Learning useful life skills from personal budgeting to checking your car tyres

Students from The Deepings Sixth Form took part in a special skills week, developing a range of practical skills such as first aid, personal budgeting and understanding washing labels.

The students very much enjoyed learning new life skills each day this week, as the school seeks to equip them for life in the adult world.

The Deepings sixth formers started with washing labels on Monday, understanding what all the different symbols mean. Then on Tuesday they had a session on personal finance and understanding how to budget and how credit works. Wednesday focused on how to rewire a plug, while Thursday’s session was about etiquette, for example, how to manage a complex dinner table setting.

The week culminated on Friday in a lesson on basic first aid skills, as well as a car basics session. A local mechanic, who is a Deepings parent, came into the school to show the youngsters how to check the oil and tyres on a car and how to make sure the screen wash is topped up.

Sixth former, Ruby, said: “The first aid session was really informative and accessible – I’m definitely more confident about helping someone in need.”

Millie said: “The basic car maintenance was brilliant – my car is now full of screenwash, I’ve checked the oil and my spare tyre and I even know how to shut my bonnet properly!”

Ella added: “Life skills week has been quite entertaining. I have enjoyed the tasks and how interactive they have been.”

Olivia said: “I have found learning new skills fun. I never knew I would be good at wiring a plug!”

Charlotte commented: “I have learnt some new skills that will hopefully benefit me when I go to university.”

Head of Sixth Form at The Deepings School, Tors Millikin, said: “We asked our sixth formers what sorts of skills they would find useful and were very pleased to be able to offer such a wide range of sessions covering practical life skills.

“We want to make sure that our students are ready to go out and be proactive citizens when they leave us, and we hope that this special skills week has helped.”

Kirstie Johnson, Headteacher at The Deepings School, said: “Skills week has helped us in our aim to give students a curriculum that delivers a breadth and depth of experience.

“We hope the sessions will equip our sixth formers as they mature into adulthood, giving them a grounding in many useful everyday skills.”