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The school is a special setting with the designation of Communication and Interaction, we have 130 students on roll from age 7 to 16. The majority of students have a diagnosis of Autism although this is not a requirement to attend the setting, to gain a place at the setting you need to have an EHCP. The school applied for a bursary to access the Accelerator programme which we were successful in securing we were looking at this programme to help us deliver a skills based online learning platform for all students in KS3 leading onto a KS4 programme specifically around careers.
Overall impact
The impact of the programme has been immense, we have been able to include the skills across all curriculum areas as well as ensuring that students have been able to link with your external providers who has dispelled the myths for them in relation to them moving into the workforce. The teachers have found the system easy to use and also adaptable for our students, the lessons are also suitable in length. The highlight has been the interactions with employers.
Keep it simple
To ensure that we have been building the awareness of the essential skills we have displayed the skill posters in high traffic areas for all students to see as they move past as well as the skills icons being displayed in classrooms. We completed a launch for KS3 in January where we introduced the skills as part of the curriculum as well as using the terms in different lessons. House points are awarded for skill effort. This is linked to values. Teachers are using the language in different areas of the school and some students are starting to do this despite language acquisition. Students are using the language of the skills and referencing how they use the skills in different subjects and areas of school life.
Start early, keep going
We have been delivering Skills builder across KS3, this is to ensure that students are familiar with the terms and concepts before moving onto a specific careers progression programme in key stage four. The students have been exploring a range of situations where they can apply the skills as well as applying their essential skills to the virtual career visits they have completed as part of skills builder. We also rolled the programme out to year 11 post exams where they worked specifically on communication and staying positive with their transition to post 16 settings.
Measure it
We have been using Skills builder to baseline the students in terms of the best fit approach for the whole class, this has enabled the teachers to reflect upon the range of ability within the class and then choose the most suitable level of resource to ensure that the group were both supported and stretch their knowledge. We are also going to keep separate records for the smaller sub steps in the hub.
Focus tightly
Our Y7 and 8 - PSHE lesson every other week will focus on Skills Builder. All will use hub lessons. PM2: Focused time in PSHE lessons. PM3: Timetabled lessons will continue next year. Y7 and 8 will have a skills builder lesson and year 9 and 10 will study skills as part of their careers lesson. We are looking to evolve this further by pairing the skills with projects to take students into the community to look at how skills are used more widely.
Keep practising
We ensure that the teachers of our classes are using the skill names within other subjects, therefore linking the skills to other subjects and everyday life. We are exploring the idea of using projects to emphases the skills which will enable the students to continue to explore skills and how they are used in everyday life. Students are now confidently talking about subject links. Teachers are using the concepts and ideas of the skills and making this subject relevant.
Bring it to life
All year groups took part in careers insights sessions which they found really valuable, especially as the employers put out students at ease and also dispelled some of the concerns around work places and how they will be accepted within the workplace. We will be looking at work experience modules for next year to introduce students to the workplace.
What's next
We are looking at linking virtual work experience and also more project based learning, therefore consolidating the skills and also ensuring that students have the ability to practice them within their familiar and safe space.
