Curriculum map: twenty islands, one page
Where each of the Money Isles sits beside the national curriculum in England, the PSHE Association's Programme of Study and Young Money's Financial Education Planning Frameworks. Each statement is quoted from its source, and where a source does not name a topic, the map says so.
This map is our own. Captain Cleo is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the Department for Education, the PSHE Association or Young Enterprise. We read each source, quote its words and link it on this page, so you can check any line for yourself.
Money in the curriculum in England today
Primary: mathematics, key stages 1 and 2
In primary, the statutory money content sits in mathematics, and it is arithmetic with money. These are the statements, year by year:
- Year 1. “recognise and know the value of different denominations of coins and notes”
- Year 2. “recognise and use symbols for pounds (£) and pence (p); combine amounts to make a particular value”
- Year 2. “solve simple problems in a practical context involving addition and subtraction of money of the same unit, including giving change”
- Year 3. “add and subtract amounts of money to give change, using both £ and p in practical contexts”
- Year 4. “estimate, compare and calculate different measures, including money in pounds and pence”
- Year 5. “use all four operations to solve problems involving measure [for example, length, mass, volume, money] using decimal notation, including scaling”
Saving, interest, budgeting and borrowing are not named in the primary mathematics programme of study, and the statutory citizenship programmes of study begin at key stage 3. The Money Isles do not replace that arithmetic. They teach what the money is for.
Citizenship, key stages 3 and 4
- Key stage 3. “the functions and uses of money, the importance and practice of budgeting, and managing risk”
- Key stage 4. “income and expenditure, credit and debt, insurance, savings and pensions, financial products and services, and how public money is raised and spent”
Mathematics, key stages 3 and 4
- Key stage 3. “solve problems involving percentage change, including: percentage increase, decrease and original value problems and simple interest in financial mathematics”
- Key stage 3. “use compound units such as speed, unit pricing and density to solve problems”
- Key stage 4. “set up, solve and interpret the answers in growth and decay problems, including compound interest”
- Key stage 4. “convert between related compound units (speed, rates of pay, prices, density, pressure) in numerical and algebraic contexts”
PSHE education, key stages 1 to 4
The PSHE Association's Programme of Study sets out learning opportunities for economic wellbeing at every key stage. In its own words, “Economic Wellbeing is not a compulsory part of PSHE education (except for independent schools, where the whole of PSHE education is statutory)”. It also notes that, following the government's 2025 review of the curriculum, citizenship “is set to become a compulsory subject in the primary phase” and will include elements of financial education. Until a new curriculum is in force, the statements on this page are the current ones.
Young Money's planning frameworks
Young Money, part of Young Enterprise, publishes two Financial Education Planning Frameworks, for ages 3 to 11 and 11 to 19. Both are built on four themes: how to manage money; becoming a critical consumer; managing risks and emotions associated with money; and understanding the important role money plays in our lives. They are a planning tool, “not intended to be used rigidly”.
Where the islands go further
Eleven of the twenty islands teach a topic that a statutory statement in citizenship or mathematics names. Nine teach topics that neither programme of study names: Scam Alley, Loot Box Reef, Ad Jungle, Inflation Volcano, Startup Shipyard, The Ledger Temple, Crypto Caverns, The AI Nexus and Giving Lighthouse. The table says so on each of those rows.
Island by island
Words inside quotation marks are the source's own. Statutory means the mathematics or citizenship programme of study of the national curriculum in England. PSHE programme means the PSHE Association's Programme of Study, with the section each line comes from. Its economic wellbeing section is not compulsory, except in independent schools. Its RSHE section sets out learning opportunities that cover the Department for Education's statutory RSHE guidance; we have not mapped that guidance itself. Key stage 5 is post-16, beyond the ages the islands are written for, and is shown only where the programme names a topic nowhere earlier. The topic names in brackets after a Young Money theme are the framework's own headings, with the age band they sit in.
