Skills Builder Global

This content was written by

Ryders Hayes Primary School

Context

Ryders Hayes got involved with Skills Builder as we have created the Careers Hub 2030 curriculum benefiting the whole school. After researching the world of work, including future technology trends, it was apparent that there needed to be a clear focus on building the skills required for life. Ryders Hayes has interweaved the Skills Builder principles into the Careers 2030 curriculum by ensuring that the children are introduced to these essential skills and spend time identifying the step that they are currently at and how to create an action plan for the future. As well as this, our Teaching Assistants are now using this online learning platform to work with SEN children and support their learning plans.

Overall impact

Teachers, students and the wider community are all using the same language; we are all on the same journey of developing the children into well-rounded individuals who will be successful in any field they wish to work in. Their horizons are broadened and they are actively looking to their futures and what journey they could be going on to get there. Children genuinely ask for Skills Builder lessons!

Keep it simple

We have had a launch assembly to share the summer term focus skills: Aiming High and Staying Positive. These two skills have then been the focus for personal study time as well as part of the PSHE curriculum lessons. The children are awarded two certificates at the end of the term for the child who makes the most progress in each skill. As well as this, it is part of the Careers curriculum and therefore the children are exposed to the language across school on a regular basis.

Start early, keep going

It is part of the Early Years / Foundation Stage Framework within school that visitors from the world of work join to talk about their careers. When they do this, they use the language of Skills Builder so children hear this regularly and make strong links. Key Stages 1 and 2 then build on this in the curriculum as well as in personal study time.

Measure it

We regularly assess against the Skills Builder Hub for whole-class progression. Teaching Assistants work with small groups and 1:1 children who have their own groups to measure progress in essential skills. We also use Skills Passports and Workbooks for children to evidence and share their progress.

Focus tightly

The personal study time is directed time for developing essential skills and therefore the children have at least two sessions weekly, as well as Careers Hub time for a whole day once every half term. The Careers Hub programme supports this progression as well as the Weekly Skills Challenges at home with families through the Skills Builder Home Learning Zone.

Keep practising

We use extra-curricular opportunities through the Careers Hub programme. We have also mapped when essential skills short lessons would be appropriate before certain topics so that children can understand the use of,for example, teamwork in PE.

Bring it to life

Through the Careers Hub curriculum the children delve into different sectors and see how essential skills are core to their success. The children then access real-life challenges whilst working with employers.

What's next

Next, we plan to complete a whole-school challenge day and involve parents with the planning and execution of this. We also want the children to build a group who are concerned with how to develop and celebrate the essential skills even further.

West Midlands

United Kingdom