The Personal Finance Society has launched a new library of virtual video courses for its ‘My Personal Finance Skills’ curriculum to boost financial education in schools.

The professional body says the move - particularly aimed at secondary schools - will help continued learning during Coronavirus pandemic lockdown measures.

The PFS says its new video classes are especially for pupils between 14 and 18.

Since September, the curriculum has been delivered in more than 90 workshops nationwide, reaching more than 2,000 learners, the PFS said.

With the addition of virtual courses, the curriculum is expected to be delivered in a further 200 workshops before the end of the year.

Keith Richards, chief executive of the Personal Finance Society, said: “it is vitally important that young learners of all ages have access to financial education.”

“We find ourselves at the precipice of the biggest intergenerational wealth transfer since records began, but still, financial education is not a mandatory part of the national curriculum. As such, there is a significant gap within society of knowledge for managing one’s finances, leaving people more susceptible to scams and poor financial outcomes.

“Also, it is during the secondary school years where we see the emergence of the gap between the sexes of those who follow science, technology, economics, and mathematics (STEM) courses.

“It is in providing consistent access to these courses that we can help to bridge this gap before it grows, despite the measures put in place to manage the spread of the coronavirus.”