Shape Your Skills is a whole-class personal development award that helps primary pupils discover their strengths, build confidence and develop practical, transferable skills.
All delivered through structured, hands-on experiences that fit naturally into your existing school day.
Try a free taster resource
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS
In every primary classroom there are children whose skills don’t always show up in written work.
The child who naturally organises a group. The one who listens carefully and notices when someone needs help. The pupil who has brilliant ideas but rarely puts their hand up. The one who quietly keeps everyone moving forward.
These strengths matter.
They shape how children approach learning, how they work with others, and how they begin to see themselves.
We believe every child deserves structured opportunities to explore their strengths, try new responsibilities, and grow the essential skills that help them thrive, in school and beyond.
Because when this happens, something shifts.
They begin to recognise what they’re capable of.
And that confidence doesn’t stay in one activity, it carries into other lessons, into teamwork, and eventually into the move to secondary school.
Shape Your Skills creates structured opportunities for that growth to happen – for every pupil in your class.
Shape Your Skills is an accredited, whole-class personal development award designed specifically for primary schools.
Through a series of practical challenges and guided reflection activities, pupils develop skills such as:
Some schools run Shape Your Skills as a full programme. Others weave activities into existing lessons, enrichment sessions or class time, using what works best for their pupils. For some, the activities are just great ways to reset focus between lessons.
In practice, it looks like this:
1. Pupils take on practical challenges
Children work together on structured activities that develop skills like communication, teamwork and responsibility.
2. They reflect on what they’ve learned
Pupils think about what went well, what they contributed and how they are developing.
3. Their progress is recognised
Pupils build evidence of their development and achieve a recognised award.
Everything you need to deliver meaningful, skill-building experiences with your pupils, with resources that are structured, practical and easy to run – whether as an entire programme, or in moments that suit your existing curriculum.
Eight structured learning blocks introduce and develop important skills such as communication, teamwork, organisation, problem solving, confidence and leadership.
Each block builds pupils’ understanding through practical challenges and reflection
Clear, engaging presentations guide each learning block and activity, making sessions easy to run with minimal preparation.
The programme concludes with a final challenge where pupils bring together the skills they’ve developed and reflect on their journey.
A wide range of engaging, hands-on activities that allow pupils to practise and apply their skills in different ways.
These activities are flexible, so teachers can select the ones that best suit their class.
Six dedicated leadership challenges give pupils opportunities to take responsibility, work collaboratively and apply what they’ve learned in real situations.
Schools can run Shape Your Skills as a full programme, or weave individual activities into existing lessons, enrichment sessions or afternoon learning.
Layla, age 9, Woodmancote Primary
“At the start of the award my confidence wasn’t that good. Over time, my confidence grew and grew.”
Paul Adkin, Year 6 Teacher, Woodmancote Primary
“It’s very, very easy to deliver. The resources are very high quality. It’s easy to fit the award into the curriculum areas we teach.”
Gary Tucker, Head Teacher, Woodmancote Primary
“The Shape Your Skills Award enabled children to develop a set of skills that the normal taught curriculum doesn’t really cover.”
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Includes year-long licence for your school, plus printed resources for 30 learners.
Additional printed resources available from £30.
Buy NowShape Your Skills is designed to fit flexibly into the rhythm of your school day.
Some schools run it as a regular weekly session, while others use activities during enrichment time, afternoon learning or as part of wider personal development opportunities.
The activities are practical, structured and easy to deliver, so teachers can choose what works best for their timetable and pupils.
No. Shape Your Skills is designed to **sit alongside programmes like Jigsaw**, not replace them.
While PSHE programmes focus on knowledge, discussion and understanding, Shape Your Skills focuses on **practical experiences** where pupils actively practise skills such as teamwork, communication, responsibility and organisation.
Many schools find the two complement each other very well.
Not at all.
Shape Your Skills is designed for **every pupil in the class**, not just the confident few.
The activities allow children to explore different strengths – whether that’s organising, communicating, supporting others, problem solving or creative thinking.
Every pupil develops something different.
Yes. Shape Your Skills is designed so that every pupil can take part and contribute in their own way.
The activities focus on practical experiences like teamwork, communication and problem solving, which means pupils can participate using different strengths and approaches.
Teachers also have flexibility to adapt activities to suit the needs of their class, whether that means adjusting the pace, choosing particular activities or supporting pupils in different ways.
Many schools find that the programme creates opportunities for pupils who don’t always shine in traditional classroom tasks to discover new strengths.
No training is required.
The programme includes clear guidance, structured activities and simple reflection tools that make it easy for teachers or teaching assistants to deliver.
Many schools find it quick to pick up and run.
Shape Your Skills is designed for **primary-aged pupils**, with activities that can be adapted depending on the age and needs of the class.
Schools often run the programme with upper Key Stage 2 pupils, but many also introduce elements earlier to begin developing these skills from a younger age.