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St Luke’s CE Primary School is a two-form entry, voluntary controlled primary school located in the heart of Heywood, serving children aged 4 to 11. At St Luke’s, children are at the centre of every decision we make, ensuring they are happy, confident, and provided with opportunities that are both meaningful and relevant—now and in the future.
When we initially applied to work with the Skills Builder Partnership, we had already developed a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to meet the specific needs of our community. We recognised that the Skills Builder programme would be a valuable addition, aligning closely with our existing educational vision.
Our goal was to embed essential skills within the curriculum to better prepare all pupils for future employment, regardless of their background. Through the integration of Careers-Related Learning and a focus on essential skill development, we sought to raise aspirations across the school and build the confidence necessary for every child to transition successfully to the next stage of their education.
Overall impact
The overall impact of the Skills Builder Accelerator programme has been significant across our school community—benefiting teachers, pupils, and the wider community alike.
For teachers, the programme has provided a clear and structured framework for developing essential skills, which has enhanced confidence in explicitly teaching these skills across all subject areas. The universal language of the Skills Builder framework has created consistency in how skills are referenced and assessed, and the integration into our existing assessment cycle has made skill development a meaningful part of teaching practice, not an add-on. Ongoing training and support have further empowered staff to tailor skill-building activities to meet the needs of their pupils.
For students, the impact has been transformative. They are now more aware of the essential skills—such as teamwork, listening, problem-solving, and staying positive—and can articulate when and how they are using them. Through structured teaching, Challenge Days, Careers Week, and regular reference to the skills in lessons and extra-curricular activities, pupils have been able to apply their learning in real-life contexts. This has increased their confidence, raised aspirations, and better prepared them for secondary education and the world of work.
Within the wider community, the Accelerator programme has strengthened our connections with external partners and enhanced our careers-related learning offer. Collaborations with local professionals and organisations, such as NatWest and guest speakers, have allowed pupils to see the direct relevance of these essential skills in a range of industries. Parents are also more engaged, with newsletters, shared learning experiences, and target sheets helping to reinforce the language and value of skill development at home.
In summary, the Skills Builder Accelerator programme has embedded a culture of skill development throughout the school, promoting lifelong learning, personal growth, and community engagement.
Keep it simple
Key Stage assemblies were used to introduce the skills to all pupils, ensuring a consistent and inclusive launch across the school. Following this, teachers conducted baseline assessments for their classes against each of the identified skills. The school then adopted a focused approach, concentrating on two specific skills each half term.
Start early, keep going
Teachers utilised activities from the Universal Framework to support pupils in progressing from their baseline levels. To reinforce this focus, Skills Builder icons are prominently displayed in every classroom and are regularly referenced during lessons.
As part of the school’s ongoing monitoring cycle, subject leaders review how the skills are being embedded across the curriculum. Additionally, the skills are showcased on a Careers-Related Learning display, located in a central and high-traffic area of the school, to further raise their profile.
Pupil achievements in skill development are recognised through certificates and icon stickers, which celebrate and reward the application of these skills. Communication with parents is maintained through monthly newsletters, the school blog, shared learning experiences, and individual target sheets, ensuring a strong partnership between home and school in supporting skill development.
Measure it
All teachers utilise formative assessment strategies to prioritise and inform the teaching of essential skills. Staff have received dedicated training to support the accurate and consistent updating of Hub measurements. The assessment of essential skills has been seamlessly integrated into the school’s existing assessment cycle, ensuring it forms a regular and structured part of ongoing pupil progress tracking.
Focus tightly
A long-term plan has been developed to ensure that each of the essential skills is taught systematically. Teachers schedule these skill-focused lessons each half term as part of their curriculum planning. In addition, staff are given the professional autonomy to deliver explicit skills teaching as needed, based on ongoing assessment and the specific needs of their pupils.
Keep practising
The language of essential skills is embedded across all lessons and subject areas, creating a consistent and cohesive approach to skills development. The PE subject leaders have worked collaboratively with the school’s PE coaches, who deliver extra-curricular activities, to intentionally develop and reinforce these skills within both curricular and extra-curricular contexts.
Bring it to life
As part of our wider pupil offer, each class hosts an external speaker every half term. These speakers are carefully selected to align with current curriculum topics or subject areas and share insights into their careers, highlighting the essential skills they have relied upon to achieve success. We hold an annual Careers Week during which pupils engage with a wide range of professionals from diverse career backgrounds. To ensure consistency and reinforce key messages, all visitors are provided with a crib sheet outlining the essential skills, enabling them to clearly reference and highlight these skills during their sessions with the children. We also organise an annual Financial Awareness Week, aimed at helping pupils develop a strong understanding of money management. As part of this initiative, we have partnered with NatWest, whose staff work directly with the children to explore key financial concepts. They also support pupils in making meaningful connections between the essential skills and their application in real-world financial contexts. We also participate in Skills Builder Challenge Days, which provide valuable opportunities for pupils to apply the essential skills they have been taught in engaging, real-life contexts. These immersive experiences help to deepen their understanding and demonstrate the practical relevance of skill development beyond the classroom.
What's next
Building on the successes of the Skills Builder Accelerator programme, our next steps focus on deepening and broadening the integration of essential skills across all areas of school life. We plan to enhance staff development further by providing targeted training that supports differentiation and personalised approaches to skill development, ensuring that all pupils—regardless of their starting points—can progress confidently.
Additionally, we aim to increase parental engagement by developing more interactive and accessible resources that enable families to support skill development at home. We will also expand partnerships with local businesses and community organisations to
