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At UBHS, we embody a culture which encourages self-development to allow all our learners to realise their potential. Our staff team is truly committed to providing the best education possible to allow our learners to grow and secure great futures for themselves. We are passionate about the high-quality education that every young person receives in our care and provide them with opportunities to help them maximise their potential regardless of their background.
Staff are dedicated to raising the aspirations of all our learners by creating a willingness to learn, further their skills and knowledge, and essentially improve their life opportunities.
Overall impact
Through the Skills Builder Accelerator+ programme, there has been a continued focus on developing and strengthening our provision for the development of skills. Students are confident using the language of essential skills, and are able to recognise and articulate their own skills. Teachers and the whole school community are able to see the impact of skills development in careers activities and across the curriculum.
Keep it simple
Essential skills are embedded into strategic planning and policy development, including careers plans and schemes of learning. Staff meetings and parent events regularly reference essential skills; for example in parents’ forum and Y11 revision sessions. Learning walks include a reference to Skills Builder, with an expectation that essential skills will be referenced in learning activities. Careers champions meetings involve essential skills. This year, essential skills are in staff planners and induction sessions.
Students are rewarded for essential skills through merits on ClassCharts, and all classrooms have Skills Builder displays. All staff members have a door sign with their essential skills.
Start early, keep going
All year groups have regular opportunities to learn and practice essential skills weekly through INSPIRE tutor time, as well as during careers events and wider community events.
Measure it
Teachers use Hub assessments to track learner progress. Passports are used to track individual student progress, with regular opportunities to complete them in INSPIRE time.
Focus tightly
Across the year, each skill is 'cycled' so students are constantly building on their previous work in passports during their form time sessions. Teachers use a mix of short lessons and other resources from the Hub to ensure that specific skill steps are being met. Students then reflect on these skills through their individual skill passports.
Keep practising
All subjects have incorporated skills into their long term planning, with specific skills highlighted at the start of each topic. This means there are clear links between the curriculum topic, careers, and relevant skills. Learning walk proforma include a section on Skills Builder, with the expectation that teachers will be providing opportunities to practice essential skills across the wider curriculum. There are careers champions in each department, who meet termly to ensure careers and skills are linked. All classrooms have laminated logos so teachers can highlight a focus skill in curriculum lessons.
Bring it to life
Work experience opportunities take place in Y10, with a bespoke work experience booklet explicitly linked to essential skills, and providing opportunities for skill reflections during work experience. Mock interviews from Y7 onwards give students opportunities to apply essential skills. Y9 have one to one interviews, where their skills passports are used to help write personal statements. During the mock interviews, interviewers are encouraged to refer to essential skills.
What's next
Next year we will continue with the Accelerator+ programme, continuing our Gold practice. We are aiming to make even stronger links with local businesses through essential skills and our work experience programmes.
