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QUEEN’ S PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Over the past two years, Queen’ s Park High School in Chester has focused on building students’ eight essential skills for the world of work, drawing on the Skills Builder Framework and principles.
Upskilling teachers Investing in training and supporting the teachers was an initial priority: although staff intuitively knew the essential skills were important, few had received training in how to build them in their pupils. They began by using the eight Skills Builder skills( teamwork; leadership; problem solving; creativity; listening; presenting; aiming high, and staying positive) consistently throughout the school.
“ Teachers use short, punchy activities during form periods to help students understand and develop work skills, and treat Challenge Days as an opportunity to apply these”
CASE STUDY
Assessing students’ needs Students’ existing strengths and weaknesses were explored via Skills Builder assessment tools. As head teacher Lyndsay Watterson explains:“ This helped us focus on target areas for the school, particular year groups and individual students.”
Rather than guessing students’ comprehension and attainment levels, teachers could reflect on each skill, a component at a time.
Building skills With these insights, the school designed and ran a programme that builds students’ essential work skills, as well as supporting other Gatsby Benchmarks. Teachers use short, punchy activities during form periods to help students understand and develop work skills, and treat Challenge Days as an opportunity for pupils to apply these to a common challenge.
They also linked skills directly to the world of work through visits to businesses, including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, with which the school has a close partnership.
For Watterson, the value of building essential skills is clear:“ These skills set our students apart,” she says, pointing out that, in interviews, they demonstrate abilities beyond academic achievement.“ This is the way to open doors for many of our students.”
LEARN MORE Sign up to find out how to build the skills to succeed. hub. skillsbuilder. org
THE SKILLS BUILDER PARTNERSHIP Underpinned by the Skills Builder Framework, this brings together schools, employers and other skills-building organisations to transform the skills of more than 100,000 students each year. skillsbuilder. org
24 // EMPLOYABILITY