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Moreland Primary School is a vibrant, inclusive community primary school located in Islington. Guided by its core ethos and "5Cs" values (Care, Courtesy, Consideration, Commitment, and Cooperation), the school is dedicated to developing the whole child and promoting emotional literacy, personal development, and high aspirations. Already having their Thinking Skills in place, the school embarked on the Skills Builder Accelerator Programme through the local Islington pilot, to make essential skills coverage across the curriculum more explicit; highlighting and signposting skill development alongside its existing personal development provision. Ultimately, the aim was for learners to build skills that will prepare them for a future in modern Britain and open up opportunities in the world of work.
Overall impact
Embedding the Skills Builder Universal Framework has provided teachers with a clear structure to develop a common language to explicitly signpost skill use and development. This has supported learners to develop a clearer awareness of their own thinking and communication abilities; making meaningful connections between their classroom learning, Social Action initiatives, and future career aspirations.
Keep it simple
The essential skills are integrated into the School Improvement Plan and mapped directly into the personal development curriculum, with curriculum overviews updated to link essential skills and Thinking skills. Whole-school visual cues include a centralised display and skill posters in every classroom. A specific skill goal is shared every Monday, and celebrated in weekly achievement assemblies.
Start early, keep going
Skill-building is mapped across all key stages, from EYFS through to Year 6. In the Early Years setting, practitioners introduced a child-friendly version of skills using dinosaur themes to engage Nursery and Reception learners, helping to provide a continuous framework for progression as learners move through the school.
Measure it
Some teachers monitor progress through the assessment tools on the Skills Builder Hub to record learner skill development. In Year 5, learners use reflection journals which include skill development, with certificates issued by teachers to encourage, recognise and celebrate this.
Focus tightly
Weekly skill targets are shared with all staff, and essential skills have been added to the Global Citizenship Curriculum, with recommended Skills Builder highlighted. In line with this, Social Action Projects are linked to essential skills, with training delivered to support teachers in selecting Extended Projects or Challenge Days to support these.
Keep practising
Essential skills feature in several wider curriculum subjects, including History, Geography, Global Citizenship, as well as supporting oracy. Staff are encouraged to spotlight and highlight essential skill use through classroom displays and targeted praise, and learners complete exit tickets to demonstrate skills learning and building.
Bring it to life
Essential skills are brought to life through career events, educational trips, and interactive assemblies. External visitors in "Dreamcatcher" career assemblies answered skills-based questions posed by learners, while classes across the school apply their essential skills directly to practical Social Action Projects using Skills Builder Extended Projects and Challenge Days.
What's next
Building on a successful first year, Moreland Primary plans to further embed essential skills by mapping them against the Emotional Literacy curriculum and incorporating them into booklets to support this. The school also aims to expand skill-based journaling to additional year groups following its success in Year 5, and link the skills to extracurricular learning.
