At Peaceville International Academy, students in Key Stage 3 and 4 engage in dedicated weekly lessons aimed at cultivating essential skills. To ensure these skills are consistently integrated across the curriculum, all subject leaders have embedded relevant references into their schemes of work and lesson plans. Our teaching staff actively draw upon resources from the Skills Builder Hub to enhance skill development. Visual tools such as step descriptors and icons are regularly incorporated into lessons to promote clarity and foster meaningful discussions. Parent-Teacher Conferences provide an important opportunity for parents to offer feedback on their child's progress with these skills and to highlight areas for further development. This holistic approach fosters a shared commitment to embedding essential skills into everyday learning and strengthening the collaboration between school and home

Teachers routinely monitor students’ progress in developing essential skills through everyday classroom activities and assessments, utilising resources available on the Skills Builder Hub website. They have the flexibility to select from a range of tools—including passports, workbooks, assemblies, lessons, and additional materials provided by Skills Builder—or to incorporate their own creative approaches to support student growth. In addition, we compile detailed termly snapshots to track individual progress, providing a clear overview of each student’s development over time. This data not only allows us to celebrate accomplishments but also helps identify areas needing further support. By doing so, we ensure that each student’s journey of skill acquisition remains personalised, continuous, and focused on ongoing improvement.

Each student was assigned an Individual Social Responsibility to engage with students from other schools by discussing essential skills. This interaction was also conducted through oral presentations, providing an extra platform for practising communication and collaborative skills. Following their self-evaluation, students set personal goals for improvement, which they pursued through individualised, self-directed learning on the learning hub tailored to their chosen focus. They then revisited the same presentation, consciously applying the strategies they had developed. This process of re-presenting with a clear focus on specific goals allowed students to implement new techniques, deepen their understanding of effective speaking, and significantly enhance their overall communication abilities.

Essential skills are clearly integrated across all subjects and year levels, with their importance explicitly outlined within the schemes of work. Many teachers regularly display skills charts during lessons to reinforce these concepts, and an increasing number are incorporating the skills icons directly into their presentation slides to embed them more seamlessly into daily learning. In vocational subjects, educators utilise Teamwork passports, encouraging students to reflect on how they have applied specific teamwork skills during their projects and activities. Subjects such as English Language and ICT have also started incorporating the skills icons into their lesson materials, further embedding these skills into the curriculum. Outside the classroom, students have additional opportunities to practice and reflect on their essential skills through various extracurricular activities, including Origami, Chess, Swimming, Coding, and more. The student journals are being updated to include dedicated sections where students can document instances of skills they have demonstrated and developed. Additionally, our Year 9 students make notes in their work experience booklets about the key skills they aim to develop during their placements. This process helps them identify focal points for growth and reflect on their progress throughout their work experience, fostering a deeper understanding of their personal skill development

Peaceville International Academy actively encourages the extension of learning beyond the classroom, positioning essential skills as a crucial foundation to support students in their extracurricular pursuits. Our students have effectively harnessed their developing communication, positivity, resilience, aspiration, teamwork, and leadership skills to excel in a wide range of activities. These include participation in the Talent Hunt, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the Student Leaders Investiture, Chess Competitions, Leading Assemblies, delivering presentations, Sports Fiestas, musical performances, debating, literary outings, work experience, peer conflict resolution, and meaningful engagement with staff. This comprehensive approach aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals equipped with the skills necessary for both personal development and academic success.