Building Life Skills
Funds from the KAA Intrepidus Trust have been instrumental in enabling our students build skills for life, whether raising aspirations through the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award Scheme, or getting a foothold in the world of work through mentoring, work experience and industry exposure.
Each year around 90 students acquire new skills through the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Our students with Dyslexia benefit from specialist software that is rooted in the science of reading and proven to be highly effective as the average middle school reading intervention’written and spoken English.
Students from low-income backgrounds receive subsidies to participate in educational trips abroad to promote modern foreign language development and cultural awareness.
just wanted to say THANK YOU. I know he had a wonderful time - he’s talked about many unforgettable and amazing experiences and, for him, it really was a trip of a lifetime. (Parent regarding trip to New York
80% of pupils participating in the Duke of Edinburgh award stated that the programme had helped them find ways to work with and get on with people with very different personalities.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
In their own words, the DofE Award “encourages young people to gain new skills, push themselves physically, help others and explore new territories, whilst at the same time gathering friendships, experiences and memories that will last a lifetime”.
For KAA pupils, many of whom have not set foot outside the city, the DofE scheme does this and so much more. Taking part in the scheme develops students’ ‘soft skills’, such as resilience, teamwork and communication, and is highly regarded by colleges, universities and employers. The experience also offers a fantastic adventure to be enjoyed with peers and strengthens friendships, forges new bonds and unearths skills that students didn’t even know they had!
The KAA Intrepidus Trust funds the costs of the DofE Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards including expeditions, enabling up to 90 KAA students to gain valuable transferable skills each year and improve their Personal Statement in university applications.
One of our teachers, Miss Armitage, talks about the value of the DofE programme funded by the KAA Intrepidus Trust.
The World of Work
Over 40 per cent of our students are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, and can be disadvantaged by the significant lack of BAME and female role models in senior professional roles.
A growing area of focus is to create opportunities for students from under-represented groups to enter professions and areas of industry that might otherwise be difficult to access. We do this by developing programmes in partnership with individuals and companies who providing mentoring, work placements and employability skills workshops.
This year a leading barrister came to the school to run a programme to expose a cohort of students, mostly from Year 12 and 13, to some of the key elements of a career in the Law. The programme was devised to better equip them for the application and interview processes for degree courses and to gain placements at Chambers or in Law Firms.
We support a specialist Academic Excellence Scholars Programme, designed to raise the aspirations of highest attainers at KAA, working with students to provide them with exposure to competitive careers and courses, the steps required to access these, and develop cross curricular skills to allow them to be successful and confident beyond KAA. 50% of our students were accepted at Russell Group Universities in 2025.
We also fund a ‘Future Frontiers Programme’ which supports students with lower academic abilities providing guidance and opportunities to help them achieve post-16 qualifications for fulfilling employment. Over 2 years, 15 KS4 students received support through career coaching and advice. It was interesting to note that attending this programme, and the focus it gave to students, not only gave them guidance to their post-16 options but also resulted in them achieving higher GCSE results than were predicted prior to participation in the programme.
Educational Trips Abroad
The Trust offers subsidies to students from low income backgrounds to ensure they are not excluded from attending educational trips abroad. These are often prohibitive in cost to low-income families, yet so important academically, culturally and socially.
In 2024-25, KIT subsidising the costs of the trips to Paris, Cologne and New York for the 30% of attendees from low-income families . The European trips helped students with their language skills and the amazing trip to New York for Performing Arts Scholars included vocal, choreography and acting workshops with the Musical Director and an ensemble cast member of Moulin Rouge. For many of our students, it was their first time abroad so such trips really serve to expand their horizons.
“I’m ever so grateful for the opportunities this trip has given me and the motivation it’s given me to stay focused and strive in my French lessons.”
“On behalf of my husband and myself I just wanted to say thank you to you and your colleagues for making this special experience possible.”
