Wealth manager St James’s Place is expanding its work with charity Young Enterprise to support the accreditation of schools looking to become Centres of Excellence for financial education.

The company has committed to sponsoring 21 education providers over three years to enable them to become financial CoEs.  

In each academic year, seven schools will join the programme, mainly in deprived areas across the UK.

Their progress will be aided through a consultant from Young Enterprise to work one-to-one with the school.

The first three schools to be sponsored were Tonge Moor Primary Academy in Bolton, Greater Manchester, Whitefield Primary School in Liverpool and Moor House School & College in Oxted, a special education school in Surrey.

The schools have now been joined by Osmani Primary School in Tower Hamlets, London, Meadowfield Primary School in Leeds, Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School in Birmingham, and Deer Park School in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

A further seven partnerships with schools are planned, with five already begun their journey to become accredited as CoE: Ash Park Primary School in Glasgow; Endeavour Academy in Newcastle; Park Community School in Havant; Hampshire, Preston Manor Academy in Wembley, London; and Scotholme Primary School in Nottingham.

Vicki Foster, division director, responsible business, St. James’s Place, said: “The first year of this project has laid the foundation for the programme where we have created lessons plans and facilitating financial education training sessions for teachers.

“Our partnership with Young Enterprise has allowed us to build practical steps which are fundamental to developing and expanding financial literacy across the UK.”

Sharon Davies, chief executive of Young Enterprise, said: “Our Centres of Excellence programme provides young people with access to a meaningful financial education while building financially-capable communities.”