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Woodbridge High School is a thriving, ethnically diverse and successful comprehensive secondary school that serves its local community in the heart of Woodford. The school is a ten form entry school with 300 students in each year group. We are proud of the many students at Woodbridge who aspire to great things, which is why we have our 'Aspire Higher' programme in place to support them realise their dreams. We have an ever-growing number of alumni who have gone on to impressive academic and professional futures, and this starts with engaging in a full range of in-class and extra-curricular academic activities at school. 'Higher Aspiring' students are identified in Year 7 using a number of criteria: CATS scores, academic attainment and aptitude, outstanding ability and performance (e.g. sport, music, drama) and teacher input. Once identified, students are encouraged to stretch and further their abilities through a variety of activities and opportunities. Every year, we run a programme of competitions, activities and additional lessons, where students are proactive in tailor-made projects. This is called the 'Aspire Higher' programme. Students develop the skills through the skill builder guidance and build a peer group with these aspirations in common.
Overall impact
It has been useful to create a clear focus to the Aspire Higher program that will encourage students to improve in these important skills to become more successful candidates in the world of work
Keep it simple
We have used Skills Builder in our school by embedding it into projects that our high achieving students complete in a program they apply for. This is then completed through the year with their elected teachers.
Start early, keep going
The Aspire/Skills Builder program is run through KS3 and KS5. They use those skills in helping them complete other projects in KS4.
Measure it
We have been assessing each student of the skills they have built at the end of each project. they complete a variety of projects through out the year to test their skills.
Focus tightly
Through the projects we give specific breakdowns that focus on each of the skills. this will be based on a lesson so they know in one lesson they may be focusing on a specific skill. The teacher will use the criteria to mark each student in each area, and give them an average level across the skills developed at the end of the project.
Keep practising
We have used projects, Skills Builder Challenge days and the Short Lessons on Skills Builder Hub to provide regular opportunities for students to practise and apply their essential skills.
Bring it to life
We run a number of special projects where students apply their essential skills to other areas e.g. Careers based projects, Challenge days and soon the work experience workshop
What's next
We hope to make it more whole school and embed it into every day teaching and lessons in subjects in the future.
