Functional Skills update

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Functional Skills update
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Functional skills the basics

• Functional skills will provide individuals
  with the essential knowledge, skills and
  understanding that will enable them to operate
  confidently, effectively and independently in
  life and work.
• 14-19 education and skills implementation plan
  (DfES 2005)

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Functional skills the basics

• There are three functional skills English,
  mathematics, ICT.
• They are for all learners at KS3 and KS4 and a
  mandatory element of Diplomas
• They are a core component of the reform of 1419
  education and training.
• QCA has developed draft standards at Entry Levels
  1, 2 and 3, and Levels 1 and 2, Level 3 being
  consulted on at the moment

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Functional skills the basics

• Functional skills are
• applied skills
• transferable
• relevant to all contexts.

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Functional skills the basics

• The standards draw on the National Curriculum,
  GCSEs, key skills, and Skills for Life.
• At Level 1, they are embedded into the Key Stage
  3 renewed programmes of study for first teaching
  in September 2008.
• Functional skills are qualifications and
  therefore will be independently
• assessed.

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Implications for learners

• Functional skills are much more than a set of
  technical competencies in English, mathematics
  and ICT.
• Mastery involves selection, application and
  evaluation of a range of skills to tackle tasks
  and problems.
• Learners need to know
• what skills are available
• when to use them
• why they are appropriate for the task
• how to apply them to achieve appropriate
  outcomes.
• Contexts and outcomes are variable but the
  functional skills are constant.

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Functional skills

• English aspects Speaking and listening,
  Reading and Writing.
• Maths aspects Representing, Analysing and
  Interpreting.
• ICT aspects of Use ICT systems, Find and select
  information and Develop, present and communicate
  Information.

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Diplomas

• From 2011 there will be 17 lines of learning
• Functional skills are a mandatory part at the
  level of diploma you are taking apart from L3
  diploma
• E.g. Level 1 diploma in Construction must do
  Level 1 Eng, Ma ,ICT
• Level 2 and 3 diploma at present you must take
  Level 2 Eng, Ma, ICT
• There are no proxy qualifications for functional
  skills at any level

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Diploma GCSE equivalences

• Foundation diploma 5 GCSEs D-G
• High Diploma 7 GCSEs A-C
• Advanced Diploma 31/2 A Levels A E

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Point score

• Level 2 23
• Level 1 12.5
• Entry 3 7
• Entry 2 6
• Entry 1 5
• Each functional skill equals 0.5 of a GCSE in
  addition to English, Maths, ICT GCSEs