Introduction
St Joseph’s Primary School in Keighley, an inclusive school serving 350 pupils from nursery through Year 6, has taken a significant step in fostering personal and skills development. Located in a deprived area, the school is deeply committed to enriching the lives of its students, many of whom may have limited access to broader life opportunities. 
To support this goal, the school is introducing Kloodle, a skills’ development platform designed to help students build self-awareness about their character, skills, and personal growth – in this case, starting as young as age 4.
Starting Early for Greater Impact
St Joseph’s is one of the first UK primary schools to integrate a comprehensive skills-based platform at such an early stage. By introducing Kloodle from Key Stage 1, the school hopes to provide students with a foundation of self-awareness and skills’ development that will serve them throughout their academic and social lives. Research consistently highlights the benefits of early engagement in personal and character development, and St Joseph’s is paving the way for its students to grow in confidence and reflect on their abilities from a young age.
Teacher-Led Documentation for Younger Pupils
For students up to Years 5 and 6, Kloodle allows teachers to play a pivotal role in documenting skills and character development. Since younger children may not yet have the ability to reflect on their experiences independently, teachers will upload detail from various trips and activities, such as notes, photos and reflections, so that important developmental milestones linked to the learning experiences are captured and recorded. For example, during a trip to Paris, teachers could capture details of the experiences by recording the participation of the students and linking this to the key skills students are developing, such as teamwork, communication, and resilience.
This early documentation creates a valuable record that students can revisit as they mature. Once they reach an age where they can more 
deeply reflect on their experiences, students will be able to use Kloodle to see how their skills and character have evolved, reinforcing the growth and development of employability and life skills. Furthermore, with encouragement, this process encourages students to think about how these skills could contribute to their future careers. By seeing the connections between their extracurricular activities and real-world skills like collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership, students begin to appreciate the relevance of their experiences to potential career paths.
A Record for Life
By establishing this reflective process early, St Joseph’s ensures that students have a long-term record of their growth. As they mature, they can independently use Kloodle to understand how their past activities have contributed to their current skillset. This process strengthens personal development, mental well-being, and readiness for future challenges in both education and the workforce. For example, the documentation of extracurricular achievements helps students visualise how their abilities align with career aspirations. Whether it’s public speaking learned through presentations or teamwork demonstrated during a group project, these records help students chart a path towards their ambitions.
Focus on Enrichment and Reflection
The school has a strong emphasis on enrichment activities, such as trips abroad, which broaden students’ horizons. For many children, trips like the one to Paris may be their only opportunity to travel abroad while young. These experiences can now be documented through Kloodle, allowing students to reflect on what they’ve learned—whether it’s teamwork, resilience, or open-mindedness. This reflective process deepens learning and illustrates the added value of these enriching experiences, particularly in a community with limited opportunities.
By linking these activities to skills and future employability, St Joseph’s is helping students to see the long-term benefits of their development.
Ease of Use for Teachers
A key reason for choosing Kloodle was its ease of use. With 350 pupils and a busy school environment, St Joseph’s needs a platform that won’t increase teacher workloads. Kloodle seamlessly integrates with existing processes, allowing teachers to capture and link student activities not just to skills but also to virtues, which aligns with the school’s religious values. This system ensures that personal development is tracked without creating an administrative burden for teachers.
Engaging Parents and the Community
Currently, the school shares updates on trips and activities through platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Kloodle enhances this engagement by providing a shareable feed that can be used to present real-time updates on students’ activities and skills development. This interactive platform fosters greater transparency and engagement with parents, giving them insight into the school’s efforts to nurture well-rounded, skilful individuals.
Getting Children to Think About Skills and Future Careers
An integral part of St Joseph’s vision is helping children see the value of skill development in shaping their future. By encouraging students to reflect on their experiences and identify the skills they are building – such as problem-solving, communication, and leadership – the school fosters an awareness of how these abilities connect to real-world applications. This process helps students begin to imagine how their current efforts and achievements could align with potential career paths. For example, a child who learns teamwork during a group project might later see its relevance to roles in business or creative industries. By instilling this mindset early, St Joseph’s empowers students to take ownership of their personal growth and to view skill-building as a step towards fulfilling their aspirations.
Leading the Way
St Joseph’s Keighley is leading the way in early skills and character development by introducing Kloodle. By using the platform to document student growth from a young age, the school is ensuring that its students have a reflective record of their personal development. By incorporating extracurricular activities and encouraging students to think about how these experiences shape their abilities and aspirations, the school is creating a lasting impact. This approach not only helps students build strong foundations in self-awareness, character, and skills but also guides them towards personal fulfilment and future career opportunities.
