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We are a mixed sixth form in semi-rural Kent. At Year 7-11, we are a selective school, but in post-16 we engage a wide range of students from different backgrounds. We have below average SEN students, but have higher than national average students with EAL and from BAM backgrounds. We feel like Skills Builder will give our students the skills they need to achieve as citizens in a changing world. Bookmarking the skills they are using should give them more confidence to go onto destinations such as university, higher-level apprenticeships, and challenging and engaging careers, as well as helping their personal lives and mental health.
Overall impact
This year has been tough and Covid has affected the roll out. Certainly, the effect on Year 12 and 13 has been positive for signposting where they are using the skills, which leads to increased confidence and assertiveness. It also builds evidence for them when they come up against applications and interviews for external entities.
Keep it simple
We mostly do this through newsletters and PSHE. There are two types of newsletters: one for the lower years (7-11) and one for sixth form (12&13). Doing this makes the newsletters more relevant to the people reading them rather than students reading unnecessary things that do not concern them in any shape or form. The main goal is to make the newsletter something to look forward to - either as a reflection of the past term or a place to see upcoming events in the next few terms. The Skills Builder steps are highlighted for each area, sometimes singularly and sometimes jointly when relevant to more than one area.
Start early, keep going
Bubble restrictions made rolling this out difficult. The main areas where links to Skills Builder were made were during PSHE and Sixth Form drop down mornings, with the language evident on all slides and referred to by teachers leading the sessions.
Measure it
The Skills Builder self-assessment platform is used by sixth-form students in form times and PSHE sessions. Form tutors track progress and give advice to students on how they can develop their competencies. This is also done through Unifrog that links with the Skills Builder steps when building personal statements for university applications.
Focus tightly
The Skills Builder self-assessment platform is used by sixth-form students in form times and PSHE sessions. Form tutors track progress and give advice to students on how they can develop their competencies. This is also done through Unifrog that links with the Skills Builder steps when building personal statements for university applications.
Keep practising
This is mostly done through our newsletter. Students are encouraged to submit articles based on the Skills Builder steps. This is an area to develop.
Bring it to life
We run a Year 12 Futures week where students consider careers and next steps. This is done through a variety of internal and external speakers interacting with students for careers in finance, law, medicine, education and many more. Form tutors are encouraged in the morning sessions to refer to Skills Builder criteria when looking at the different career options and when constructing personal statements. This is mostly done through the Unifrog website when looking at competencies - but the same language is used.
What's next
Skills Builder needs to be much more embedded. A new scheme that I am imagining is running an award where students have to create a portfolio based on the Skills Builder steps. This would be celebrated in an awards ceremony. This is just an idea at the moment!
