We’re so proud that Progress Arc and Progress Futures Billinge have been awarded the Skills Builder Silver Award, recognising the way essential skills are built into everyday teaching and learning across our settings.
The Skills Builder Award celebrates settings that help learners build the skills they need to succeed in education, life and future work. It’s awarded at Bronze, Silver and Gold, and reaching Silver reflects the way our teachers weave skills like teamwork, communication and problem-solving into everyday lessons, rather than teaching them as an add-on. Essential skills are now embedded across all timetabled lessons.
To reach this standard, our teams worked closely with an Education Associate over three planning meetings, building a long-term plan to bring these skills to life in the classroom. A great example of this in action was our recent planters project, where students practised skills like creating designs, evaluating options and teamwork as they designed, budgeted and built planters for the local community.
This incredible news was welcomed by Rachel Green, Head of Progress Futures, and Susan Fletcher, Head of Progress Arc. Susan said:
“On behalf of both Progress Arc and Progress Futures, I’m so proud that we have been awarded the Skills Builder Silver Award. It truly demonstrates the hard work our teams put in every day to ensure our lessons are built on the foundation of life skills, giving our students the very best chance to succeed in the future!”
Our students summed up the impact from their own perspective, with one student saying:
“Skills Builder has helped me to become more confident when talking to other people and sharing my ideas. Before, I would sometimes give up if I found something difficult, but now I try to keep going and ask for help if I need it. It has helped me to work better with other people and listen to their ideas as well as sharing my own.”
Another student said:
“I have learned how to manage my time better and think more about my future goals. The activities have helped me feel more confident in my abilities and made me realise that I can achieve things if I put my mind to them. I feel more positive about trying new things and taking part in lessons and group activities.”
These essential skills are embedded within our provision, giving students regular chances to build confidence and put their skills into practice, in the classroom and beyond it.
We’re really proud of the team that made this achievement possible. With the award reviewed annually and lasting for three years, we’ve already set our sights on Gold.
