Rushden Primary Academy works with The Skills Builder Partnership to ensure every learner has opportunities to build eight essential skills to support them now and in the future.  

Research has shown that building these eight essential skills can support the emotional wellbeing and academic success of children and young people, as well as preparing them for life beyond school.  

Skills Builder has developed a Universal Framework that breaks each of these essential skills down into 16 teachable steps. We use this framework to teach and practise each of the eight skills at the appropriate level throughout school life.  

Skills Builder has a resource platform dedicated to helping parents and carers to build their child’s essential skills at home: Skills Builder Homezone (skillsbuilder.org/homezone).  

 

From Weekly Skill Challenges, to family activities and guidance to share with older children to access independent tools for their own skill development, Skills Builder Homezone can be enjoyed at a time and pace to suit all families.  

 

Due to the commitment and enthusiasm from staff and pupils, RPA have now achieved the Skills Builder Gold Award (July 2023). This follows an extremely successful Strategy Meeting and an internal moderation, which has resulted in us meeting the criteria for Gold! It places RPA in a select group of schools and colleges, who have demonstrated a commitment to building students’ essential skills. We will be included on the Skills Builder website, which will showcase our significant achievement and our journey to achieving it. Thank you to all staff, pupils and families for your ongoing support in putting these eight essential skills to the forefront of our children's learning and progression. 

 

We celebrate our Skills Builder achievements by sharing with children and visitors, who the Skills Ambassadors are with a record of our meeting minutes to be accessed when required. 

Furthermore, our curriculum boards sing what the year groups have been focused on with an added emphasis on which skill has been focused on during each subject and activity.

Each classroom is equipped for moments where the skills are referred to and our Skills Ambassadors are on hand during the day to award individuals for their participation and link.

Once a term, all children are encouraged to complete a showcase presentation. The presentations are connected to the term's focus and is an opportunity to work at home with family and friends to enhance the eight skills.