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We are a 3-form entry Junior School based in Dagenham with a diverse and complex community. 39 languages other than English are spoken at our school. 43% of our school population speak English as a first language. Our overall SEND population is above the national benchmarks and while 35% of pupils are eligible for Pupil Premium, we are acutely aware that many families just miss the threshold and still face significant financial hardship. Inclusion is at the heart of all we do and we have a strong focus on the importance of good mental health and promoting personal development.
Overall impact
The Skills Builder Accelerator Programme has helped us strengthen the way we teach and celebrate essential skills at DBJA. Staff are now more confident in identifying, modelling and promoting the essential skills across a range of curriculum subjects and wider school experiences.
Pupils increasingly use the language of the skills to reflect on their learning and recognise strengths in themselves and others. Through assemblies, classroom discussions, enrichment opportunities and recognition systems, the essential skills have become a visible part of school life.
Our pupils particularly enjoy opportunities to apply the skills in practical and meaningful contexts. Skills Builder projects have enabled children to work collaboratively, solve problems creatively, demonstrate their learning in authentic ways and for skills development to become part of their lived experiences.
The programme has also aligned closely with our school's focus on personal development, helping pupils build confidence, resilience and independence while preparing them for transition to secondary school and future careers.
Keep it simple
Essential skills have been introduced and reinforced through regular assemblies, classroom discussions, curriculum activities, discrete lessons and through integrating skills talk into whole school events such as Aspirations Week. Skills are displayed prominently around the school and in classrooms, providing a consistent visual reminder for pupils and staff.
Teachers use the vocabulary of the skills when providing feedback, setting expectations and discussing successes. They are also beginning to be integrated into our Individual Support Plans for children with additional needs.
Start early, keep going
Although DBJA is a Junior School, many pupils begin their journey with us already familiar with discussing learning behaviours and personal strengths. We build on this from Year 3 onwards, ensuring that the language of the essential skills develops progressively throughout Key Stage 2.
Assemblies, class reflection opportunities and enrichment experiences allow pupils to revisit and deepen their understanding of the skills year after year.
Parents are also included early through our Barley Bulletin, celebration events and discussions about how the skills support learning both in and outside school.
Measure it
We have begun using Skills Builder assessment tools to help identify pupils' current strengths and areas for development. These provide useful discussion points for teachers and support our understanding of pupil progress and what age-related looks like in relation to skills development.
As implementation continues, we aim to strengthen our use of assessment information to track progress and support targeted development and intervention. Our aim is to make the assessment and tracking of the Essential Skills part of our pupil progress systems at DBJA. Skills matter at our school.
Focus tightly
Essential skills have been introduced through a structured programme of assemblies and classroom activities. This provides pupils with focused opportunities to learn about a skill before applying it in different contexts.
Our Skills Builder projects have provided protected curriculum time for pupils to develop and practise specific skills. These projects have been carefully linked to wider curriculum themes so that pupils can apply both subject knowledge and essential skills together.
This focused approach ensures that pupils understand not only what the skills are, but also why they matter and how they can be used both in school and beyond. However, we know we need an even tighter focus going forward and our next steps in Skills Builder have been mapped into our 2026-2027 School Development Plan.
Keep practising
Pupils regularly practise the essential skills across the curriculum and through wider enrichment opportunities. Visits, workshops, sporting events, performances and special themed days all provide opportunities for children to apply and strengthen their skills.
Teachers increasingly identify opportunities within planning to develop specific skills such as Speaking, Teamwork, Leadership and Creativity. This helps pupils recognise that the skills are relevant in every subject and not limited to specific projects.
Our broad curriculum and extensive enrichment programme provide authentic opportunities for pupils to practise the skills in meaningful and engaging contexts.
Bring it to life
One of the most successful aspects of Skills Builder has been the opportunity for pupils to apply their learning in real-world situations. Project-based activities allow pupils to solve problems, work collaboratively and communicate their ideas with genuine purpose.
Whether presenting to an audience, participating in enterprise activities, leading group projects or contributing to wider school initiatives, like our Pupil Voice Teams, pupils are given regular opportunities to develop and showcase the essential skills.
These experiences help pupils make connections between classroom learning, future aspirations and the wider world. They also give children confidence in their ability to succeed in new and unfamiliar situations. Next year we aim to really bring the skills to life by integrating the Challenge Days into our personal development offer.
What's next
The Skills Builder Accelerator Programme has established strong foundations for the future at DBJA. Our next step is to further embed the essential skills within everyday teaching, learning and behaviour so that they become fully integrated into our school culture, part of our common language, fostering a shared purpose and sense of belonging. We also aim to strengthen pupil self-reflection and assessment so that children can clearly identify their own progress and set goals for future development. Part of this will focus on ensuring that parents are more involved and informed about the how and why of skills development at DBJA. We aim to link the Pupil Passports with wider personal development opportunities and our Trust wide 11b411 initiatives. At DBJA, we recognise that essential skills are not only important for academic success but that they also play a significant role in supporting pupils' mental health, so we will also use it to support mental health initiatives at DBJA.
