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At West Sussex Alternative Provision College (WSAPC), we work with students across seven separate locations across West Sussex. We provide full-time education places for 292 children and young people who have been permanently excluded, those at risk of exclusion and those out of school for medical reasons. We strive to provide our students with a fresh approach to learning and integrating the essential skills underpins this by providing the students with a concrete understanding of their value as an individual and within the context of the world of work.
Overall impact
Prior to taking part in Skills Builder Accelerator Programme, it was evident that students at West Sussex Alternative Provision College (WSAPC) were unaware of the skills required and how to use them. This was evidenced by Mock Interviews conducted in-house and feedback from FE interviews for our Year 11s, where if a skills related question was asked, they would give up. For our Year 7s to Year 10s it was through the creation of a Skills Builder baseline - Where do I use the skills? The data from these evidenced their lack of understanding of when and how to use the skills. Students were only able to identify using a skill in a set area, for example Speaking/Listening in English, Problem Solving in Maths, and Creativity in Art etc. It was also evident that students struggled to use the skills to help them to resolve social issues inside and outside of school. Since implementing the Skills Builder Programme to our curriculum, we have seen marked progress in the knowledge and use of the 8 essential skills, with students recognising their use and putting them into practice in both their school and home lives. Relationships between their peers and school staff are improving and the feedback from FE providers for Year 11s shows a marked improvement in interview skills. During a recent Ofsted Inspection, students were able to discuss Skills Builder, what it is, how it is used in school and give examples of how they have used it to turn a negative experience to a positive; further evidence that Skills Builder is making a positive impact to the students both academically and to their overall well-being.
Keep it simple
Since starting the Accelerator + programme, we have developed awareness of the essential skills through training sessions for all staff and tailored sessions for our Heads of Centres, Teachers in Charge and Subject Leads. The development of the essential skills form part of strategic planning and policy development, especially within the Personal Development and Careers areas. The language of the essential skills is used across many areas of the school through displaying the skills icons in all classroom areas and through assemblies to celebrate the students' individual achievements.
Start early, keep going
We understand the need to start developing the essential skills as early as possible and so, we plan to integrate the development of the essential skills throughout all key stages (KS1-5) across the centres.
Measure it
Students use both the Benchmark tool and a summary baseline grid to assess their strengths and areas for development in focused skill areas. This allows both the staff and students to set targets and to see progress and this is recognised through the school's reward system.
Focus tightly
We focus on one or two skills per half term, where we can baseline, develop and monitor the skills specifically. These are then taught explicitly through engaging the students in practical learning tasks, relating the skills explicitly using enterprise-based projects and in some centres this is taught directly using external resources from Barclays Life Skills.
Keep practising
The students across West Sussex Alternative Provision College (WSAPC) are provided with a breadth of opportunities to practice the essential skills within the wider curriculum through referencing the skills throughout the day and rewarding students for demonstrating them.
Bring it to life
Development of the essential skills is integrated within our enterprise offer throughout the school. These projects include designing, making and selling products at the Goodwoof event, engaging in social enterprise projects including building your own barista business and pitching project ideas to our Senior Leadership Team for funding internal/centre-based projects. The skills are made explicit throughout the projects from the start through to their written reflections of their experiences on their CVs.
What's next
Our next step will be to integrate the essential skills within the school's marking policy and have the essential skills integrated across all curriculum areas. We aim to develop the essential skills across all Key Stages (KS1-5) and this will be monitored across the centres through learning walks by the Careers Lead and our Director of Learning.
