Functional Skills

Functional Skills are a new addition to the 14-19 curriculum offer. Functional Skills qualifications in English, maths and ICT will be taken alongside reformed GCSEs, the new Diplomas and Apprenticeships, as well as being available as standalone qualifications for young people and adults.

Functional Skills help develop important skills - like communication, team working, presentation, and problem solving. They have been developed to help learners gain the most out of work, education and everyday life and are a platform on which to build employability skills. Without basic English, Maths and ICT skills progressing in employment can be difficult.

Functional Skills are essential for:

• getting the most from education and training
• personal development of all young people and adults
• developing employability skills
• tackling England's skills gap

These three Functional Skills qualifications have been piloted across 2000 centres, and are now available nationally.

For more information please speak to your school, college or Connexions, or contact the Learning and Curriculum Team at Herefordshire Council. Alternatively you can access information from the Department for Education