We decided to get involved with Skills Builder to raise aspirations for all and to provide opportunities for our students to reflect on key employability skills. We wanted all of students to be involved with essential skills learning so our programme starts in Year 7, and runs all the way through to Year 11.

Too often our students did not know skills that would be beneficial in the future, but also which skills they did already possess and use regularly. To address this, each student receives their own Skills Builder workbook for each academic year which allows them to reflect and to track progress in how their essential skills develop over time.

The aim for embedding Skills Builder into our school curriculum was to ensure our students know a wide range of essential skills, understand that they are transferable and be able to recognise their own skills and highlight which they need to improve. Our form tutors use the Skills Builder Hub to directly teach short lessons to build essential skills, and they are also offered the opportunity to take part in regular training.

We have an outstanding student leadership programme, including the school council, which allows our students the chance to develop their skills. We also have whole school competitions and projects such as Dragon's Den.

We ask employers to discuss the Skills Builder skills in detail when they visit school or carry out an online interview. This again brings to life the importance of these skills and allows students to listen to how they are used in the world of work.