Developing and accrediting personal skills and competencies

Futurelab is an organisation that aims to develop innovative resources and practices that support new approaches to learning for the 21st century.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) commissioned Futurelab to carry out a review and consultation project which aimed to:

• draw together a review of current projects and initiatives which provide insights into different approaches to developing young people’s skills and competencies (broadly classified as ‘21st century skills’) through non-subject led approaches
• identify how these different approaches might be developed and supported at a national level by QCA
• make recommendations as to assessment and accreditation practices which could be used to promote and develop personal skills and competencies.

The project ran between January and March 2007 and comprised desk research, meetings and interviews with lead practitioners. They have produced a report that provides guidelines and strategies for delivering and accrediting the Personal Learning and Thinking Skills that are a key part of the new curriculum at KS3 and beyond.


Download the report by clicking here.

Character strengths and virtues for the learning age

Professor Guy Claxton has written a stimulating article on the subject of personalised learning and has outlined what he considers to be the eight character strengths and virtues for the learning age that we should be encouraging in schools. Read it here.

Young, gifted and talented

The YG&T website, produced by the DSCF, provides information and resources to help support gifted learners, their parents/carers, educators, governors and local authorities. The site aims to inspire, encourage and motivate learners and staff with stimulating programmes and activities, as well as provide information, resources and new ways of learning.
Check out the resources for staff here.
To take full advantage of the site you will need to register.

Testing, testing

There's another article in the Guardian which questions the value of testing in motivating pupils or stimulating learning. Read it here.

The tricky issue of talent

There's an interesting article on the changes in provision for 'Gifted and Talented' pupils in the Guardian this week. Read it here.

Shift happens

This thought provoking presentation provides some of the reasons why the curriculum needs to change:

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Gifted and talented subject resources

There are some subject based resources for Gifted and Talented pupils here and here.

Thanks to Uta Thomas for the links.