Last updated 16th September 2005
by Helen Nichols
Version 2 website
Launch 22nd October 2001

SYKSP Project - Teachers

This page is for teachers' thoughts and comments about our project.

Please email any comments you would like included on this page to the webmaster: helen.byford@sheffield.gov.uk

Quotes from South Yorkshire teachers

" ICT key skills level 1 and 2 is a fundamental aspect of the KS4 ICT
curriculum and has given pupils a recognised qualification" ( Hinde House
School, Sheffield)

"Key Skills are very useful for progression from KS4 to 5. Key skills
within ASDAN has helped diversify the curriculum. Key Skills tests at KS4
had a very positive impact" ( King Ecgbert School, Sheffield)

"The value of key skills are acknowledged by the majority of students
leading to high participation rates" ( Chaucer School, Sheffield)

" Key Skills has helped the progression post 16"( Myers Grove School)

"For the pupils on our alternative curriculum - it has kept most of them
engaged ,interested and attending"( Meadowhead School)

" The project has extended student participation levels in ICT. We now run
lunchtime drop-in sessions which are very popular. It has raised the
status of ICT and allowed students to gain an extra qualification. It also
enhances progression into sixth form and college as level 2 and 3 is
available there" ( All Saints School, Sheffield)

" The (key skills) units were developed via careers lessons and gave them
an added focus particularly in th elatter part of th eyear, once routes
post 16 had been sorted out" (King Edward V11 school)

Talbot School Statement (Sheffield) re: Progress Files and the Key Skills Project

Talbot school provides education for young people aged 11-19 years of age who have a range of learning difficulties including Severe, Profound and Complex needs.

The students at Talbot need highly skilled and carefully planned programmes of work, in order that their achievements might be celebrated. The nature of their learning and the quality of their achievements need to be measured in the small steps that they make over a period of time.

All these targets are agreed with parents and students and draw together the skills of a multi-disciplinary team.

The way in which we show evidence of progression, and build a portfolio of achievements for each student, is the key to celebrating success in a practical and meaningful way.

Building Progress Files within a fully inclusive environment helps students to recognise their achievements and share with others a true understanding of their skills, needs and abilities.

Evidence of learning can take many forms, photographs, video footage, art work, recordings, witness statements etc, however, the key is to use evidence which is meaningful and accessible to the student. For some their Progress File will be a conventional file whilst for others it may be a storage box full of evidence. This is planned on an individual basis, with students leading the way by clearly indicating their preferences through a multi-sensory approach.

The Key Skills Project has focussed our attention on an area of work which will have far reaching implications on the work of everyone in the school, how students are perceived and the way in which relationships between the two are built.

by Judith Beresford and Cath Howard Brown November 2001
(with thanks to Andrew Mullooly for typing up this article)

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Pete Forrow (Key Skills co-ordinator)
School: Abbeydale Grange School, Sheffield

"Our students find the ASDAN Course very motivating. The different challenges allow them to develop their Key Skills in a wide range of interesting and challenging situations. Our aims for this year are for all Year 10 students to start working on the IT key skills and to look at the PSHE lessons as a way of delivering the wider key skills."

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Rob Farnham
School: Handsworth Grange School, Sheffield

"It is great to see an increasing number of 13 -16 year olds having the
opportunity to develop their key skills and to have these achievements
recognised by a national qualification"

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ESF funding in Sheffield has:


"…enabled the school to offer key skills qualifications to all students in Y10 on a rolling programme. As well as entry fees and teaching and management capacity it also provides a high level of quality staff development, essential for effective delivery"(Chaucer School)

"… been far reaching - it has enabled students to take responsibility for setting and monitoring their key skills and IEP targets" (Talbot School)

"… paid for a key skills co-ordinator, admin support, key skills folders and storage and the delivery of the communication and IT key skill to pupils" (Firvale School)

"…has enabled a group of disaffected pupils to still be willing to work towards a qualification and enabled us to expand the provision next year" (Meadowhead School)

"…helped to extend and develop the ASDAN program, with the inclusion of key skills. It has also enabled the introduction of IT key skills work to level 2" (Handsworth Grange School)

"…is currently supporting staff training enabling the wider staff group to be involved in developing key skills. It has prompted us to refocus on our key stage 4 curriculum" (Bents Green)

"… meets the costs of teaching, registration, tests, training, admin support and technical support" (Silverdale School)

"…students are gaining extra qualifications and extra training in ICT"(All Saints School)

"…allowed the establishment of a pilot group in IT, now rolling out across the whole Y10 cohort- plus supporting the continued development of ASDAN and the development of the Communication key skill." (Tapton School)

"…allowed us to deliver ICT key skills training at level 1 to all our Y11 students. They all had the opportunity to be accredited at level 1 and a small number at level 2 or 3." (King Edward School)

"… had a great impact as we have been able to offer a wide range of alternatives for students, including dance and art courses" (TRS)

"supported the delivery of ICT key skills which was piloted last year and is now being delivered this year in Y10" (Newfield School)

"enriched the curriculum by supporting key skills at pre16 " (High Storrs School)

"…provided additional resourcing for ASDAN course, support for it key skills and additional staff development opportunities". ( Abbeydale Grange School)

" …raised awareness about key skills, especially in ICT and number and put a key skills manager in post" (Myrtle Springs School)