A match means the island teaches the topic the statement names. It does not mean that playing the island covers the statement in full; that judgement stays with the teacher.
| Island | What it teaches | The curriculum in England | Young Money framework themes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea 1: Home Waters 42 concepts on four islands | |||
| 1 Pocket Money Bay | 12 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 3: “the functions and uses of money”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 1: “the difference between needs and wants”. Economic wellbeing, key stage 2: “how money can affect someone’s emotions and wellbeing”. | Becoming a critical consumer (Needs and wants, 5 to 7; Spending and saving priorities, 7 to 9) Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Feelings about money, 3 to 5) |
| 2 Savings Springs | 8 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Maths, key stage 3: “simple interest in financial mathematics”. Maths, key stage 4: “compound interest”. Citizenship, key stage 4: “savings and pensions”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 1: “that money can be saved or spent”. Economic wellbeing, key stage 4: “the benefits of saving”. | Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Saving money, 5 to 7; Saving and borrowing, 9 to 11) Becoming a critical consumer (Choices about saving and spending, 5 to 7) |
| 3 Budget Bazaar | 12 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 3: “the importance and practice of budgeting”. Maths, key stage 3: “unit pricing”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 2: “different ways to keep track of money”. Economic wellbeing, key stage 3: “what makes something ‘good value for money’”. Economic wellbeing, key stage 4: “how to budget effectively for different circumstances”. | How to manage money (Keeping records, 7 to 9; Simple financial records, 9 to 11) Becoming a critical consumer (Value for money, 9 to 11; Consumer rights and responsibilities, 14 to 16) |
| 4 Bank Street | 10 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 4: “financial products and services”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 1: “keeping money in an account”. Economic wellbeing, key stage 2: “advantages and disadvantages of different ways of paying for things”. | How to manage money (Ways to pay, 7 to 9) Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Using accounts to keep money safe and to save, 7 to 9) |
| Sea 2: The Wild Waters 45 concepts on five islands | |||
| 5 Scam Alley | 10 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. PSHE programme RSHE section, key stage 2: “online financial harms including scams and fraud”. RSHE section, key stage 3: “how to recognise online scams to extort money or information in different contexts”. | Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Protecting my money, 9 to 11; Fraud and identity theft, 11 to 14) |
| 6 Loot Box Reef | 9 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. PSHE programme RSHE section, key stage 2: “the risks relating to video game monetisation and loot boxes”. RSHE section, key stage 3: “chance-based transactions in gaming can carry similar risks”. | Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Risk and reward, 11 to 14) Becoming a critical consumer (Advertising, peer and media pressure, 11 to 14) |
| 7 Ad Jungle | 8 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 3: “how to manage influences on spending, including advertising”. RSHE section, key stage 3: “advertising online that is manipulated, exaggerated or targeted towards them using their data”. | Becoming a critical consumer (Influences on saving and spending, 9 to 11; Advertising, peer and media pressure, 11 to 14) |
| 8 Debt Dragon's Keep | 10 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 4: “credit and debt”. Maths, key stage 3: “simple interest in financial mathematics”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 3: “different values and attitudes relating to finance, including debt”. Economic wellbeing, key stage 4: “factors to consider before taking on debt and ways of managing debt”. | Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Lending and borrowing, 7 to 9; Saving and borrowing, 9 to 11) How to manage money (Saving and borrowing, 11 to 14) |
| 9 Inflation Volcano | 8 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. The mathematics underneath is key stage 3 maths: “percentage change, including: percentage increase, decrease”. PSHE programme Not named in the programme. | How to manage money (Financial paperwork and budgeting, 11 to 14) Understanding the important role money plays in our lives (Personal and economic links with the wider world, 16 to 19) |
| Sea 3: The Builder's Sea 47 concepts on four islands | |||
| 10 Job Harbour | 9 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 4: “income and expenditure”. PSHE programme Careers education, key stage 1: “that people can earn money to pay for things by having a job”. Careers education, key stage 2: “that people doing different jobs are paid different salaries”. Economic wellbeing, key stage 5: “salary deductions, taxation, national insurance and the features of a payslip”. | Understanding the important role money plays in our lives (Earning money, 7 to 9; Links between work and money, 9 to 11; Work, income and deductions, 14 to 16) |
