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Located within a disadvantaged and culturally rich area of the UK, Millbrook Primary School is committed to fostering student potential beyond the confines of their socioeconomic background. Recognising the limitations of a purely traditional curriculum, we actively sought a program that would equip our students with a transferable skillset for lifelong success. This led us to join the Skills Builder Accelerator program in 2021. Within the first year, we achieved Gold status, a testament to the expertise of our dedicated Skills Champion. With over five years of experience working with Skills Builder, this champion has successfully embedded skills-based practices into the very fabric of Millbrook. The impact of Skills Builder has been great. Over the past two years, the program has empowered our pupils to not only excel academically, but to also develop a thirst for exploration. By fostering open-ended, endless opportunities, Skills Builder has broadened student horizons beyond the school gates. Careers once unimaginable are now actively considered, and pupils aspire to "be and do more." In our diverse community, skills-based language transcends cultural barriers, fostering a shared sense of ownership over the program. Every lesson presents an opportunity for skill development, and our community and employer links further enrich the learning experience. This holistic approach ensures that every pupil thrives ? not just within the confines of the classroom, but throughout their lives in a world brimming with possibilities.
Overall impact
The Skills Builder programme has had a significant impact on the school, and its wider community. Pupils aspire to be and do more, broadening their horizons and experiences beyond the school gate, and considering careers which may have been previously unheard of. In a deprived, and multi-cultural demographic, skills-based language is shared, and shared sense of ownership over the programme means that every pupil thrives through their achievement of skills in every lesson. Headteacher (Kirsty Osman) said: ?The Skills Builder programme significantly enhances our educational offer, providing our children with essential life skills. By integrating these into our curriculum our students develop a strong foundation for future success. It actively promotes resilience, and self-confidence, preparing our students for real-world challenges. We are proud to be a flagship school for skills builder and I am excited to continue the work with skills builder in supporting our children?s future?. Skills Leaders at the school said: ?The Skills Builder programme empowers our students by fostering life-long skills like problem solving, communication and leadership. Skills builder is intertwined into vision and values here at Millbrook and provides our pupils with opportunities to put the key skills in practice. The programme supports in preparing them for the future and having the high aspirations moving forward?.
Keep it simple
At Millbrook, we believe essential skills are fundamental. Our programme seamlessly integrates them into the core curriculum, fostering a vibrant learning environment that extends beyond the classroom. Interactive Skills Builder displays are a staple in every classroom, providing a consistent visual representation of key skills. This shared language permeates all aspects of school life, from assemblies and workshops to employer events and parental engagement. This emphasis on both visual representation and a common vocabulary fosters a sense of shared ownership and consistent application by staff, students, and the wider community. Furthermore, skills development is meticulously woven into the National Curriculum framework. Every lesson incorporates an explicitly taught and assessed skill step or objective, aligned with the relevant subject's long-term and medium-term plans. This ensures consistent reinforcement and assessment of essential skills for all students.
Start early, keep going
Our meticulously planned curriculum integrates skills and future careers. Essential skills are purposefully and consistently woven into the curriculum, evident in Medium Term Plans and lesson delivery. Learning objectives often focus on skills, particularly in core subjects like Maths and Reading, then cascade across the Wider Curriculum. Each lesson leverages subject-specific PowerPoints referencing prominent figures, fostering connections between learning and future careers. All students participate in Project Week and Challenge Days, starting as early as Nursery (age 2). This reinforces skill-based language from a young age and fosters natural curriculum-to-skill connections. Across Key Stage 1 and 2, students attend regular employer events, participate in the annual Careers Fair, and collaborate with subject-specific employers like engineers, authors, musicians, and sports coaches. Early Years explore careers through play-based activities and role-play experiences.
Measure it
As skill steps are explicitly referenced within each lesson taught, pupils self-assess and teachers then formally assess whether skill steps have been demonstrated/met. This enables teachers to formally assess their class skill base and pitch lessons with a skill in mind at the appropriate step. Teachers use the universal framework and Skills Builder hub to ensure that lessons are pitched appropriately. This means that every lesson is an opportunity to discuss skills, with planning and curriculum design written with skill based objectives and language. Termly staff meetings enable successful implementation, planning, assessment and skill dialogue between teachers and support staff raising the programmes profile further. The Skills Leader monitors the curriculum planning through book looks.
Focus tightly
Skills are explicitly taught and referenced within every lesson which means pupils self-assess and teachers then formally assess whether skill steps have been demonstrated/met. Staff meetings enable successful implementation, planning, assessment and skill dialogue between teachers and support staff. Through incidental opportunities such as transition, plenaries or story shares, staff utilise the Skills Builder Hub to access additional materials to enhance skill understanding and success - such as Skill Stories and Skill Assemblies, followed by skills-based workshops. Across the school there are Key Stage Skill Champions from the Senior Leadership Team who provide ?hands-on? support to teaching staff in delivering the programme most effectively.
Keep practising
Subject leaders map the essential skills to ensure explicit reference within their curriculum subject; however, teachers take overall responsibility for the skill step taught which is in line with ongoing assessment and skill reflection. Staff voice is gathered, linking skills and subject knowledge across with different subjects, e.g., humanities, As a RWI model school, the speaking and listening skills are used daily and are referenced through visual icons. External employers deliver subject-specific teaching and clubs which means that constant reference is being made to the essential skills as part of our curriculum and extra-curricular offer. For example, coding within ICT, musicians delivering choir, ukulele and lessons, sports coaching from Shrewsbury Town, cooking and nutrition implementing a tuck shop, author visits to support writing, newspaper club with journalists as well as our dojo shop incorporating financial aspects in line with interest rates.
Bring it to life
Through daily reference to significant individuals, project week, employer visits and our Careers Fair, pupils have planned opportunities throughout the academic year to bring their skills to life. Within each lesson, consistent skill rehearsal and practise enables them to apply their essential skills with intent during our additional provision offer. This extends to our school councillors and prefects who are keen to demonstrate their leadership in upper KS2. We recognise that skills-based language is beneficial to learning but can often support pupils beyond the academics and this has been recognised through celebrations and achievements. When promoting our free after-school clubs, parents are shown the skills their child will focus on. We understand the value of offering these cultural capital opportunities for pupils. It has a positive impact upon skills they will use in their child?s future.
What's next
Looking ahead, we are honoured to present at an upcoming network event, showcasing the transformative impact of our Skills Builder programme on Millbrook learners. To further equip students for life beyond the classroom, we are introducing "Financial Days" throughout the school calendar. These interactive sessions will utilise role-play scenarios, such as shop simulations, to hone pupils' problem-solving, leadership, and positive thinking skills. Furthermore, we are committed to expanding the reach and impact of the Skills Builder programme. We are developing engaging workshops for parents and carers, empowering them to support their children's development of these essential life skills. Additionally, we are actively forging partnerships with businesses to provide enriching experiences and opportunities for our students. This collaborative approach also includes increasing the Skills Builder's profile through strategic placement of visual aids like banners and flags.
