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At Waimea Intermediate, financial literacy is woven seamlessly into the curriculum. Stu Hunt, now in his second year of teaching, has incorporated Banqer heavily into his classroom. Teaching a hybrid class of Year 7 and 8 students, he finds Banqer offers a unique way to teach money, budgeting, and financial responsibility.
Incorporating Banqer into daily lessons
Stu discovered Banqer last year but fully integrated the platform into his math program this year. He says, “It’s been a massive success. The kids at this age have a solid understanding of money, and they appreciate what it can do.” His students now have regular financial literacy lessons, starting with basics like needs vs. wants and progressing to more complex topics such as household budgeting and unexpected expenses like car repairs.
Students have responded incredibly well. Stu recalls how the car repair scenario spoke directly to the boys in his class, while a budgeting lesson sparked engagement from a quieter student. After a lesson on budgeting, which involved researching food costs on supermarket websites, the student went home and helped her family budget their weekly groceries. Her mother was blown away, and Stu immediately saw how Banqer can help students help their families.
Supporting Students' Wellbeing and Mindset
Banqer has also become a tool for fostering conversations about wellbeing and supporting students facing emotional challenges. Stu notes that many of his students come from backgrounds marked by anxiety and trauma, making it difficult for them to think beyond the immediate moment. “These kids live in the now, and what’s swirling around them is often all that matters,” he explains.
Banqer helps shift this mindset by introducing concepts around long-term planning and growth.
Through Banqer, we talk about saving and investing and how small, consistent efforts now can lead to big results later. It’s a way to teach them patience and the idea that things will improve if they keep working at it.
Discussions, such as the session with finance industry expert Equifax, reinforced this idea well. Equifax is one of Banqer’s Support Partners, and visits schools to promote financial literacy across Aotearoa. During the session, the Equifax team explained how saving up for a goal brings a true sense of accomplishment, saying that “when you save up for something and finally purchase it, you truly feel like you’ve earned it.” They contrasted this with the experience of relying on debt, like using Afterpay, which doesn’t offer the same level of satisfaction.
Integrating Financial Literacy Across the Curriculum
Stu feels Banqer fits neatly into the numeracy curriculum and brings financial concepts to life in other areas of learning.
It’s part of our regular math lessons, and it helps bring those abstract concepts into a real-world context. Why do we need math? Because if you’re budgeting or trying to understand money, you need to make the numbers work.
What makes Banqer particularly powerful at Waimea Intermediate, is its integration across subjects, making financial literacy relevant beyond just mathematics. Stu recalls how he brought financial literacy into an English lesson using Tom Sawyer. The classic tale of Tom getting his friends to paint the fence became a creative way to introduce the concept of passive income. This cross-curricular approach reinforces math skills while encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and conversations about how money affects everyday life.
Resourcefulness and teaching the value of money
Banqer has become much more than just a classroom tool for Stu. “The students love it as a rewards system,” he explains. Students receive a generous classroom salary and are responsible for paying various classroom ‘expenses’ such as desk rent or Wi-Fi fees. The careers module is a hit, with students applying for class jobs and receiving payment for their roles.
Stu reflects on how Banqer motivates students: while technology access can be a challenge—Stu’s classroom has 14 Chromebooks for 25 students—he’s found ways to ensure all students stay engaged with Banqer. “It’s important that they stay familiar with their bank accounts and the platform. They even check their balances outside of class!”
They’re always looking for ways to earn more Banqer money, and they’ve become quite resourceful. They even suggest new jobs they can do to earn more!
An auction at the end of the term reinforced important lessons on saving and spending. “Only the students with the highest balances stayed in the auction until the end, teaching them the value of having enough money for the things they want.”
Embracing Banqer’s potential
Stu is a strong advocate for Banqer and encourages other schools to adopt it. “It’s an amazing resource, and it’s so easy to use” Stu lists Banqer among his top 3 classroom resources - alongside Twinkl and Education Perfect.
It’s intuitive. The lesson plans are well thought out, with videos and resources that make planning effortless. It complements everything we do in class, and the students are engaged because they can see the impact of their financial decisions in both the classroom and their lives.
Looking ahead, Stu sees Banqer playing a key role in his students’ financial futures. “It’s teaching me too,” he admits. “The concepts we’re learning—needs versus wants, compound interest—are things that even adults struggle with. But Banqer makes it easy for students to grasp, and they love it. It’s setting them up with skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives.”
