Functional Skills

Functional skills are those core elements of English, Maths and ICT that provide an individual with the essential knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and at work. Individuals of whatever age who possess these skills will be able to participate and progress in education, training and employment as well as develop and secure the broader range of aptitudes, attitudes and behaviours that will enable them to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work. (DfES definition)

Functional Skills Unit titles:
English
- Speaking and listening
- Reading
- Writing

Maths
- Making sense of situations and representing them
- Processing and analysing the mathematics
- Interpreting and communicating the results of analysis

ICT
- Use ICT systems
- Find, select and communicate information
- Develop and present information

The timeline of key milestones for delivering functional skills

• QCA have produced a draft set of standards for functional skills, with initial focus on levels 1 and 2, following consultation on these over summer 2006.

• QCA – through the awarding bodies - are trialing the draft standards and assessment regime with a selection of providers in the 2006/7 academic year and will make refinements on the basis of this initial trial.

• As part of this phased implementation, a pilot for GCSE candidates will run from September 2007 for two years in English and ICT and for three years in maths. This pilot will include those schools and colleges involved in the first phase of Diploma introduction.

• QCA will develop and test models for maths pathways, with the aim of making recommendations for a coherent curriculum and assessment framework, with small scale trialling from September 2006.

• From the 2006/7 initial trials onwards, schools, colleges and training providers will be helped to prepare for the introduction of functional skills, building on the lessons from existing good practice in GCSE, Key Skills and Skills for Life (see http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk).

• QCA will produce advice on maths pathways for autumn 2008.

• Awarding bodies will provide specifications to schools and colleges by September 2008 for revised English and ICT GCSEs, and by September 2009 for the revised GCSE maths.

• Schools and colleges will introduce the revised GCSEs in English and ICT which includes functional skills in September 2009.

• Schools and colleges will introduce the revised GCSE in maths including functional skills in September 2010.

• QCA will involve regulatory bodies in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland throughout this process.

Pilot training for functional skills

Tuesday June 26th 2007 8.45 – 3.30 pm, Bannerdale Centre, Sheffield.

Monday 2nd July 2007 8.45 – 3.30 pm, Centre in the Park, Sheffield.

Agenda for functional skills training - The Secondary National Strategy consultants for English, Maths and ICT in Sheffield will provide the training and support for the development of functional skills alongside trainers who work for the Lifelong Learning and Skills Network.

The following Sheffield schools will take part in the functional skills pilot are:
Abbeydale Grange School
Handsworth Grange School
Myers Grove School
Myers Grove School
Yewlands School
Longley Park College
Sheffield College
The majority of Sheffield schools in the pilot will be working with the Edexcel exam board during the pilot.

QCA Functional Skills Information

DfES Functional Skills Information

For further information on functional skills contact Helen Nichols