Functional Skills

Thursday, 25 February 2010 17:50

Functional skills are a key element to the curriculum and qualifications reforms in England. They are the practical skills that allow people to use English, mathematics, and information and communication technology (ICT) in real life contexts. In developing functional skills, people can adapt and apply the knowledge to suit different situations they may face at home, at work, in education, and in the community.

A three-year functional skills pilot programme is being conducted by QCDA. The pilot has been evaluated at several stages since it began in 2007. The final evaluation is being carried out by a company called Tribal. For further details, please contact QCDA.

Functional Skills qualification criteria were developed as a result of this pilot and following a consultation, they were published by Ofqual on 4 November 2009. We monitor and recognise awarding organisations as submitting bodies for functional skills and will accredit the functional skills qualifications they create against these criteria.

From September 2010, functional skills qualifications in English, maths, and ICT will be available in England to everyone aged 14 and above. To open up access to the full range of people who could potentially benefit from them, they are being offered as stand-alone qualifications at Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2. We will accredit them on to the National Qualifications Framework for full rollout from September 2010. Additionally, functional skills qualifications will be:

• a constituent of new Diplomas at every level (a Department for Children Schools and Families’ guide re functional skills and Diplomas is available here)
• a replacement for Communication, Application of Number and ICT Key Skills qualifications when they close for registrations on 31 August 2010
• part of Apprenticeship Frameworks (from September 2010)
• part of Foundation Learning.

In addition they are being considered as a replacement for Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy and Basic Skills, although these will continue to be accredited until at least August 2010 — allowing for certification until August 2012.

Wider Key Skills qualifications (improving own learning and performance; working with others; and problem solving) will still be available to new candidates for registration until August 2012 and will be awarded until August 2014.

A full list of accredited Functional Skills qualifications is available.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 June 2010 15:01 Tags: functional skills, functional, skills