The 7 C's

‘It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change’ – Charles Darwin.

At Belmont, we want to get the balance right between the acquisition of knowledge but also ensuring that pupils acquire important skills for the everchanging future. ​

These skills and attributes include the four Cs of 21st Century Learning: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Critical Thinking as well as three of our own Cs that we consider instrumental in our pupils’ education: Calmness, Compassion and Character.

What is Future Skills?

The aim of The Future Skills program is to equip pupils with the essential skills required for success in 21st Century work and life. To achieve this goal, we have integrated a variety of engaging activities into the curriculum, ensuring that students in both Lower School and Upper School receive exposure to the 7C’s. These activities are incorporated into the regular curriculum during a 50 minute period per week. Activities are rotated throughout the year to provide a well-rounded educational experience and allow pupils the opportunity to develop the 7C’s (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, calmness, compassion and character).

The 7 Cs include the following strands:

COMMUNICATION

Expressing thoughts clearly, articulating opinions, motivating others through speech and giving coherent instructions are valued in daily life and in the workplace. We have included Drama, Careers, Oracy, Videography and KidsMBA in our curriculum so that pupils can learn oral, written and non- verbal forms of communication for different contexts and purposes. We are excited to have partnered with ABE to deliver a KidsMBA in Year 8 where pupils develop the skills and confidence to set up a real-world business and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.

COLLABORATION

Effective collaboration allows large groups of diverse people to collectively make intelligent and holistic decisions. The ability to work respectfully and flexibly is something we offer in Future Skills through activities such as Outdoor Learning, Drama, KidsMBA, First Aid, Photography, Community and STEAM.

CREATIVITY

Creativity is now rightly recognised as a key driver in the global economy. The ability to innovate and demonstrate originality in work is a skill fostered through Innovation, Videography, STEAM, KidsMBA, Design & Make, Photography, Outdoor Learning and Cooking.

CRITICAL THINKING

Critical Thinking is the ability to solve problems and make effective, informed decisions. Being able to think reflectively and independently allows children to become active learners. Through Robotics, STEAM, First Aid, Business Enterprise, Innovation, Outdoor Learning, KidsMBA and Oracy we encourage children to analyse, evaluate, interpret and synthesise information in order to form an argument, reach a conclusion or find a solution to a problem. In Year 5, children take part in robotics where they build their own VEX Robots and programme them to complete tasks. Not only are these enjoyable activities, but we are equipping our children with technological skills that we know are important in the job market now and will remain so in the future.

CALMNESS

Wellbeing and mental health are at the forefront of our ethos at Belmont. Remaining calm facilitates concentration, emotional regulation and increases chances of success. We teach Yoga, Mindfulness, Healthy Minds, Design and Make and Outdoor Learning. This aspect of the curriculum utilises the natural beauty of our grounds and is highly beneficial to the pupils’ emotional wellbeing.

COMPASSION

We want our pupils to be helpful and kind members of society. We actively promote compassion across various activities such as Healthy Minds, Outdoor Learning, First Aid, Community and through our KidsMBA. We have partnered with “Mini First Aid” who provide three of our year groups with weekly sessions. Pupils can practice leadership and collaboration, testing their abilities within a safe environment.

CHARACTER

We want to bring out the best in each pupil. Through our Future Skills curriculum pupils are able to find their niche in an enjoyable learning environment. The challenges that they face in problem-solving in Outdoor Learning or presenting an elevator pitch in the KidsMBA all contribute to developing character and resilience.