Implementing key skills in the sixth form has always seemed a huge task. First they have to be mapped against the curriculum - not easy when teachers are still struggling to understand AS and A2. Then students have to be convinced they are worthwhile. That done, someone has to manage them - spotting opportunities, keeping records, chasing students.

Chris Vidler, who wrote this CD, understands all this, and has produced a thoroughly practical solution. His approach puts the students in charge, while supporting their progress at every stage.

Each student has his or her own CD, which opens with a screen displaying six buttons: Advice, Registration, Self-Assessment, Portfolio Building, Record Keeper and Progress Report.

The clear, well-pitched language of the Advice section puts all the other activity in context, setting a friendly and supportive tone.

Registration is the next step. Students fill in basic personal details and check boxes for each of their subjects, chosen from 29 ASA2 and Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education subject areas. This personalises the programme and ensures that further advice and activities are precisely related to each student’s individual curriculum.

Students then assess their own abilities, establishing a baseline. The Self-Assessment screen offers each of the key skills in turn, and selecting one takes the student to a tick-box page on which each sub-skill is listed. Full explanatory information is a mouse-click away. The completed sheet can be printed to allow discussion with a tutor. Clicking the Portfolio Building button displays the student’s curriculum subjects and neatly suggests what evidence each area is likely to provide for the portfolio, backed up by detailed and clearly focused advice about how to make the most of the opportunities. The Record Keeper is friendly and thorough, and makes keeping a detailed, annotated record of progress in each key skill easy. Finally, the Progress Report gives a printable, graphic summary of what has been achieved.

This CD can make key skills work. It has mapped the curriculum, it makes the students responsible for their own progress and record-keeping, and the print-outs and saveable files help a tutor track progress and offer advice. Every sixth-former should have a copy.

Harry Dodds teaches English and ICT at Gosford Hill school, Kidlington, Oxfordshire