Functional Skills Update

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Functional Skills Update
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Qualification development and reform

• Functional skills (FS) are a key part of
  educational reform programme which includes the
  following
• Diplomas
• Foundation Learning Tier (FLT)
• Existing 14 19 qualifications
• Key Stage 3 revision
• Modernisation of the exam process
• Vocational qualifications reform

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What are Functional Skills?

• Functional skills are practical skills in
  English, mathematics and information and
  communication technology (ICT) that allow
  individuals to operate confidently, effectively
  and independently in life.
• (QCA)
• For further clarification on Functional Skills
  Visit your questions answered on the QCA website

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The White Paper also stated that

• Achievement of GCSE English, Maths and ICT at
  grade C or above will not be possible without
  achievement of the relevant functional skill at
  level 2
• Achievement of functional skills will be a
  requirement for achievement of the Diplomas
• Functional Skills will be available as a
  stand-alone qualification

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Why are they being introduced?

• To address employers concerns that young people
  and adults are not achieving a firm grounding in
  English, Maths and ICT
• (14 - 19 Education and Skills White Paper)

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• Employers and educators identified these skills
  as vital for enabling young people and adults to
  have the practical skills to succeed in further
  learning, employment and life in modern society.
• To ensure all young people and adults are able to
  develop these vital skills.
• To support raised attainment.

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• QCA Stand alone pilots only
• 3 year Pilots for Maths, English
• and ICT
• Entry 1 to Level 2
• Requirement of Diplomas
• GCSE Integrated pilot
• postponed
• Embedded into BTECs

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National benchmarks and targets for functional
skills

• 14-19
• Level 2 in English, maths and ICT
• Adults (Leitch agenda)
• Level 1 English
• Entry 3 maths
• ICT no target

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How will Functional Skills fit with the Key
Skills/Basic Skills?

• FS stand-alone qualifications suitable for both
  young people and adults (from 2011 onwards).
• Expected to replace existing key and basic skills
  
• key skills qualifications at levels 1 and 2.
• Basic skills qualifications in literacy, numeracy
  
• (ALAN) ICT.
• These qualifications will remain until at least
  2010 (certification until 2012).

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How will Functional Skills fit with the new
Diplomas?

• Form an integral part of the Diplomas from 2008
• Will be a mandatory part of the generic learning
• Learners will be required to achieve FS
• at level 1 for Diplomas at level 1
• at level 2 for Diplomas at levels 2 and 3

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Functional Skills and GCSEs

• The intention is that a pass in Functional Skills
  at level 2 will be a requirement for the awarding
  of the GCSE (English, Maths and ICT) at grade C
  or above, when the revised qualifications are
  introduced in September 2010.

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What about GCSEs?

• Current GCSE FS pilots in English and ICT
  have been postponed by QCA
• From 2010 hurdles will operate for Grade C and
  above
• Possibility of GCSE pilots in the next year
  watch this space

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Current position

• National pilots will commence in September 2007
• Approx 1200 centres will take part in the pilots
• Each awarding body will be offering different
  functional skills qualifications to ensure that
  there is coverage across levels and subjects
• Stand-alone qualifications will be set and marked
  by awarding bodies
• Centres that are a nominated FS centre and are
  through the Gateway can take part in the pilot

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Time line for Pilot

• Sept 2007 First teaching for stand alone
  pilots
• June 2008 First assessment opportunity
• Sept 2008 Functional Skills will be included
  in the Diplomas
• Sept 2010 Functional Skills for Maths, English
  and ICT will be an hurdle to achieving GCSE
  grade C
• 2011 Phasing out of existing key skills
  and adult literacy and
  numeracy qualifications
  commences

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More Information

• Visit these websites
• Department for Children, Schools and Families
  14-19
• http//www.dfes.gov.uk/14-19/
• QCA 14-19
• http//www.qca.org.uk/142D19/
• http//www.qca.org.uk/qca_6062.aspx
• LSN
• http//www.lsneducation.org.uk/functionalskills/

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More Information
Ideas for modelling your curriculum http//www.ede
xcel.org.uk/quals/alan/ri/embedding/ Another good
source http//www.totallyskilled.co.uk/awardingBo
dy/ab.htm
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What else can I do to prepare?

• Have a look at the FS standards on the QCA
  website
• http//www.qca.org.uk/15895.html
• The standards are being used by awarding bodies
  to develop the FS pilot qualifications but will
  be of interest to a wider audience

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Why should you join a pilot?

• Get ahead
• Opportunity to shape and influence the new
  qualifications to ensure what is develops
  provides you with the best possible solution to
  meet your needs and those of your students

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The Dates for Functional Skills training are
Day 1 Day 2 Tuesday/Wednesday 04th 5th
of March 2008 Day 3 Wednesday
14th of May 2008 Day 4 Monday 30th of June
2008
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Exam Board Qualifications
AQA EDEXCEL OCR
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AQA Functional Skills

• Unitised structure flexibility, resits
• vital when Level 2 FS hurdle applied to GCSE
• English - 3 assessment units
• ICT - 2 assessment units
• Maths - 1 assessment units (2 components)

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AQA English Assessment

• reading
• externally set multiple choice, 45 minutes
• writing
• externally set task testing writing to
  inform/persuade, 45 minutes
• speaking and listening
• internal assessment of presentation and
  discussion

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AQA ICT Assessment

• - externally set test
• multiple choice, sentence completion, matching
  pairs, ordering and searching,
• 1 hour
• - externally set task
• at screen using data files (modelled on Key
  Skills Level 3 test), 1 hour 30 mins

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AQA Maths Assessment

• Externally set written paper,
• non calculator,
• 40 minutes
• Externally set written paper,
• with calculator, with pre-release materials, 1
  hour

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Edexcel Functional Skills English

• Assessment
• Single paper test for reading and writing (90
  mins)
• Externally Marked by Edexcel
• Separate tests for level 1 and 2
• Reading and writing will be thematically linked.
• .
• Speaking and Listening
• Internally marked (30 mins)
• Guidance for speaking listening in English in
  exemplar tasks. No other controlled conditions.

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Edexcel Functional Skills Maths

• Assessment
• Single paper test (90 mins)
• Separate tests for Level 1 and 2
• Externally Marked by Edexcel.
• Will have free text and multiple choice questions
• Will be assessed in a range of contexts

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Edexcel Functional Skills ICT

• Assessment
• Single computer based set test (90 mins)
• Separate tests for level 1 and 2
• Externally Marked by Edexcel.
• Will have practical activities and free text
  questions
• Will be assessed in a range of contexts

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OCRs Functional English assessment Two
components

• Reading and Writing
• OCR set and marked
• Comprising 2 scenario-based tasks
• Duration 60 minutes Levels 1 2
• Controlled, supervised conditions
• Learners will be able to use a Word Processor to
  complete tasks

• Speaking and Listening
• Centre assessed
• OCR moderated
• L1 short discussion
• L2 short discussion and short presentation

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OCRs Functional Maths assessment

• OCR set and marked assessment
• Comprising 3 scenario-based tasks
• Duration 75 minutes (Levels 1 2)
• Controlled, supervised conditions
• Will be able to use a calculator

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OCRs Functional ICT assessment

• OCR set and marked assessment
• Comprising 3 practical tasks using a computer
• Duration between 75 minutes (Level 1)
• and 90 minutes (Level
  2)
• Controlled, supervised conditions
• Will be able to use software help facilities