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At Great Howarth School, we believe in providing a holistic education that empowers students with the core skills needed for success in life and work. Our consistent and strategic implementation of the Skills Builder framework through our Personal Development pathway has allowed us to develop, reinforce, and celebrate student achievement in the eight essential skills: Listening, Speaking, Problem Solving, Creativity, Staying Positive, Aiming High, Leadership, and Teamwork.
Through a wide variety of timetabled enriching activities and structured curriculum integration “Future me” we are proud to demonstrate that Great Howarth has not only embraced but excelled in aligning its educational offerings with the Gold level of the Skills Builder Partnership.
Overall impact
Teachers are empowered to plan enriching activites inside and outside the classroom.
TA's are indpendantly collating evidence through scrapbooking.
Senior Leaders are training staff thorugh the staff CPD calender.
All parts of our school community is implementing skills for life through the program.
Keep it simple
To promote self-awareness, reflection, and goal-setting, Great Howarth has introduced personal development scrapbooks for every student. This innovative initiative has allowed students to chart their journey in building the eight essential skills. From setting realistic personal goals to reviewing their own progress term by term, students take ownership of their development.
Scrapbooking has encouraged creative expression, allowing students to showcase their learning in visual and written formats. It has also fostered communication between students, teachers, and parents, offering a tangible record of growth. The engagement with these scrapbooks has cultivated a culture of self-reflection and accountability—a foundational aspect of skill-building at the Gold level.
Start early, keep going
This academic year marked the successful launch of our new student council, composed of a diverse group of enthusiastic students eager to represent their peers and influence school decisions. One of their first major projects involved visiting our book supplier to select new books for the school library. This activity not only gave them real-world responsibility but also required extensive collaboration, budget management, and decision-making.
Measure it
We are thrilled to announce a 37.27% increase in student engagement and participation at our school from September to April.
This impressive growth reflects the enthusiasm and dedication of our students, as well as the effectiveness of our positive reinforcement strategies.
A key contributor to this success has been our ClassDojo points system, which rewards students across a range of categories that promote personal growth, community values, and academic excellence.
These categories include:
Positive Mindset
Listening Skills
Achievement
Community Work
Aiming High
Engagement
Communication Skills
On Task
Be Respectful
Be Safe
Creativity
Be Ready
Leadership
UN Rights Respecting Work
Teamwork
Completing a Set Task
This year our TA working party has formed many changemaking decisions across school to also support staff and student wellbeing with key initatives.
Focus tightly
Our commitment to promoting children's rights is exemplified by our participation in UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools initiative. As part of this work, students collaborated with staff to co-create our new school charter.Through assemblies, PSHE lessons, and school-wide campaigns, students learn about their rights and responsibilities, reinforcing the importance of voice, respect, and action. The creation of the charter has empowered students to see themselves as active agents of change.
Keep practising
At GreatHowarth, the Skills Builder framework is not an add-on; it is embedded within our curriculum planning and lesson delivery. Teachers across departments have received training to integrate the eight essential skills into their lesson objectives, activities, and assessments. Schemes of work now include explicit references to skill development, and students regularly reflect on which skills they are using in different subject areas.
Six of our students are currently on track to achieve the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a prestigious recognition that reinforces the importance of resilience, responsibility, and community involvement. Participation in the DofE program has enhanced several of the essential skills
Bring it to life
One of the standout achievements of the year has been our in-school “World of Work” initiative, where students take on real roles such as administrative assistants and car washers. This program has given students insight into workplace expectations and helped them cultivate a strong work ethic. The students have gained hands-on experience in managing time, solving practical problems, and communicating.
Our students’ commitment to community service has been both inspiring and impactful. Since September, Great Howarth students have raised over £1,500 for local charities, participated in charity bake sales, and supported various fundraising campaigns. One of the most significant acts of community support has been their direct engagement with local food banks, delivering parcels and volunteering their time.
What's next
We are incredibly proud of our students and the culture of positivity and achievement they are helping to build. We look forward to continuing this upward trend and celebrating even more successes in the future. The next academic year will see the launch of the Great Howarth Parent panel to create a full culture of support and team around the child values. Our school choir will prepare for its first performance during Autumn 2, alongside our student council organise our christmas fair.
