Skill Force
Skill Force is an education charity that works nationally in
more than 220 schools and with 7000 young people with the aim of
delivering an alternative vocational programme to reach disengaged,
disadvantaged young people. Skill Force is working in partnership
with four Trust schools.
Partner comments
The unique aspect of Skill Force is that we employ mainly
ex-armed forces personnel that have expertise built upon
challenging experience in leading, mentoring and developing young
people. This experience enables our instructors to build fresh
relationships with often disaffected young people and offers them a
supportive environment in which to build their self-esteem and
self-confidence.
Partner role and benefits
We can support schools as they examine the different vocational
pathways open to them and what the implications, benefits and
pitfalls could be. We are very experienced in what works. We
deliver more than 22 different awards in different schools and
different environments that allows us to see what works and what
doesn’t - we want to share this knowledge.
We are primarily a secondary-based service. However, we are
involved in some programmes to aid the transition between primary
and secondary school. Building the self-esteem of youngsters needs
to start at the earliest possible time so they can progress
positively.
We are really excited about the Trust school programme because
these are the schools that want to lead change and be at the
cutting edge of what is happening in educational development.
That’s why our contribution and value to these trusts is also so
valuable to us.
School comments
Keith Sorrell, headteacher at Windsor High School, said: ‘The
Halesowen Trust is pleased to have Skill Force as one of the
members of our trust. Our trust will help sustain improvements in
learning outcomes for all of our pupils and support the delivery of
the 14-19 agenda. We look forward to working in partnership with
Skill Force and benefiting from their expertise in the alternative
curriculum and 14-19 education.'
Contributor
Sylvia Campbell, Education Director