Bank of England launches new English lesson resource

News release

The Bank of England is today launching a new classroom resource for GCSE English students based on its successful economics book Can’t We Just Print More Money?

Every state secondary school in the UK is being sent the six-lesson resource which features extracts, presentation slides and worksheets, along with a copy of the book.

Can’t We Just Print More Money? was written by Bank economists Rupal Patel and Jack Meaning and offers an accessible introduction to economics themed around ten questions including ‘Why are so many of my clothes made in Asia?’ ‘Why aren’t Freddos 10p any more?’ and ‘What even is money?’. It was published by Cornerstone Press in May. 

The lessons have been designed by Jo Heathcote, English Consultant and former Principal Examiner for GCSE English Language. They use key extracts from Can’t We Just Print More Money? as the basis for analysis, critical evaluation and writing tasks which also introduce and explore key economic ideas and concepts.

Jo, who is the author of a number of well-respected textbooks and study guides, said: “One of the challenges faced by English teachers is having the time to find fresh new extracts and materials to work with at GCSE – especially suitable non-fiction texts. 

“It’s been a great pleasure to be able to use key extracts from Can’t We Just Print More Money? to create imaginative lesson content to practice skills in inferential reading, analysis, different forms of writing and valuable speaking and listening opportunities for the classroom which will work across all specifications.” 

Jack and Rupal said: “The book and the resources are designed to open economics up to as many young people as possible, so they have the opportunity to explore and understand the economic world around them. Key theories are explained through engaging and relevant examples from daily life, which we hope will spark lots of discussions in the classroom.”

The resource complements the Bank of England’s existing set of materials to support the delivery of financial and economic education, including:

• ‘Money and Me’ – 12-lesson resource that introduces primary school pupils to how money and the economy works which was created in partnership with Beano and Tes.
• EconoME – 4-lesson resource designed to help 11-16 year olds understand the economy better and provide them with the analytical skills to make informed decisions.

Research commissioned by the Bank shows that the majority of teachers identified a lack of time within the timetable as the main obstacle to the delivery of a financial education programme within their school.

Some 63% of respondents to a Teacher Tapp survey of 6,694 teachers on 19 February 2022 cited pressures on timetable time, with the next most popular response being a lack of subject expertise (13%).

Andrew Hebden, Head of Outreach and Education at the Bank of England, said: “We recognise the time pressures and competing priorities that teachers face. We hope that, as well as helping to support the development of key skills aligned to the English curriculum, these lessons will encourage young people to think about how the economy works and their role within it.”

In addition to its education resources, the Bank also runs a free programme of school talks, delivered by Bank staff. The latest initiative is being funded using the royalties the Bank received for the book.

The resource is being launched today to hundreds of education leaders at the Schools North East Summit at St James’s Park, Newcastle.