Future 6

Future 6 is a clear framework that embeds six, key industry-informed skills and behaviours into every student's learning journey. Each vocational area defines its own framework through collaboration with industry advisory boards, which ensures that teaching aligns closely with employer expectations. 

The Future 6 framework was launched in September 2025 and over the past year teaching teams have worked hard to integrate these skills and behaviours into schemes of work, assessments and the wider student experience. 

Take a look at our best practice!

Across the college, curriculum teams are embedding Future 6 in creative, meaningful ways that support both learning and progression. 

Animal science 

The team has introduced a star guide and target bank for students, this enables students to reflect independently on their Future 6 during their progress reviews. This has led to students taking more ownership over their development and clearer progression of their skills over the academic year. Staff have also mentioned that the students have been able to demonstrate the behaviours during work experience placements too. 

Business

Business curriculum areas have embedded Future 6 consistently across teaching, assessment and employer engagement. Lessons regularly begin with a focus on relevant Future 6 skills, which are then mapped throughout activities and content.

There are different approaches to this from the different levels:

• Level 1 - At this level the approach is practical and project-based learning. This brings the skills to life varying from analysing business role models and industry case studies to developing CVs, interview techniques and professional communication. This approach has already supported a number of students into part-time employment.
• Level 2 - At this level students demonstrate Future 6 through applied assessment including: interview scenarios where they evidence analytical thinking, accountability, active listening and confident communication. 

Across all levels, tutors have successfully embedded skills in  a way that feels natural and purposeful, helping students develop them almost without realising - resulting in deeper understanding and long-term behavioural change.

Art

Our Art students have engaged in live, community-based projects with organisations such as Working Man’s Kitchen in Sneinton. Through activities like screen printing for real clients and responding to live briefs, students have built confidence, developed professional behaviours and gained valuable experience of working in a creative industry context. This hands-on approach has brought Future 6 to life in an authentic and highly engaging way.

Uniformed services

Uniformed Services have fully embedded the Future 6 framework across all aspects of their curriculum, ensuring students consistently apply these skills in realistic, industry-relevant contexts. Whether working collaboratively with peers or engaging with members of the public, students are encouraged to demonstrate professional behaviours throughout their learning. 

Mock interviews are built into course units to strengthen communication and employability skills, while problem-solving is developed through a range of student-led activities, including navigating scenarios in the Crime House and other real-world simulations. 

Feedback from their recent Industry Advisory Board meeting confirmed that the selected Future 6 skills are highly relevant to the sector, with employers highlighting them as essential attributes they look for in future recruits.