Juniper Green Primary School share:

• children’s increased understanding about equality and diversity
• how a framework for meta-skills is helping children to think about and apply these skills in all areas of the curriculum

Equality and diversity

Children are clear about the importance of recognising and respecting differences in people. The school community is well informed about children’s rights and the rights of those with protected characteristics. The school focuses on justice and fairness for all and the need to be non-judgemental towards others. Children talk confidently about how this work helps them build relationships with others beyond school. Their learning is helping them develop confidence in themselves and understand their own and others’ identity.

Children take pride in promoting their work on equality and diversity. They lead assemblies to celebrate this work and they have created visual displays around the school.

Senior leaders and staff have a clear focus on keeping children at the centre. The ‘staff equalities group’ led a review of the school’s curriculum. Influenced by the work of Dr Rudine Sims Bishop’s ‘Mirrors, windows and sliding doors’, staff examined how diversity and inclusion is represented throughout the curriculum. Staff have worked hard to ensure that learning materials and resources reflect the diversity of the school community.

Meta-skills for learning, life and work

Staff have worked collaboratively to embed the Skills Development Scotland meta-skills framework. Across the school, there is an agreed ‘meta-skill of the week’. Children discuss their knowledge and application of meta-skills in class, in assemblies, and with their families at home. Across all aspects of the school’s curriculum, teachers highlight the importance of developing skills for work and future careers.

Step 1 (August to December): One meta-skill per week is introduced by house captains.

Step 2 (January to March): Children self-evaluate how well they have demonstrated a particular skill.

Step 3 (April to June): The whole school community takes part in a skills-based career fair.

Staff ensure that skills are taught in a planned and progressive way. P1 develop three skills, P2 develop six skills, P3 develop nine skills, and P4 to 7 develop twelve skills.

This innovative approach is having a positive impact on developing children’s understanding of employability skills.

Self-evaluation questions

Equality, diversity and inclusion

1. How well embedded is our school’s policy on equalities?
2. How are we actively promoting equality, fairness and diversity?
3. How well does our school ensure that the curriculum is designed to develop and promote equality and diversity, and to eliminate discrimination?

Skills development

1. How effective is our whole school overview in ensuring that children’s knowledge and skills are built appropriately over time?
2. How well are we working with learners, parents and carers, employers, colleges and other partners to develop an effective approach to careers education which supports them into sustained positive destinations?