When rappers are usually talking about money, the focus is usually on big cars and “bling” but British rapper Tinchy Stryder has been bucking the trend, teaching schoolchildren in London about the importance of looking after your finances.

As part of a government scheme to introduce concepts of debt and financial management to children at a younger age, the 22-year-old rapper spoke to youngsters in South London about the value of saving and investing.

The drive comes after growing criticism over the level of financial management education in schools, with critics claiming that the government had been introducing the idea of debt to school leavers at a younger age, largely through the student loan system, without providing education and support to help them fully understand the concept of financial planning and debt problems.

Money education is being introduced into schools and is due to become a compulsory part of the curriculum in the near future.

Tinchy, who funded his first album by selling clothes in London, was supportive of the scheme and was keen to promote the saving message.

"From however young you are to however old you are, and whatever you have got, do not always spend your last penny," he told BBC's Working Lunch.

"Always put some money away. I've learnt from that."

His appearance at a London school was part of a publicity drive for education materials for teaching personal finance, partly funded by the government.

"When I was at school we did not get taught about managing money, but it is important to sit them down and talk about managing finances," said the star, whose hits include Number 1.

"When you come out of school, there is a whole new world and investing and things makes sense. I never knew that when I was younger."