Why The Decider Skills for secondary and FE?
While our Good2Go videos are designed specifically for primary schools, secondary schools and colleges can benefit from the full Decider Life Skills approach—a flexible, whole‑school framework that supports:
- Emotional intelligence
- Resilience and self‑regulation
- Skilful decision‑making
- A shared language for mental health
The Life Skills are 12 CBT and DBT‑informed strategies, simplified from the original 32 Skills and designed to be taught in a fun, creative and interactive way. They can be used proactively across the whole school, as part of pastoral or SEMH support, or as a brief intervention for students who may be on waiting lists for additional help.
How The Decider Skills work in secondary schools
We recommend that at least two lead teachers or key wellbeing staff complete the Decider Life Skills online training. Once trained, they introduce the skills to colleagues and coordinate how the programme is embedded across the school or college.
Secondary schools typically deliver the skills through:
- Whole‑school or year‑group assemblies: Two skills per week for seven weeks, with Week 1 covering the introduction and The FIZZ.
- Tutor time or PSHE lessons: Short, structured sessions that build skills over time.
- Curriculum‑linked activities: Integrating the skills into subjects such as PSHE, health and social care, or vocational pathways.
- Targeted small‑group interventions: Led by pastoral, SEMH, EBSA or safeguarding teams for students who need additional support.
The skills are then reinforced in everyday interactions—through consistent language used by staff, visual prompts around the building, and regular opportunities for students to practise and reflect.
How The Decider Skills work in further education
Further education settings often adapt the Life Skills to suit older learners, vocational pathways and diverse support needs. Delivery commonly includes:
- Induction or transition programmes: Introducing the skills early to support emotional resilience and independent learning.
- Tutorial sessions or enrichment programmes: Embedding the skills in regular pastoral or wellbeing time.
- Curriculum‑embedded delivery: Particularly within health, social care, childcare, public services and similar courses.
- Targeted wellbeing or support groups: For learners accessing pastoral, safeguarding, SEMH or counselling services.
Recommended steps for implementing the Life Skills in secondary & FE settings
To get started with The Decider Life Skills, we recommend the following:
- Book a minimum of two places on The Decider Life Skills online training: Each online training place also includes the Decider Life Skills Trainer Manual, with additional copies available if needed.
- Add our 12 Skills Companion Cards (optional): A helpful tool for ongoing embedding, one‑to‑one work and quick reinforcement of the 12 skills.
- Provide student handbooks: These allow learners to personalise, reflect on and practise the skills in their own time.
- Use posters and visual prompts around the setting
Ideal for classrooms, corridors, wellbeing spaces and support rooms to keep the skills visible and memorable. - Access the full online resource library
Includes videos, activities and guidance for staff, parents and students to support consistent delivery.
Flexible, evidence‑based and adaptable
The Decider Life Skills approach is:
- Adaptable – suitable for mainstream secondary schools, SEMH provisions, alternative education, colleges and specialist teams.
- Evidence‑based – grounded in CBT and DBT principles, and designed for real‑world use with young people.
- Cost‑effective – train a small number of staff and cascade the skills across the wider school or college community.
If you’d like to explore how The Decider Life Skills could work in your secondary school or FE setting, you can get in touch ([email protected]) with us for more information or to discuss the best starting point for your context.