Key Skills

WHY INCLUDE WIDER KEY SKILLS IN THE CURRICULUM?

• They form an integral part of a structured Work Related Curriculum

• They emphasise some of the skills required for success in education, training, work and life in general

• The WIDER KEY SKILLS, along with the Core Key Skills, are valued by employers as relevant preparation for potential employees

• The WIDER KEY SKILLS put students at the centre of their learning and, if used effectively, should not be teacher led. Therefore they focus on encouraging a more independent style of learning

• The WIDER KEY SKILLS concentrate on PROCESS rather than CONTENT, enabling students to learn more effectively by encouraging them to:-

   

  • Plan a course of action

  • Implement a course of action

  • Reflect and Review their progress

EXAMPLES OF CONTEXTS WHERE THE WIDER KEY SKILLS HAVE BEEN USED IN LOCAL SCHOOLS
SUBJECT BASED OPPORTUNITIES

• GNVQ Leisure and Tourism, Customer Service Unit (PS)

• GCSE Business Studies, Job Applications and Short Listing for Interview (PS)

• Work Experience Programmes offer an opportunity to link real workplace tasks to the student’s school subject, eg GNVQ Health and Social Care (WWO)

NON SUBJECT BASED OPPORTUNITIES

• Work Experience Programmes, focusing on tasks performed in the workplace (WWO)

• Innovation and Enterprise Days (a three/four day programme coordinated by the Cornwall Education Business Partnership) (WWO)

• WIDER KEY SKILLS integrated within the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (WWO,PS,IoLP)

Recent experience has shown that many schools have now devised their own programmes to include the Wider Key Skills in the curriculum. A wider FORUM for sharing these experiences would clearly be a beneficial way forward. This has already been initiated in the Success Zone area, through the Kerrier Learning Partnership.