Skills Builder

Harrogate Grammar School is delighted to have been awarded a Skills Builder Silver Award following the completion of the Skills Builder Accelerator Programme in 2022-2023 and the submission of evidence of the programme we created at school. Students in Key Stage 3 were provided with the opportunity to focus on developing their employability and transferrable skills in Big Picture lessons using the Skills Builder Universal Framework. The framework breaks down eight essential skills into teachable steps, supporting progress for students of all ages and abilities so that students can develop the following areas: Listening and Speaking, Problem Solving and Creativity, Staying Positive and Aiming High, Leadership and Teamwork.

Key Stage 3 students will have the opportunity to continue developing and reflecting on their essential skills again this year in Big Picture lessons in the spring and summer term as well as in other areas of school life. They will also be encouraged to use the Skills Builder Framework online resources at home to further develop their essential skills. Students in all year group and parents/carers are also welcome to use the resources and links provided to the Skills Builder website below:

Skills builder page graphic

Information for Parents/Carers

As a parent or carer, you might be thinking about how best to support your children to build their essential skills. The good news is that there is lots that you can do that will have a big impact, including:

Talking about how you use these skill steps in your own life.
Trying to show how to use the skill steps and explaining why you are doing what you are doing.
Praising your child when they show they are using the skills well and help them to see that as a worthwhile achievement.

Information for Students

As an individual, you might be thinking about how best to support your own essential skills. The good news is that there is lots that you can also do that will have a big impact, including:

Looking at the Universal Framework to spot skill steps that you think you need to work on. It is normally best to start from the lowest step that you don’t feel confident on and go from there.
Keeping a record of the skill steps that you want to work on, and writing down when you practice them, and when you feel you are making progress.
Talk to someone you trust about what you are trying to do – whether a teacher, family member, manager or a peer. They can help give you feedback on how you are doing and celebrate your progress with you.
Making the most of the opportunity to develop and reflect on your skills in Big Picture lessons this year.

Resources for students and parents/carers to use at home

Skills Builder Benchmark

This online assessment tool can help the student identify skills they have already achieved and those they would like to work on.

Skills Builder Launchpad

The student can use the interactive modules to help build new skills.

Skills Builder Homezone

Students and parent/carers can use this tool to complete activities at a time and pace to suit you. Easy access to free resources to support building essential skills. Complete the skills challenges together at home. There are also suggested activities to enjoy together to help develop the eight essential skills.

Skills Builder

Information for Parents/Carers

Information for Students

Resources for students and parents/carers to use at home

Skills Builder Benchmark

Skills Builder Launchpad

Skills Builder Homezone

Harrogate Grammar School

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