Rochdale school wins backing to build essential skills for pupils and teachers

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 10:18

By David Murphy

Students at Great Howarth School in Rochdale are developing key skills for life and work thanks to new funding support from The Guinness Partnership.

One of England’s largest housing associations, The Guinness Partnership, has funded the Skills Builder Accelerator programme at Great Howarth School, helping both students and teachers strengthen essential life skills.

Delivered by the Skills Builder Partnership, a social enterprise with a global reach, the programme is designed to build highly transferable skills such as teamwork, problem solving and creativity. Alongside this, staff receive training and resources, with one teacher supported to become an in-house Skills Leader to continue the work beyond the funded period.

The initiative follows findings in the 2024 Essential Skills Tracker report, which shows that essential skills are linked to higher earnings, stronger wellbeing, and greater life and job satisfaction. According to the research, 98% of teachers believe these skills improve employment prospects, while 92% say they are important to succeeding in a career.

Eadaoin Kelly, Senior Community Partnership Manager at The Guinness Partnership, said: “We believe in investing in our communities. The Accelerator programme will create valuable opportunities for young people to raise their potential and lay foundations for successful and fulfilling lives. We’re pleased to be able to support this important funding.”

The project has been welcomed by staff at Great Howarth School, where the scheme is already having a noticeable impact.

Head Teacher Gavin Hosford said: “The Skills Builder Programme has helped to equip our pupils with essential skills like communication and resilience in a structured and engaging way. Pupils are showing increased confidence and readiness for life beyond the classroom. We are incredibly grateful to The Guinness Partnership for supporting this opportunity—it has made a lasting difference to our provision.”

Skills Builder’s Director of Education, Evelyn Haywood, added: “Every year, we work with schools that are committed to building their learners’ essential skills. With support from partners like The Guinness Partnership and Pretium Framework, we are able to make the Accelerator programme accessible to more schools across the UK.”