Educational trends can feel exhausting, with Ofsted’s focus oscillating from one priority to the next. The debate around Skills vs Knowledge is no exception, and has been going on for decades. As with most dichotomies, the truth is that both are equally important. In fact, they are mutually supporting concepts, each one adding value to the other, if taught effectively.

Skills for life: PSHE should be applicable to young people’s reality

PSHE, more than any other subject, should be relevant to young people’s everyday reality. It helps to explain what is going on in the world around them. We have to give information (knowledge) about the things they are seeing so they can make sense of it. But the world is not an abstract concept that students can learn about passively. They are living in it everyday, and require a substantial set of skills to navigate the complexity of communities, culture and social interaction. They need to be able to apply the knowledge that they acquire to their lives, starting today!

The Life Lessons Curriculum: How do we do it?

We have created lessons that feature three essential elements: transferable skills, age-appropriate knowledge, and real-world context. We combine these elements to create Life Lessons that young people can apply to their own lives now and in the future.

Over time, these life lessons contribute to every young person leaving school ready for the next stage of life, having practiced applying their knowledge to different contexts, developing skills in many different areas.

What are the transferrable skills young people need in PSHE?

We have identified 7 different areas where young people must develop transferrable skills in order to thrive. These areas are:

    • Emotional regulation and positivity
    • Making choices and risk assessment
    • Personal boundaries
    • Self-worth and resilience
    • Empathy
    • Critical thinking and reflection
    • Oracy

    Teaching young people these skills will help them to interpret new information and better understand the people around them, as well as their own emotions. Developing strategies to analyse the world around them and to make independent decisions is vital to a happy and successful life.

    Evidence base: Why teach skills?

    Many studies over the past twenty years have shown that teaching social and emotional skills are beneficial to student wellbeing. Given the fast pace of change of our world, teaching transferable skills is likely to be hugely important. Young people will face challenges that we do not yet know exist, and mastering the skills above will set young people up to navigate a complex and changing world. 

    What does Life Lessons offer?

    Our lessons offer full PSHE coverage, including opportunities to develop the essential skills outlined above and build on subject knowledge from Y1 to Y13. Life Lessons resources carefully combine skills and knowledge, giving young people the opportunity to practice applying what they learn in realistic contexts, building up an understanding of themselves and the modern world along the way, allowing them to thrive now and in the future.

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