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At Perseid School, we are dedicated to providing every pupil with the highest quality careers education, which is pupil-centric, raises aspirations for life, encourages independence, builds confidence and empowers all pupils to plan and prepare for adulthood. Our personalised approach to careers education aims to inspire the potential of every pupil, and support every individual to discover their best next step. Careers education is embedded within our engaging and highly-aspirational curriculum and this is complemented by a consideration of the skills and traits our pupils already possess, and the ones they need most help in developing. We decided to get involved with the Skills Builder Accelerator Programme as we believe that by embedding the eight essential skills of employability across all subjects, this would support consistency of skill development in all aspects of learning and life. As a result, we are confident that pupils at Perseid School can aspire to and realise a wide range of destinations in which they can implement their eight essential skills.
Overall impact
Pupils are more aware of what skills they currently have and what skills they themselves want to develop to reach their goals which has enabled them to develop their self-reflection skills and take more ownership over their learning and progress as they work towards their best next step.
Keep it simple
Through teaching within lessons, parent workshops, information sharing on our school website and focus assemblies, the whole school community including students, teachers and parents have all developed a good awareness of the eight essential skills and this is evident through the language used across the school. Students attend weekly assemblies during with they can reflect on the focus skill of the week and receive certificates to praise them for their progress towards this skill following focused skills teaching opportunities, off-site visits or learning around preparation for adulthood. Displays across the school link to the eight essential skills which further contributes to the high value that building essential skills has across the school within all learning areas and contexts. On the school website, parents can access a link to the 'Home Zone', enabling pupils to work on specific skills challenges at home to further develop the skills they need for their best next step.
Start early, keep going
Essential skill development is incorporated into all areas of learning which enables pupils across Perseid Upper School to build their essential skills including in our whole school Enrichment assemblies, special days and events, PSHE lessons and focus weeks such as sport, art and careers week. As pupils approach transition, they have a timetabled Preparation for Adulthood lesson which are based on developing essential skills as they prepare for their best next step. In addition, all pupils learn about essential skills in pastoral time, developing knowledge of the essential skills through the expanded framework and linking this skill to learning in morning group tasks and other lessons during the day, before reflecting on their progress at the end of each day.
Measure it
Staff assess formatively in the moment against the expanded framework and feedback to pupils, in addition to pupils themselves reflecting on their progress using strategies such as two stars and a wish. Where appropriate, pupils complete a vocational profile to self-assess and reflect on their skill development again using the expanded framework. Pupils revisit this each year, re-assess as appropriate and highlight next steps. Pupils also identify what skills they need to develop to support them to work towards their individual aspirations and their best next step, for example, if they aspire to be a football coach they may need to focus on developing leadership, teamwork and staying positive skills.
Focus tightly
Every key stage introduces and teaches the skill of the week in pastoral time. Classes discuss what this skill looks like and how we might develop it using resources such as the skill stories and skill challenges. Throughout the week in different lessons, the skill is revisited and pupil engagement and achievement with this is celebrated and praised including by giving certificates in end of week Friday reflection assembly. Skill of the week posters are displayed in every key stage. Sixth form has a timetabled Preparation for Adulthood lesson which the skills are incorporated into. Specific skill development using the expanded framework has been added to schemes of work i.e. Creative Curriculum, PSHE, PE.
Keep practising
In addition to within all curriculum lessons, there are opportunities for pupils to also develop their essential skills across the wider curriculum including during educational visits, special days, enrichment assemblies and special weeks such as careers week. School Council reflect on their knowledge and progress towards essential skills every year as part of the school questionnaire in addition to thinking about what skills they are developing during meetings as they organise important events such as whole school votes and charity days.
Bring it to life
There are many opportunities for pupils to use their essential skills in real-life challenges, work experience, work encounters and other situations which will support them as they work towards their best next step. During National Careers Week, pupils took part in a challenge day which gave them the opportunity to time to practice the skills they have learned through the creation of a space rocket and space station! Pupils also have the opportunity to take part in various work encounters and experience both on and off-site for which, with support from staff and employers, assess their development against essential skills before and after and identify next steps. Opportunities have included a work encounter with a chef to learn what skills are needed to be a Chef whilst also learning how to make bread. Additionally, pupils have engaged in work experience off-site in the role of Assistant Sports Coach to learn about and experience what skills are needed to successfully fulfil this role.
What's next
Our next steps include further incorporation of essential skills into our wider curriculum such as clubs. Additionally, to look at ways to incorporate skill development across our lower school.
