Ant and Dec shock college youngsters with go to – but it surely’s not what you assume

The popular TV presenting duo and Santander ambassadors, Ant and Dec, kicked off their day at St Michael’s Primary School in Southfields, south London, by delivering breakfast baskets to the staff room. The surprises didn’t stop there as they made an unexpected appearance in a year five classroom during a financial education lesson, causing quite a stir among the students.

Ant and Dec kept the class engaged with lively questions and even sparked a humorous debate about who was the better saver. The visit reached its peak with a lively interruption of the school assembly, attended by over 400 pupils and staff members.

Alongside Ant and Dec, Mike Regnier, Santander UK’s CEO, praised the school’s commitment to financial literacy, highlighting its significance. The day concluded on a high note with the presenting pair snapping a memorable selfie with the entire school, marking this special moment of learning and fun.

This event also marked the one-year anniversary of the Financial Education Recognition Scheme launched by the bank in partnership with educational publisher, Twinkl. St Michael’s was one of the first schools to sign up to the scheme, which encourages schools to commit to teaching pupils a minimum of six hours of financial education each academic year – to help them develop into financially confident adults and alleviate anxiety about money. Over 200 schools and educators have already joined the scheme.

Ant expressed: “Today was a lot of fun. Seeing the kids so engaged in their financial education lessons really brought home how important this learning is. The enthusiasm and smart questions from the pupils made our day.”

The Financial Education Recognition Scheme, which supplements the work done through ‘The Numbers Game’ by Santander and Twinkl, offers free learning materials aimed at enhancing numeracy and financial knowledge among primary and secondary school students.

Dec shared: “Engaging with the kids and teachers at St Michael’s, answering their curious questions, and seeing the impact of an early financial education was all so rewarding.”

St Michael’s stands out as one of the most proactive schools in the UK in terms of teaching financial education. Mike Regnier commented: “It’s inspiring to see St Michael’s Primary School leading by example in the essential area of financial education, and that the children are having fun in the process. We know from our own research that there is strong evidence of the need for better financial education. Nearly 70% of adults believe it would have helped them manage their money better during the recent increases in the cost of living, while over two thirds of parents think teaching children about money should start young and be on the primary school curriculum.”

“By gaining financial literacy at a young age, the next generation will have the skills to make informed financial decisions and to create the future they want.”

The Numbers Game has been utilised by over 100,000 teachers in 8,300 schools since 2022, benefiting more than 2.5 million children and young people across the UK.

Angela Harris, Headteacher of St Michael’s Primary School, expressed: “I’m absolutely delighted to see the joy and engagement from our students during today’s visit from Ant and Dec. It’s initiatives like the Financial Education Recognition Scheme that help us enrich our curriculum in ways that truly matter.”

“Our partnership has not only brought essential financial concepts to the classroom but has also sparked a curiosity in our pupils about their future financial wellbeing. It’s a proud moment for us to be acknowledged as a leader in the vital area of financial education.”