HM REVENUE AND
CUSTOMS News Release (SPEC 08/09) issued by COI News Distribution
Service on 6 May 2009
HMRC has launched
a new teaching resource for secondary schools - Tax Matters.
The free, online interactive resource includes videos, quizzes
and games, as well as key facts and figures, to help young people
learn about tax and its role in society.
The new materials are primarily aimed at education professionals
who teach Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE)
and citizenship to pupils aged between 11 and 19. They are also
designed to be used by charities and voluntary organisations that
work with young adults not in employment, education or training.
The three Tax Matters modules - Income Tax, National Insurance,
and Tax and Society - are available to download free from http://www.taxmatters.hmrc.gov.uk.
Speaking at the launch, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury,
Stephen Timms, said:
"It is more important than ever for young people to learn
about how their taxes contribute to society's needs and the
essential services that would not be possible without
everyone's tax contributions.
"Nearly one million pupils leave education and enter the tax
system each year. By gaining a better understanding of tax and
national insurance, they will be much better prepared for their
life ahead."
The Head of Business and Economics at London's Mill Hill
County High School, Linda Trinder, was seconded to HMRC for six
months to help develop and produce the tax matters material.
Speaking at the launch, Linda said:
"It was really important that the Tax Matters material
reflected what education professionals would need on the ground,
and hopefully my involvement has helped to achieve that.
"It was a great educational experience to work on Tax
Matters, and it will hopefully be used by teachers and students
across the UK."
Notes to editors:
1. Tax Matters is part of a three-year, Department for Children,
Schools and Families (DCSF) programme called My Money - being put
in place by the DCSF to help teachers deliver financial
education
2. Personal, Social, Health and Economic education
will become a statutory part of the curriculum from 2011.
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk