Skills for Life: Understanding Self and Others
Understanding Self and Others is a Pearson Skills for Life unit on the factors that shape how we see ourselves and others, and on ways to develop self-awareness and build positive connections with other people. It is one 10 hour unit that learners combine with others into a Pearson Skills for Life Award, Certificate or Diploma, from Entry 1 to Level 2, and the centre sets and marks the assignment. Literacy sits in stating, describing or explaining a set number of factors, reflecting on ways to develop self-awareness, asking questions and talking with different people, and using sources at Level 1 and Level 2. There is no numeracy: Pearson's mapping gives no direct link.
- Awarding body
- Pearson
- Level
- Entry Level 1 to Level 2
- Guided learning hours
- 10
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this unit is assessed
- Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): One assessment criterion at each of Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3: state, outline or identify factors that affect how we see ourselves and others, and demonstrate or apply simple ways to develop self-awareness and build positive connections with one or more other people. The centre sets and marks its own assignment (Pearson's Authorised Assignment Brief is optional) and there are no mandatory evidence requirements; work is internally verified and quality assured by a Pearson Standards Verifier. 10 guided learning hours, graded Pass or Fail.
- Level 1 and Level 2: One assessment criterion at each level: learners describe (Level 1) or explain (Level 2) a range of factors that affect how we see ourselves and others, and apply a range of skills to develop self-awareness and build positive connections with different people, at Level 2 in different contexts. The centre sets and marks its own assignment, with no mandatory evidence requirements, internally verified and quality assured by a Pearson Standards Verifier. 10 guided learning hours, graded Pass or Fail.
Skills that use Clarity and vocabulary
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Describing and explaining factors that shape how we see ourselves
Learners state at least two factors (Entry 1), outline at least three (Entry 2), identify three or four (Entry 3), describe four or five (Level 1) and explain at least six (Level 2) factors that affect how we see ourselves and others, such as personal, social, physical, psychological, communication, belief or emotional factors. This is required by the assessment criteria.
Literacy: Planning and organising for different purposes, audiences and context, Clarity and vocabulary
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils sort cards such as family, friends, hobbies and religion into factors that affect how they see themselves and write one sentence about two of them.
- Year 8
- Pupils describe four factors that shape how people judge others, giving an example of each from a short story read in class.
- Year 9
- Pupils write an explanation of how social, physical and psychological factors shape identity, using paragraphs and an example for each factor.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit SfL 27, assessment criteria Entry 1 to Level 2, page 124; Essential information for assessment decisions, page 125 and Level 2, page 126
“explain a range of at least six different factors that affect how we see and better understand ourselves”
Progression step 3
I can write a comprehensive account of a topic, theme or viewpoint.
I can express issues and ideas clearly using area of learning and experience/discipline-specific vocabulary and examples.
Progression step 4
I can use summary, discussion of issues, detailed explanations and logic when covering a topic.
I have experienced a range of area of learning and experience/discipline-specific and general academic vocabulary, and can use them in my own communication.
Good to know
- The unit is SfL 27, listed as "Understanding self & others" with 10 guided learning hours (Section 3, page 5), half the 20 hours of the WJEC unit of the same name.
- A learner achieves the unit once, at one level: "Learners can only achieve each unit once, at a single level" (Rules of Combination, page 6).
- The essential information sets minimum numbers at each level, for example Level 2 learners "explain a range of at least six different factors" and apply "(at least five) different ways to develop their self-awareness" (page 126).
- Evidence can be spoken, written or practical: "there are no mandatory evidence requirements and centres can select the type of evidence" (page 125), and Pearson's mapping lists "Reflective writing, creating info packs, role-play discussions" (Annexe C, page 165).
- Written work must be the learner's own: "If AI is used, the final submission must be in the learner’s own words and reflect their own effort." (page 126).
- The teaching content is in a separate document: "This can be found in the Teaching and Learning Support document for this unit" (Unit content, page 125).
- The Entry 2 and Level 1 guidance repeat a word in the list of people: "such as family members, peers, teachers, family members or other support staff" (page 125).
Links with other qualifications
The WJEC Skills for Life unit Understanding Self and Others is a 20 hour unit with four learning outcomes, and much of its literacy is spoken: naming feelings, describing identity, discussing differences and talking through conflict. Pearson's 10 hour unit centres on stating, describing or explaining a set number of factors that shape how we see ourselves and others, plus applying and reflecting on ways to build self-awareness and connections, with source use at Level 1 and Level 2. Explaining factors and reflecting in writing build on GCSE English Language and Literature and GCSE Cymraeg Language and Literature, and discussing identity, bias and stereotypes links with GCSE Social Studies. Within the WJEC Skills Suite, Values for Life, Healthy Relationships and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion use similar discussion and reflection.
Source: Pearson Entry Level 1 to Level 2 Skills for Life Award, Certificate and Diploma specification, Issue 1, August 2026, Unit SfL 27: Understanding self and others.