Slide 1 of 7 · Settling starter · PSE / Well-being · Year 9
5 minutesComparing Payslips, Deductions and Saving Plans for a First Job
When you start your first job, checking your payslip against your timesheet protects you from underpayment errors. Today you will audit two monthly payslips from Caerphilly Leisure Centre and model a £600 driving-lesson savings plan.
While the register is called: write your name, class and date on your worksheet, then compare Megan’s signed timesheet with her printed payslip in Section 1 of the stimulus sheet.
Starter question: How many overtime hours are missing from Megan’s printed payslip, and how much extra gross pay is she owed at £15.00 per hour?
Slide 2 of 7 · Today’s brief and key terms · PSE / Well-being · Year 9
5 minutesGross Pay, Deductions and Net Take-Home Pay
Every payslip separates what you earn before deductions (Gross Pay) from what lands in your bank account (Net Pay).
| Payroll term | Formula / definition |
|---|---|
| Gross Pay | (Basic hours × basic rate) + (Overtime hours × overtime rate). |
| Deductions | Income Tax (PAYE) + National Insurance (NI) + Workplace Pension + Staff Passes. |
| Net Pay | Gross Pay − Total Deductions (the take-home amount you can budget with). |
Slide 3 of 7 · Step 1: Audit Megan’s and Rhodri’s payslips · PSE / Well-being · Year 9
10 minutesStep 1: Fix Megan’s Underpayment and Calculate Both Net Pays
Use Sections 1 and 2 of the stimulus sheet to complete Step 1 on your worksheet for both Megan (Lifeguard) and Rhodri (Cafe Supervisor).
Worked check for Megan’s Corrected Gross Pay:
Basic pay: 80 hrs × £10.00 = £800.00.
Corrected overtime pay: 10.0 hrs × £15.00 = £150.00 (£52.50 more than the £97.50 printed).
Corrected Gross Pay: £800.00 + £150.00 = £950.00.
Slide 4 of 7 · Step 2: Compare the 50/30/20 budget and spreadsheet model · PSE / Well-being · Year 9
10 minutesStep 2: Model Megan’s £600 Driving-Lesson Fund
Use Section 4 of the stimulus sheet (Megan’s Corrected Net Pay is £900.00/month) to compare Plan A (50/30/20 Rule) against Plan B (Trimmed Wants Model) and write the spreadsheet formulas.
Plan A (50 / 30 / 20)
Needs (50%) = £450.00
Wants (30%) = £270.00
Savings (20%) = £180.00 / month
3-month total = £540.00 (£60 short)
Plan B (Spreadsheet Model)
Needs = £450.00
Wants (cut by £20) = £250.00
Savings = £200.00 / month
3-month total = £600.00 (Target met!)
Slide 5 of 7 · Step 3: Write a payroll query and financial advice · PSE / Well-being · Year 9
12 minutesStep 3: Write Megan’s Payroll Email and Savings Recommendation
Complete the two short writing tasks in Step 3:
- Part 1 (Polite payroll message): Write a 4-sentence email from Megan to the Caerphilly Leisure Centre payroll officer explaining the 3.5-hour overtime error, showing the calculation (3.5 × £15.00 = £52.50) and stating her corrected gross pay (£950.00).
- Part 2 (Financial advice): Explain why Megan should keep paying her 4% workplace pension (£38.00) and choose Plan B to reach her £600 driving-lesson goal in 3 months.
Slide 6 of 7 · Step 4: What-if modelling and self-check · PSE / Well-being · Year 9
5 minutesStep 4: Why Spreadsheets Use Cell References Instead of Fixed Numbers
In Step 4, explain why a spreadsheet formula like =B2*0.20 is much better for financial modelling than typing the fixed number 180 into a cell. Then tick the success criteria checklist.
Think about: What happens automatically in the spreadsheet if Megan works extra overtime next month and her Net Pay in cell B2 changes from £900 to £960?
Slide 7 of 7 · Plenary quick check · PSE / Well-being · Year 9
3 minutesPlenary Quick Check Before Hand-In
Check your final payroll and savings figures against the board:
| Item | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| Megan’s missing overtime & Corrected Gross Pay | 3.5 hours × £15.00 = £52.50 owed → Corrected Gross Pay = £950.00 |
| Megan’s deductions & Corrected Net Pay | 4% pension (£38.00) + Gym pass (£12.00) = £50.00 → Net Pay = £900.00 |
| Rhodri’s 5% pension, Total Deductions & Net Pay | 5% of £1,760 = £88.00 → Deductions = £287.00 → Net Pay = £1,473.00 |