The CISI Educational Trust has continued its educational and equity focused work over the past academic year, with great results
by Matthew Bolton, CISI teaching & learning specialist
Since 2010, the CISI Educational Trust has worked with secondary schools and colleges around the UK to offer entry level CISI professional qualifications to students. The first half of academic year 2021–22 was full of uncertainty with the negative impact of the pandemic on education still present, however, the second half saw excellent results achieved by students.
The Trust partnered with 24 schools during the academic year, with 315 16–18-year-olds studying towards the level 2 Fundamentals of Financial Services, level 3 Introduction to Securities & Investment and the level 3 Certificate for Introduction to Securities & Investment qualifications. There were some excellent overall results achieved by the likes of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield, Epsom College in Surrey, North West Regional College in Derry and St John’s School in Surrey. We would like to say a huge congratulations to all students who passed CISI exams, which were taken in addition to their core A Level or equivalent qualifications.
Schools and colleges who offered CISI qualifications to students this year
- Ardingly College
- Bishop's Stortford High School
- Brentwood School
- Cardiff and Vale College
- Cheltenham College
- Eastbourne College
- Epsom College
- Guernsey College of Further Education
- Haybridge High School
- Jumeirah English Speaking School Dubai
- Loreto College
- Manchester Grammar School
- Merchant Taylors' School
- North West Regional College
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
- Solihull School
- St Albans Girls' School
- St Edward's School
- St John's School
- Sutton Valence School
- Tormead School
- Trinity School
- Victoria College
- Ysgol Bryn Elian
The Trust also sponsors teachers to deliver CISI qualifications to sixth-form students attending state schools who would not ordinarily get the opportunity to study towards CISI qualifications. These education programmes are free of charge to students, with a focus on employability. Education programmes were offered to students in Liverpool, Derry (via Derry and Strabane District Council), Birmingham and London (via the City of London Corporation and The Diversity Project).
Alongside completing the CISI level 2 qualification, students had the opportunity to work with CISI members from all over the UK via the ‘Invest in You’ employability workshops funded by the Trust and delivered by education charity, The Talent Foundry. These workshops enabled students to develop their transferable skills, create effective CVs and participate in mock interviews.
Nearly 60 students who took part in the programmes are sitting CISI exams over the summer. Ten students who took part in Derry were able to sit exams in June, thanks to North West Regional College. Eight out of the 10 students passed the level 2 Fundamentals of Financial Services exam, which was an outstanding achievement. One student who successfully passed the qualification commented:
I just wanted to say a massive thank you for supporting me through this qualification that I have achieved. Attending the meetings and Zoom classes has brought many opportunities that are useful and will develop my skills. Without attending the Invest in You sessions I wouldn’t have known about certain career paths which now I take a real interest in.
I appreciate all the time and effort you have put into this programme, providing us with all the relevant resources it has been so helpful.
The Trust would like to thank all those who have offered the opportunity for students to study towards CISI qualifications, those who delivered them and the CISI members in the regions who took the time to support the students.