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We are a small public school for children ages 6-15. The school is located in a small village in the north of Prague, in Hovorčovice. The primary school has 346 pupils and 30 teachers. The school is very active in incorporating modern teaching methods into its curriculum (RWCT methods, Hejny mathematics). International projects are an important part of its school curriculum (Erasmus + accreditation, Skills Builder). Our other aims are to develop our pupils' essential skills, their creativity, communication skills, teamwork, and problem solving skills. Amongst our teachers, we emphasise cross-curricular relationships and the use of other knowledge and skills to help them solve problems in their teaching. Finally, yet importantly, we also focus on the well-being of pupils and teachers, strengthening relationships between pupils and teachers and involving parents and other family members in school activities.
Overall impact
We have been involved in the Skills Builder project on a pilot basis since 2020. We are gradually introducing various measures that allow us to systematically support the development of essential skills in the classroom.
Keep it simple
The development of essential skills is part of the development of our school. The language of essential skills is used in school subjects, among teaching and non-teaching staff, and among pupils in the school. essential skills are often talked about in the classroom and in the assembly hall. essential skills training is a common part of the school curriculum. Specifically, for example, regular staff meetings, common phrases and gestures for communication in the classroom and in the assembly hall, skills of the month, regular announcements on the radio at the beginning of the month, bulletin boards in the school corridors and in the classrooms, classroom sessions on individual skills, skills training in individual subjects in relation to the skill of the month, etc.
Start early, keep going
All classes in the school regularly engage in essential skills development and practice. All the teachers of the school are gradually being trained to use the Skills Builder methodology. Specifically, for example, the 2020-2023 pilot implementation, weekly lesson plans/preparations clearly state the specific goal and eventual step of mastering the skill. Students develop several steps of all skills during their primary school education.
Measure it
Teachers regularly use formative assessment to monitor progress in essential skills. We primarily evaluate students' progress in specific essential skills within triad groups. We also assess skills as part of the development of weekly plans (Primary), ongoing teacher verbal assessment, peer, self-assessment to ensure that skills teaching is pitched at the correct level.
Focus tightly
All teachers continually incorporate targeted and explicit essential skills development into their instruction. The inclusion of essential skills in instruction is in weekly plans, classroom lesson topics, goals of the month, etc. Specifically, for example, the Skills Builder introductory presentation (staff training presentation), the skills of the month chart, radio broadcasts, activity demonstrations, weekly plans, classroom lessons in a given month always focused on a specific step/skill - practice, reflection.
Keep practising
All teachers provide opportunities for their students to practice essential skills across the school curriculum and subjects taught. Teachers have agreed gestures within which they make pupils aware of practising the skill. Special attention to the skill and individual steps is given in classroom lessons and teachers endeavor to make the links between the essential skills and subject content clear to students.
Bring it to life
The school creates opportunities for pupils to develop and apply essential skills outside of the normal curriculum. Students take part in project-based learning or on days when there is no direct teaching, in meetings with practitioners, through visits to businesses/organisations or other opportunities to encourage pupils' enterprise such as Erasmus projects, visits to practitioners, Project Day Night with Andersen and others. Twice a year we undertake a Skills Builder Challenge Day. So far this year, students have participated in the Future Transport Challenge Day, which was a fantastic opportunity for students to develop all eight essential skills.
What's next
We are going to continue to systematically develop essential skills. We are going to continue with the steps we have put in place. We look forward to continued support from Skills Builder to expand our pilot testing and further integrate essential skills teaching into our practice.
