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Financial Studies

Financial Literacy is now a discontinued course and is only available to current Year 12 and current Year 13 students. The course will be discontinued from September 2024.

 

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Head of Department: Mr James Morrow

Financial Studies is a comprehensive introduction to personal finance, which covers the core concepts of financial capability and how they are applied to ensure long-term financial sustainability. It encourages students to become responsible borrowers and sensible savers, and to appreciate the need for financial planning throughout their life. The course prepares them for further study by developing the core skills of critical analysis and evaluation, verbal communication (through classroom discussion) and written communication.

Students taking Financial Studies at King’s will develop an understanding of the importance of financial capability in the immediate, short, medium and long term; the impact of external influences at different stages in the personal life cycle; risk and reward in managing personal finance; personal and external factors that lead to change; the financial services system and financial sustainability (individual and general); marketing techniques; financial services and products, including sources of help and advice; and borrowing, budgeting, financial planning and cash flow forecasting.

Financial Studies is available to study at Sixth Form level at King’s. The Certificate would be studied in Year 12 and the Diploma in Year 13. Each unit is assessed through a combination of multiple choice questions (Part A) and a written paper which includes pre-release case study requiring essay responses in an examination (Part B). Unlike a traditional A Level, Financial Studies is assessed at the end of each unit, rather than solely at the end of the course.

The teaching of the subject encompasses a number of relevant approaches and develops a range of skills. ICT is used where appropriate to aid delivery of the topics and discussions also forms an important part of developing the students’ understanding.  As well as developing a secure knowledge of financial concepts, students will also be encouraged to analyse, synthesise, evaluate and reflect; demonstrate numeracy skills, including the ability to manipulate financial and other numerical data to reflect the conceptual activity of financial maths; select appropriate data and information to make arguments; structure and communicate ideas logically and coherently; and increase their ability to work and learn independently.

This pragmatic subject has real world applications that are beneficial to all students; it develops an understanding of the financial services sector and enhances skills that are valued within that sector. Furthermore, it also develops transferable skills, such as analysis, that are important at undergraduate level, thus supporting each student to reach their full potential.

Specifications

Certificate: cefs.pdf (libf.ac.uk)

Diploma: dipfs.pdf (libf.ac.uk)

Subject content

Individuals, firms, markets and market failure

The national and international economy

Year 12 Certificate in Financial Studies

  Topic Further details about the topic
Autumn Term
1

Unit 1 - Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short term:

Topics 1 to 6

 

We will study:

Purposes of Money

The Personal Life Cycle

Payment Methods

Everyday Banking

Savings Products

Borrowing Products

2

Unit 1 - Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short term:

Topics 7 to 12

We will study:

Providers

Consumer protection

Budgets and forecasts

Dealing with unexpected events

Dealing with Debt

Earnings

Spring Term
1

Revision for Unit 1 examination followed by:

Unit 2 - Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term:

Topics 1 and 2

Exams in January (with second attempts in March)

 

We will study:

Needs, Wants and Aspirations

Savings and Investment Products

2

Unit 2 - Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term:

Topics 3 to 6

We will study:

Borrowing products

Dealing with Long-term Risks

Financial Planning

Financial planning and informed choices

Summer Term
1

Unit 2 - Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term:

Topics 7 to 10

We will study:

Dealing with Unforeseen Events Ethics and Sustainability

Sources of Information and Advice

Making an Informed Choice

2

Revision for Unit 2 examination

 

Year 13 Diploma of Financial Studies

  Topic Further details about the topic
Autumn Term
1

Unit 3: Sustainability of an Individual’s Finances

Topics 1 to 4

We will study:

Personal financial sustainability

How the state can help.

The impact of external factors.

Monitoring and adapting personal financial plans.

2

Unit 3: Sustainability of an Individual’s Finances

Topics 5 to 7, plus revision

We will study:

Good debt, bad debt

The impact of global events and ethics

The impact of recent changes
Spring Term
1

Revise Unit 3

Unit 4: Sustainability of the Financial Services System

Topics 1 to 4

Exams in January (with second attempts in March)

We will study:

The financial system

Competition in the financial services sector

Sustainability in the financial services sector

The impact of the media on the sustainability of the financial services industry

2

Unit 4: Sustainability of the Financial Services System

Topics 5 to 8

 

We will study:

External influences on financial services providers and their products

The impact of change and uncertainty on financial products

Marketing materials and their effectiveness

Attracting, retaining and satisfying customers

Summer Term
1

Unit 4: Sustainability of the Financial Services System

Topic 9, plus revision

We will study:

Market segmentation and product development
2

Unit 4: Sustainability of the Financial Services System

 

Assessments

Resources Topic Type of assessment
CAT 1 Unit 1 – up to and including Topic 6 Internal written assessment and Multiple Choice Test
CAT 2 Unit 1 - Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short term

External Examinations:

Paper A is multiple choice

Paper B is a written paper

CAT 3 Unit 2 - Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term

External Examinations:

Paper A is multiple choice

Paper B is a written paper

CAT 4 Unit 3 Topics 1 to 3 Internal written assessment and Multiple Choice Test
CAT 5 Unit 3

External Examinations:

Paper A is multiple choice

Paper B is a written paper
CAT 6 Unit 4

External Examinations:

Paper A is multiple choice

Paper B is a written paper

Main Resources

Resource Details Term
Text books

Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) Unit 1: Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short term

Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) Unit 2 Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term

 

Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) Unit 3: Sustainability of an Individual's Finances (SIF)

Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS)

Unit 4: Sustainability of the Financial Services System (SFS)

All
Recommended reading

https://kb.libf.ac.uk/

All
Recommended websites

 

https://my.libf.ac.uk/

(Boys given individual logins)

 

All

Enrichment opportunities

Activity Day and time or term

Student investor challenge:

https://www.libf.ac.uk/study/financial-education/student-investor-challenge
 

Where Next

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