Functional

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Functional Skills
Presentation National Manager Cheryl Woods
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What are Functional Skills ?
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What are Functional Skills ?
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Where do Functional skills sit ?
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• Why does the Government place so much importance
  on them?
• A response to the Leitch report (2006)
• Being driven by a number of social, educational
  and
• economical concerns
• Close the skills gap by 2020
• For the UK to remain economically competitive,
  the
• knowledge and skills base of the population
  must
• improve

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What encouragement do schools have to do
Functional Skills ?

• The national curriculum at key stages 3 4 have
  their roots in the Functional Skills standards
• Better Functional Skills will help raise
  standards in both schools and colleges and
  improve employment prospects
• Functional Skills achievement will be reflected
  in the new School Report Card, which will replace
  the current performance table

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• What are the options for a teacher to cover
  Functional Skills?
• Level 1 Functional Skills will be embedded in
  the
• programme of study at key stage 3
• Level 2 Functional Skills will be embedded in
  the
• programme of study at key stage 4
• To address outcomes of the Every Child
  Matters
• To ensure progression of learners and increased
  
• achievement

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• What are the options for a teacher to cover
  Functional Skills (cont)?
• Revised programmes of study/14 19 reforms
• Implementation of an effective curriculum model
  
• to include
• Curriculum aims
• Personal development
• Skills
• Approaches to teaching and learning

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Functional Mathematics - Overview

• Assessed in three skill areas using a range of
  contexts
• Solving problems
• Processing calculations
• Interpreting and explaining situations
• Separate tests for Level 1 and 2
• Single paper test (1 hour 15mins) for each level
• Externally marked by Edexcel
• Will have open response and multiple choice
  questions

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Functional Mathematics - Assessment

• Thematic tasks (three per paper)
• Tasks combined with test style items
• Designed for On-screen assessment
• Language simple and direct
• Level of reading below assessment level

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Functional Skills ICT Introduction

• Encourages people to demonstrate their ICT skills
  in a range of contexts and purposes
• To apply and transfer skills in ways that are
  appropriate to their situation
• Five levels Entry 1, 2 and 3, Level 1 and Level
  2
• Worth 5 credits per subject

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Functional Skills ICT

• In order to achieve the qualification learners
  must demonstrate their competence in three skills
  areas
• Using ICT systems
• Finding and selecting information
• Developing, presenting and communicating
  information
• 5 day window for assessment during pilot moving
  toward larger windows and multiple assessment
  opportunities

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Functional Skills ICT Level 1 - Structure of
Paper (1)

• Task 1 Letter 20 Marks
• Task 2 Spreadsheet in data view 30 Marks
  Spreadsheet in formula view Pie chart
• Task 3 Poster 20 Marks
• Total for paper 70 marks (Unit 12hrs inc
  printing time)

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Functional Skills ICT Level 2 Structure of Paper

• Task 1 - Letter 25 marks
• Task 2 - Spreadsheet in data view 25
  marks Spreadsheet in formula view
• Task 3 Handout (2 slides per page) 20
  marks of presentation
• Total for paper 70 marks( Unit 12hrs inc
  printing time)

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Assessment for Functional Skills ICT levels 1 2

• FT101 FT201 are both assessed by practical
  tests
• FT102 FT202 standards are continual assessed
  during the course and competency identified by
  completion of a witness statement
• Guidance for this is in the specification

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Functional English An Introduction

• Reading and writing are assessed as separate
  components
• Speaking and listening are internally assessed
  and externally moderated
• Realistic contexts are required

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Functional English - Overview

• Reading and Writing - Units 1 and 2
• Separate test papers for reading and writing
• Separate tests for Level 1 and Level 2 Reading
  and writing thematically linked
• Long, short and MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)
• Externally marked by Edexcel

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Functional English Overview (2)

• Speaking and Listening - Unit 3
• Speaking and listening internally marked
• (Guidance for speaking listening in English,
  in exemplar tasks)
• Internally verified, rolling programme of
  external verification

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Functional Skills Entry Level

• Available Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3
• Entry 1, 2 3 similar to the ALAN Entry
  assessment model, on demand, small bite sized
  controlled assessment, internally
  assessed/externally verified. Detailed samples
  can be found on FS website
• FS Entry sample materials
• http//www.edexcel.com/quals/funcskills/entry/Pag
  es/default.aspx

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Separate assessments for Entry, Level 1 and Level
2
Assessment opportunities in Jan and June to
increased to include March and November
Edexcels Assessment Overview
Majority of units are externally marked
Five-day assessment window for ICT
Detailed feedback through ResultsPlus
Currently trialling onscreen and working towards
assessment on demand
Free practice assessments
Alternative adult assessment model for English
and maths in pilot
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Support for Functional Skills
Portfolio of materials and resources for guidance
and support including
Curriculum modelling as stand alone and with
other subjects
Practice assessment materials teacher guidance
Online teaching and learning resources/textbooks
Examples, content exemplification and case studies
Dedicated Support team contactable by phone or
email
Free induction training and non-pilot briefings
Email alerts Ask the expert and FAQs
Termly newsletter and email updates
Free web based analysis - Results Plus
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Functional Skills Support (Cont)

• Ask the Expert puts you in direct email contact
  with Senior Subject Examiners
• English functionalskillsenglish_at_edexcelexperts.c
  om
• ICT functionalskillsict_at_edexcelexperts.com
• Maths functionalskillsmaths_at_edexcelexperts.com
  
• Edexcel dedicated Pilots Team fspilot.recruitment_at_
  edexcel.com
• Edexcel Dedicated non-pilot support
  fsdevelopment_at_edexcel.com
• Edexcel Telephone Support FS Line - 0844 576
  0028
• Pilot centres core support provided by LSIS
  Secondary National Strategies (SNS) to support
  prepare FS practitioners to deliver FS

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Edexcel Training Events Briefings

• Available for all pilot centres and non pilot
  centres
• Separate events for ICT, English and maths in the
  Autumn term
• Edexcel Pilot training events take place Summer
  09 through webex
• http//www.edexcel.com/quals/func-skills/Pages
  /training.aspx
• Customised training available

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Functional Skills Pilot The story so far

• Around 50 of centres are piloting all three
  functional skills subjects
• Common factors for joining the pilot
• Centres delivering the Diploma
• To prepare for the replacement of SfL
• High standard of support for Edexcel
• Excellent resources available
• Comprehensive syllabus
• Accessible assessment

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FS Onscreen Pilot

• Limited pilot of maths and English - Initially
  available for Adults only
• Onscreen tests for Maths and Reading
• Internal assessments for Writing and SL
• Faster turn around of results
• To register interest email FSOnscreen_at_edexcel.com

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Who are the Functional Skills Team?
Cheryl Woods National Manager
cheryl.woods_at_edexcel.com Helen Georgiou
Business Manager helen.georgiou_at_edexcel.com
Matthew Bull Senior Business Assistant
matthew.bull_at_edexcel.com Pilots Team Hayley
Dalton, Sarah Hunter, James Haskins
fspilot.recruitment_at_edexcel.com