Functional Skills are qualifications that have been developed by the

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as part of an initiative to improve England’s

literacy Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, huma ...

numeracy Numeracy is the ability to understand, reason with, and to apply simple numerical concepts. The charity National Numeracy states: "Numeracy means understanding how mathematics is used in the real world and being able to apply it to make the bes ...

and

ICT ICT may refer to: Sciences and technology * Information and communications technology * Image Constraint Token, in video processing * Immunochromatographic test, a rapid immunoassay used to detect diseases such as anthrax * In-circuit test, in ...

skills. They are replacing

Key Skills The Key Skills Qualification is a frequently required component of 14-20 education in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The aim of Key Skills is to encourage learners to develop and demonstrate their skills as well as learn how to select and ap ...

Level 1 and 2 qualifications from September 2012; in the short-term Entry Level Key Skills will remain as there is no current replacement – this is still in review. Functional skills qualifications are now integral in: *

GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a particular subject, taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. State schools in Scotland use the Scottish Qualifications Certificate instead. Private sc ...

s – in English, mathematics and ICT and are included in key stage 3 and key stage 4 programmes of study. * Diplomas * A component in all apprenticeship frameworks – Key Skills will be still be available for registration until 31 August 2012. Functional Skills are also available as stand-alone qualifications. A three-year Functional Skills pilot ended on 31 August 2010. All pilot qualifications have been withdrawn and the new accredited functional skills qualifications are now available for all learners. Although several assessment models were piloted, the

QCDA The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) was a charity, and an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) of the Department for Education. In England and Northern Ireland, the QCDA maintained and developed the National Cu ...

have approved assessment models that consist of internal assessment and moderation of entry level qualifications by the centre. Level 1 and Level 2 assessments are to be externally assessed and moderated, and carried out in exam conditions at the centre. Functional Skills English Speaking and Listening components will be internally assessed but externally moderated. In Functional Skills Mathematics assessments, candidates at all levels are allowed the use of a calculator. Functional Skills ICT assessments will require use of a computer with internet access. Although the delivery of Functional Skills should be embedded into all curricula by using contextualised teaching materials, the assessments at Level 1 and level 2 will be neither embedded nor contextualised and will be graded as PASS/FAIL via a test. The English speaking and listening skills requires internal assessment of English usage; all other skills are externally assessed. There are no proxies and no portfolio requirements for these qualifications - therefore unless the qualification has been achieved previously, there is no direct replacement. Functional Skills Mathematics assessments will consist of mathematical problem solving and decision making using numbers, with tasks simulating the natural occurrence of numerical reasoning within real life contexts. Functional Skills English assessments will consist of speaking and listening, reading and writing tasks simulating the need for English language skills within real life contexts; including usage of spelling and grammar and presentation skills. Functional Skills ICT assessments will consist of tasks demanding independent use of all forms of ICT; problem solving, research and interpretation. Functional Skills are only available in England – Scotland has an alternative skills programme –

Core Skills Core or cores may refer to: Science and technology * Core (anatomy), everything except the appendages * Core (manufacturing), used in casting and molding * Core (optical fiber), the signal-carrying portion of an optical fiber * Core, the central ...

and Wales –

Essential Skills Essential or essentials may refer to: Biology *Essential amino acid, one that the organism cannot produce by itself Groups and organizations * EQ Media Group, formerly Essential Media Group, a global television production company * Essential Me ...

References

{{reflist * http://www.edexcel.com/quals/func-skills/delivering/Pages/default.aspx * http://feweek.co.uk/2012/02/24/promoting-the-positive-in-functional-skills/ * http://www.teachingtimes.com/articles/functional-skills.htm * https://web.archive.org/web/20120312150329/http://www.usethekey.org.uk/curriculum-and-learning/secondary-and-further/14-19/information-on-functional-skill-sets Educational qualifications in England