The Etc Programme is a new scheme for secondary-age learners. It builds on Children’s University’s proven framework. This framework recognises and celebrates skills, opportunities, and experiences outside the classroom.
By age 18, students spend only 9% of their waking life in classrooms, yet formal qualifications focus solely on this small percentage.
The Etc Programme captures the other 91%. This includes extra-curricular activities, volunteering, caring, leadership, creative projects, and real-world experiences. These activities shape their skills and identities.
Etc stands for:
- E – encourage young people to explore and engage in enriching experiences
- T – track their journey and development outside formal education
- C – celebrate the full breadth of their growth and achievements
It also draws on the term et cetera, meaning “and the rest”. This reflects the programme’s mission to recognise all the experiences that shape a young person beyond formal learning.
Why Etc is important for schools and students
Etc has multiple benefits. These include:
- whole learner recognition – Etc complements academic reports with a verified record of wider learning
- skills visibility – Etc maps experiences to transferable skills such as teamwork, self-management, creativity and problem solving
- motivation and engagement – badges, milestones and reflection prompts encourage sustained participation
- destinations and guidance – Etc helps to strengthens personal statements and provides guidance for interviews, and progression conversations
- personal development offer – Etc helps your school with enrichment, character, and careers activities by building a dataset and reports that you can access through the school dashboard
Joining Etc
The Etc programme is an invitation only pilot. If you’re interested in piloting Etc in your school, contact us.
