FUTURE TALENTED Autumn Term 2018 - Issue 1 | Page 22

Gatsby Benchmarks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Linking curriculum learning with careers What essential skills are needed for the world of work and how can you nurture these within your students? Tom Ravenscroft, founder and CEO of Enabling Enterprise, provides five key steps to help you achieve Gatsby Benchmark 4. TOM RAVENSCROFT FOUNDER & CEO, ENABLING ENTERPRISE eamwork, leadership, self-management and communication. This set of essential skills matters in the classroom and way beyond – in daily life, employment and all the way into the boardroom. For years, the Confederation of British Industry has reiterated the need to build these skills – for work and life – while recent research from The Sutton Trust revealed that 97% of teachers thought these skills were at least as important as academic outcomes for their students’ future success. While these skills are recognised to be essential, the challenge has always been how to enable students to develop them in a way that is robust and effective. How can educators ensure we are as ambitious in building these skills as we are in the academic outcomes we seek? There is a growing number of schools across the country which are applying the same thoughtfulness and commitment to building these skills as they commit to the skills we have always been comfortable building within the classroom: numeracy and literacy. In so doing, they are also helping to achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks – and, above all, Benchmark 4 of linking curriculum learning with careers – because these skills provide that vital connection. T STEP 1: Agree the core skills Start by clarifying which skills are essential for the world of work, and making them as tangible as possible. Avoid the trap of confusing character traits with skills. Our 350 Skills Builder Schools consistently focus on eight skills: teamwork; leadership; problem solving; creativity; listening; presenting; aiming high; and staying positive. This simple language can be understood by students, p a re n t s , t e a c h e r s a n d employer partners alike. “Skills for work cannot be mastered in isolation; a successful approach always includes engaging with the wider world” 22 // EMPLOYABILITY