An introduction to functional skills

1. An introduction to functional skills New qualifications New ways of working October 2009

2. The 14-19 reforms establish five main pathways for young people. 1. GCSEs and A levels will continue, offering greater variety and contemporary relevance. 2. The Diploma introduces a new range of subjects which combine practical and theoretical learning. 3. There will be more opportunities for apprenticeships after 16. 4. Employment with accredited training will ensure school-leavers at 16 continue to learn within the education system. 5. Foundation Learning will provide progression opportunities for young people not yet ready for level 2 qualifications. Once fully implemented by 2013, these pathways will allow young people to choose or change paths at the end of key stage 3, and at 16, 17 and 18. • 14–19 reforms • 2

3. Functional skills are core elements of English, mathematics and ICT that provide an individual with essential knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and work. • Defining functional skills • 3

4. Functional skills qualifications in English, mathematics and ICT are available at Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3, level 1 and level 2. • The skills criteria for functional skills qualifications specify assessment outcomes for qualifications at each level in terms of skill standards, coverage and range. • Each of the three skills has a set of performance standards based on three key areas: Mathematics • Representing – selecting the mathematics and information required to model a situation • Analysing – processing and using mathematics • Interpreting and communicating the results of the analysis • What are functional skills qualifications? • 4

5. ICT • Use of ICT systems • Finding and selecting information • Developing, presenting and communicating information English • Speaking and listening • Reading • Writing • What are functional skills qualifications? • continued • 5

6. Apprenticeships Core Curriculum for literacy and numeracy Foundation Learning Key Skills The National Curriculum GCSE Diploma Connections to functional skills Content of functional skills ...in line with the demands of: • 6

7. Functional skills qualifications will replace existing key skills qualifications. Key skills qualifications will remain until at least 2010 (certification until 2012). • The Skills for Life qualifications will remain until 2012 for registration and 2014 for certification. • How do functional skills sit with key skills and Skills for Life? • A decision on whether functional skills qualifications will replace Skills for Life qualifications will be subject to the outcome of the functional skills pilot. • 7

8. The functional skills pilot began on 3 September 2007 and involves: • 11 awarding bodies • over 3,000 centres • Functional skills – the pilot • 8

9. Functional skills – the pilot continued • Assessments developed by the awarding bodies include a range of approaches based on a common set of principles, in accordance with the functional skills standards. The awarding bodies are: • AQA • Ascentis • ASDAN • City & Guilds • Edexcel • EDI • NCFE • NOCN • OCR • VTCT • WJEC • 9

10. The assessments are: • designed to measure the competent application of skills within real-life scenarios • task-based, or task- and test-based • usually externally set but may provide for internal task-based assessments • Functional skills assessments • subject to rigorous quality assurance arrangementsawarded on a pass or fail basis. Therefore a marginal fail at level 2 does not result in a pass at level 1. Students must be entered at the right level. • 10

11. Where performance is sufficient to meet the level requirements, a pass certificate is awarded. • Certificates are titled by skill and level achieved, for example, ‘Functional skills qualification in English at level 1’. • Qualifications in English clearly indicate which units have been achieved. • Certification • 11

12. Access to assessments • A range of access arrangements are available for functional skills assessments. • See JCQ’s Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration 2009-10, located on the JCQ website, for more information. • Exemptions and certificate indications may apply for some learners. • Consult awarding body guidance for more information. • Some access arrangements for external assessments require an application to the awarding body. • 12

13. Functional skills equivalence table • 13

14. The new GCSEs in English, mathematics and ICT for first teaching from September 2010 will have considerable functional skills content in learning and assessment. However, the awarding of functional skills qualifications remains separate from GCSEs. • To achieve functional skills qualifications, students must be entered for and pass the functional skills assessments. • There will be recognition of the achievement of standalone functional skills qualifications in English and mathematics through the new School Report Card. • Functional skills content was introduced into the key stage 3 curriculum in September 2008. • Functional skills content will be introduced into the key stage 4 curriculum from September 2010. • Functional skills and GCSEs • 14

15. Functional skills in Foundation Learning • Foundation Learning is the name given to education provision at Entry level and level 1, and to the qualifications given within the Qualifications and Credit Framework. • Functional skills qualifications are a compulsory part of Foundation Learning programmes. • It is intended that by 2010 there will be clear progression routes taking students through Entry level and level 1 to a range of appropriate destinations. Qualifications and Credit Framework 14–19 reforms A Level GCSE Diploma Apprenticeship Vocational qualifications reform Secondary curriculum Functional skills Foundation Learning and progression pathways • 15

16. The Diploma and functional skills • The Diploma has three mandatory components: • principal learning • additional and specialist learning • generic learning. • Functional skills is a mandatory part of generic learning. Students are required to achieve all three functional skills: • at level 1 for Diplomas at level 1 • at level 2 for Diplomas at levels 2 and 3. • 16

17. Any qualifications achieved before a Diploma learner account is opened may be seen as prior achievements and could contribute towards the Diploma. • Many students starting on level 3 courses may already have level 2 functional skills. If these qualifications do not show in the student’s learner account, you should request them via the prior achievement route. • Prior achievement and the Diploma • 17

18. Functional skills issues reported during QCDA visits to centres in 2009: • The number of assessment opportunities offered differ between awarding bodies. Depending on which awarding body has been selected, some students only had one exam session. • Functional skills is a tough hurdle for many students and can be difficult to achieve in one year alongside a full Diploma programme. • Problems were encountered by centres on the administration of ICT exams. They felt that a lack of understanding of what technical support would be required on the day, and a general unfamiliarity with the test material, contributed to a very low success rate. One centre has attempted to address these issues by contacting the awarding body to establish what technical and other support is needed to run the exam, and by providing more tuition to staff and students on the assessment. • One centre reported that the teacher had overlooked the practical ICT assessment and that if this had not been internally checked it would have been too late for the student to achieve a Diploma in one year. • Functional skills lessons learned • 18

19. Key dates • 19

20. Functional skills will prove to be a fun but comprehensive qualification for students. Equally they will further test the administration and management skills of exams office staff. QCDA is confident you will rise to meet this challenge and has created the functional skills toolkit to help you. • To download other resources from the toolkit, visit: www.qcda.gov.uk/fstoolkit. Additional resources and support for centres • Support for leaders, managers and practitioners, is available atwww.fssupport.org. • Further information about functional skills within the Diploma visitwww.diploma-support.org. • For further information about functional skills from QCDA visitwww.qcda.gov.uk/functionalskills. • Resources and support for centres • 20