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The Kingston Academy opened in 2015 and I joined the school in September 2020 in the capacity of Careers Lead. I wanted to begin to embed a comprehensive and clear framework to support the understanding of skills across the school, with particular on focus on Key Stage 4 & 5. The aim of this was to support students to understand and identify their own skills, how they can develop them and use them in applications.
Overall impact
This framework [and programme] has enabled a common language and approach to discuss and learn about skills. It has been great to see students understand that they can learn skills and how they can do this through the materials available. In addition, the framework helps students to understand why each skill is important in school, education and employment.
Keep it simple
Workshops in PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) and tutor group activities have been delivered for Key Stage 4 and 5. The framework has been introduced through assembly to all year groups and a focused session for Year 9. The aim is to simplify the language about skills used throughout the school and to be consistent with the Skills Builder framework. Communication is posted on the Career Google Classroom for each year group.
Start early, keep going
We have started to introduce Skills Builders to year groups below Key Stages 4 and 5. This will be continued. We have also started to introduce Skills Builder for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to support their learning and development. Links are made to all the skills in terms of learning, education and beyond (employment). The framework is used to support students understand about life long learning and the need to aim high.
Measure it
Students in Year 12 have been benchmarked against 4 skills using Skills Builder Benchmark and and a self-evaluation took place during the Summer term. This data has been used to support students in Year 12 with their applications for post-18 and also to become confident in the growth within the four skills - Leadership, Problem Solving, Staying Positive and Aiming High. In addition, the school uses Start and therefore the integration of skills will begin with the new update starting from September 2021.
Focus tightly
We decided to focus on four skills for Year 12 only to keep focus. We also linked enrichment opportunities to the skills framework and through PSHE lessons demonstrated how skills are used in application processes. Moreover, by introducing the framework at the beginning of Year 12, the students are able to see how they have grown and developed. This is reinforced through tutor-led activities.
Keep practising
The enrichment opportunities for Year 12 provide the opportunity for students to practise and develop different skills. The teachers in Year 12 also provide opportunities through enrichment and class discussions/activities to enhance and expand their skills.
Bring it to life
Through virtual opportunities, students have been able to understand the importance of the skills for their future. All students in Years 10, 11 and 12 had access to virtual work experience and the framework was used to support this. Skills and the link to post-16 and post-18 education are also discussed through dedicated PSHE sessions.
What's next
Moving forward, there are plans in place to continue to use the framework with the year groups it has already been introduced to, building further on the foundations made in Key Stages 3 and 4. Furthermore, essential skills will form part of the offering to Sixth Form.
