Study Skill information

The framework of personal, learning and thinking skills comprises six groups of skills:

• independent enquirers

• creative thinkers

• reflective learners

• team workers

• self-managers

• effective participators.

These generic skills, together with the functional skills of English, mathematics and ICT, are essential to success in life, learning and work. For each group, a focus statement sums up the range of skills and qualities. This is accompanied by a set of outcome statements that are indicative of the skills, behaviours and personal qualities associated with each group. Each group of skills is distinctive and coherent. The groups are also interconnected, and learners are likely to encounter skills from several groups in any one learning experience. For example, an independent enquirer sets goals for their research with clear success criteria (reflective learner) and organises their time and resources effectively to achieve these (self-manager). To develop independence, learners need to apply skills from all six groups in a wide range of contexts.