| 11 Startup Shipyard | 24 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. PSHE programme Careers education, key stage 3: “self-employment, entrepreneurialism and voluntary work”. | Understanding the important role money plays in our lives (Connections between the world of work and future economic well-being, 11 to 14) |
| 12 Tax Town | 7 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 4: “how public money is raised and spent”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 5: “salary deductions, taxation, national insurance”. | Understanding the important role money plays in our lives (Wider communities, 9 to 11; Personal finance and public spending, 11 to 14) |
| 13 World Trade Winds | 7 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 3: “the functions and uses of money”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 1: “what money is, how people get money, and what it is used for”. | How to manage money (Foreign currency, 9 to 11) Understanding the important role money plays in our lives (How money developed, 5 to 7) |
| Sea 4: The Deep Sea 46 concepts on four islands | |||
| 14 Bull & Bear Arena | 16 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 4: “financial products and services”. Citizenship, key stage 3: “managing risk”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 4: “the opportunities, risks and challenges involved in different financial decisions, including investments”. | Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Risk and reward, 11 to 14; Managing risk, 14 to 16) |
| 15 The Ledger Temple | 10 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. PSHE programme Not named in the programme. | Beyond the frameworks. A company's accounts are not in them. |
| 16 Crypto Caverns | 9 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 5: “cryptocurrencies, scams and gambling”. | Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Managing risk, 14 to 16; Identifying and reducing financial risks, 16 to 19) |
| 17 Property Point | 11 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 4: “credit and debt, insurance”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 4: “contracts, loans and insurance”. | Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Different types of insurance, 11 to 14; Insuring against risk, 14 to 16) How to manage money (Financial planning and budgeting, 16 to 19) |
| Sea 5: The Far Horizon 22 concepts on three islands | |||
| 18 The AI Nexus | 8 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. PSHE programme RSHE section, key stage 2: “what AI is (including generative AI) and where it might be encountered in everyday life”. Careers education, key stage 4: “the nature of the labour market, including the impact of AI and other influences”. | Managing risks and emotions associated with money (Fraud and identity theft, 11 to 14, for the AI scam lessons) AI itself is not named in the frameworks. |
| 19 Giving Lighthouse | 7 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Not named in the mathematics or citizenship programmes of study. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 2: “that what people do with their money can affect others and the environment”. Economic wellbeing, key stage 3: “climate and ethical business practices”. | Understanding the important role money plays in our lives (Helping others, 7 to 9) Becoming a critical consumer (Making financial decisions, 11 to 14) |
| 20 Future Peak | 7 concepts, such as:
| Statutory Citizenship, key stage 4: “savings and pensions”. Maths, key stage 4: “compound interest”. PSHE programme Economic wellbeing, key stage 4: “including investments, pensions”. | Understanding the important role money plays in our lives (Investing in my future, 11 to 14; Long-term financial planning, 14 to 16) |
| All five seas | 202 concepts on 20 islands. Every one is listed in the syllabus. | ||
The sources
- National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of studyDepartment for Education. Statutory in maintained schools.
- National curriculum in England: citizenship programmes of study for key stages 3 and 4Department for Education. Statutory in maintained schools at key stages 3 and 4.
- Programme of Study for PSHE education, key stages 1 to 5 (2026 edition)PSHE Association. The subject association's programme, not a statutory document. Its economic wellbeing section is not compulsory, except in independent schools.
- Financial Education Planning Frameworks, 3 to 11 years and 11 to 19 yearsYoung Money, part of Young Enterprise. A planning tool, not a requirement.
Each source was read on 13 November 2026. Links open in a new tab.
The Young Money topic names are taken from the third edition of the frameworks. If a newer edition renames a topic, the four themes are what this map relies on.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
This map is for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own curricula, and we have not mapped them here.
Not an endorsement
The mapping is Captain Cleo's own reading of each source. It is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the Department for Education, the PSHE Association or Young Enterprise. If you think a line is wrong, write to hello@captaincleo.com and we will look at it and correct it.