 |
Schoolblazer will be offering 20% off all Shiplake College uniform items throughout January. Visit www.schoolblazer.com for more details.
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Hockey in Malaysia - 05/01/2009 |
The blinding lights of the Petronas Towers welcomed Shiplake’s senior hockey squad, of 15 boys and 3 coaches, to midnight Kuala Lumpur. After just a few hours sleep the squad was on the astroturf for an early morning practice before the temperature peaked at 32 centigrade.
“It was a privilege to play against our first opponents. They were the U16 state champions and we soon realised that Hockey, Malaysia’s national game, is taken very seriously indeed. The 11 – 1 defeat was an annihilation but we learnt many lessons,” said Peter Gould, Tour Manager,
With jet-lag receding the squad came together for a much improved performance in their second game, drawing 1 – 1 at half-time but eventually losing 3 – 1.
A three hour coach trip took the squad to Ipoh in the Highlands. “Walking out through the tunnel to play on a water-based astro in a 25,000 seater stadium was a jaw-dropping experience,” said the Manager.
The match was against a local club team which included young novices and some senior state players edging towards retirement. Shiplake created more chances but were given a lesson in the art of finishing by the home team as they edged a tight game 4 – 2.
“The four senior players in the squad Jack Broome, Anthony Kay, Sasha Burgess and Alastair Galloway did everything they could to create a really inclusive team atmosphere. Every player had some game-time in every game and there was a fantastic team spirit,” said Peter Gould.
The squad’s final challenge took them to the island of Penang with its azure seas and a wonderful beach-front hotel. Against a local school, Shiplake played their best hockey of the tour as they led 3 - 2 with just a few minutes left on the clock. A short corner gave the home-team a well-deserved equalizer but Shiplake attacked once more and a penalty flick, awarded in the dying seconds, gave them a victory that long will be remembered.
Another Penang highlight was a boat-trip when the players caught their own fish, landed on a remote beach and cooked their own supper.
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