The Open University launches free financial literacy course for secondary schools in partnership with the Harrison Foundation

The Open University (OU), in partnership with the Harrison Foundation, has launched a new free financial literacy resource for 15 to 17-year-old secondary school students, designed to support teachers delivering statutory financial education within PSHE.

Hosted on the OU’s OpenLearn Create platform, the course, Managing My Money For Young Adults, provides a structured five-hour programme split into nine short sessions. It has been designed for flexible use in schools, suitable for classroom delivery, guided independent learning or homework, enabling teachers to embed high-quality financial education within existing PSHE provision.

The course introduces essential financial knowledge and practical skills that are directly relevant to young people preparing for adulthood. Topics include managing earnings and spending, using a bank account, comparing savings products and understanding the impact of inflation and interest rates.

It also explains income tax and National Insurance contributions, helping students make sense of payslips and take-home pay, while introducing the basics of the stock market. A dedicated session focuses on recognising financial fraud and scams, reflecting the growing risks young people face in digital spaces.

Practical learning that supports life chances and confidence

The programme also explores the relationship between money and happiness, encouraging learners to reflect on values, wellbeing and long-term decision making.

The initiative builds on the OU’s work to widen access to practical learning that supports life chances and confidence. It also reflects the long-standing commitment of Sir David Harrison, founder of the Harrison Foundation and an OU alumnus. Sir David previously founded the financial advice business True Potential and has consistently advocated for stronger financial education, believing that poor financial understanding can become a barrier to social mobility.

In 2014, Sir David donated more than £1.4 million to The Open University to establish the True Potential Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance. The Centre has supported the development of free learning resources for adults, helping people better understand household finances, saving, investing and long-term planning.

The new school-focused course extends this work by providing earlier intervention, helping young people build strong financial foundations while still in education.

Sir David Harrison said:

Financial literacy is not a nice to have, it is a life skill. Too many young people leave school without understanding the basics of budgeting, borrowing or how to protect themselves from scams. I have always believed that better knowledge leads to better choices and better choices lead to better life chances.

That is why I am delighted to see The Open University expanding access to this learning for schools, in partnership with the Harrison Foundation and making it free for pupils and teachers to use.”

The course, Managing My Money For Young Adults is available now and free to access.

For schools, the programme offers a ready-to-use resource that can strengthen financial education delivery, while supporting students to develop confidence in managing money and making informed choices. The Open University and the Harrison Foundation hope the resource will help equip young people with practical financial skills and knowledge that supports long-term opportunity and employability.