School plans to tax pupils for good behaviour and hard work

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 16, 2026

Inspired Edge Academy, a new independent school in West London opening in 2027, will implement a digital currency called “edge coins” to reward students for positive behavior and academic achievements while teaching financial literacy. This system allows students to invest in campus businesses and contributes taxes to communal resources, aiming to foster practical skills in money management, entrepreneurship, and community responsibility from a young age.

A new independent school set to open in West London in September 2027 will introduce a digital currency system designed to reward students for good behaviour, hard work, and leadership, while also fostering financial literacy. Inspired Edge Academy, located in Kensington, plans to issue “edge coins” to pupils as incentives for academic achievement and positive contributions to the school community.

The digital currency can be used by students to launch and invest in small businesses on campus, encouraging entrepreneurial skills from an early age. However, a portion of the currency will be taxed to fund communal resources such as library books, playground equipment, and class trips. The school described the tax as a way to teach students how collective financial contributions can benefit a wider community.

Mike Lambert, global director of Inspired Education, the organization behind the new school, explained that students will have access to a digital dashboard displaying their earnings, taxes paid, and how funds are allocated. Lambert said children could function as “little venture capitalists,” investing edge coins into promising student-run initiatives, such as food vans, while navigating practical aspects like health and safety regulations.

Inspired Education operates 121 private schools across 28 countries, including Wetherby Prep School, known for having educated the Prince of Wales. Inspired Edge Academy aims to issue edge coins to pupils from the age of eight, rewarding individual and group academic success as well as acts of kindness and leadership. The program intends to provide an age-appropriate understanding of financial concepts including investment, taxation, and interest.

This initiative emerges against a backdrop of concern regarding financial literacy among young people. A recent survey of 10,000 individuals conducted for The Richmond Project, a charity founded by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, found that over half of respondents demonstrated limited understanding of fundamental financial principles such as inflation and compound interest. The same poll revealed that older adults with lower formal education often possess stronger financial skills than younger, more highly educated individuals.

By integrating a hands-on currency system within the school environment, Inspired Edge Academy seeks to address these gaps and equip students with practical money management skills from an early age.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.