STUDENTS have been improving their personal finance skills with a new course. The AS-level, a certificate in financial studies, has been piloted across the British Isles this year, including at the College of Further Education.

The success of the local students, who travelled to London to collect their certificates, means that the college will next year run the second-year A2 part of the course, as well as having a new intake for the AS-level.

It was run at the college as part of the Guernsey Business School programme.

Across the UK, more than 100 schools and colleges are set to offer the course to students next year.

‘The students learn about managing their personal finances. This will be useful if they are going to university or if they are going into the world of work,’ said Yvonne Tanner, financial studies programme manager at the school.

‘For example, they learn about credit cards, borrowing money, understanding why they may not be allowed to borrow money and generally how to make financial judgements.’

Students can also gain points towards university qualification because both the AS and A2-levels of the course are accredited by the University and Colleges Admissions Service.

The course is open to all youngsters, whether at college or school or already in employment.

Mrs Tanner said she was delighted that candidates achieved 64% A-C grades from the three modules.

‘It has been really good. We have got very good results and it has been a great success.’

The students travelled to London to collect their certificates using funds from the local branch of the Institute of Financial Services.

£50 book tokens were given to Tom Falla for achieving the best marks in the three exams put together and Carly Prout for the best score in the final exam.