What are Functional Skills?

Functional Skills are qualifications to help people develop essential English, Maths and ICT skills for their working and personal lives. These are required for apprenticeships, Access courses, diplomas and Further or Higher Education, and can be stepping stones to GCSEs.

Previously called Skills for Life, these were developed by the UK government to ensure that everyone has equal access to education and training, as well as the transferable skills we all need to function in real-life contexts.

They can also help the individual carry out tasks in everyday life such as reading texts, calculating a weekly budget or using a computer for their own needs.

What are Functional Skills qualifications?

Functional Skills qualifications show a training provider or employer that the individual has the knowledge of a certain subject and can apply them to different situations.

Within the workplace, they apply to a wide range of careers and industries, including business, teaching, nursing, tourism, hospitality, engineering and accounting.

There are currently five levels of Functional Skills qualifications:

• Entry Level 1 (Pre-GCSE)
• Entry Level 2 (Pre-GCSE)
• Entry Level 3 (Pre-GCSE)
• Level 1 (GCSE level grades 1-3)
• Level 2 (GCSE level grade 4)

The learner starts at one level and then can choose to study further or move into employment or vocational training if they pass.

The Functional Skills assessments are based on exam papers and do not include coursework or portfolio-based elements. These will be internally assessed at Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3, and can be taken online or on paper for Levels 1 and 2.

English

For the English Functional Skills qualification, learners will be taught phonetics and vocabulary so they can read and spell correctly, improve their pronunciation and improve their grammar. They will also be able to write with clarity, communicate effectively and grow their confidence using English.

To gain the qualification, learners have to pass three assessments:

• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking and listening

Maths

The Mathematics Functional Skills qualification helps learners develop their maths and problem-solving skills and have the confidence to use these skills in a variety of contexts.

To gain the qualification, learners will be assessed on a range of topics, including:

• Using numbers and the number system – whole numbers
• Using common measures, shapes and space
• Handling information and data
• Solving mathematical problems and decision making

Each of these concepts is taught using practical life examples and is evaluated in a simple, one-step way.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

The ICT Functional Skills qualification helps the learner use a computer with confidence for work and home life. They will be taught to navigate the internet, use email, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software and problem solve by doing online research and interpreting results to find a solution.

The importance of Functional Skills qualifications

Every learner deserves to achieve their full potential, regardless of their background or previous educational background. The Functional Skills qualifications help ensure that the learner has everything they need to thrive in life and work.

By building these essential skills, they will have greater confidence in life and can enjoy more success in the workplace.

Employers and training providers also find these qualifications attractive as they demonstrate the learner’s desire for achievement and growth.

Functional Skills training makes people more independent and employable. They become better citizens, able to contribute to society more positively and solve problems in familiar and unfamiliar situations.

Support for Functional Skills training

Functional Skills training is designed to help the learner develop the skills necessary to become confident when communicating, reading, writing, carrying out basic mathematical tasks and using a computer.

These are actions we carry out in everyday life such as reading a post on social media, doing the shopping, using online banking, speaking to others and writing an email to make a complaint.

Simply by using these skills frequently and consistently in real-life contexts, the learner will notice improvements in their ability to complete every day tasks and find it easier to obtain the Functional Skills qualifications at their target level.

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