Functional Skills 2010: Beyond the pilot phase Presented by Bernie Zakary

Why Functional Skills? Implementation details Assessment particulars On-screen

Subject to accreditation decision: 19 March 2010 for ALL awarding bodies

Why Functional Skills? Originally proposed in the Tomlinson 14-19 Working Group Report: “Get the basics right – ensuring that young people achieve specified levels in functional Mathematics, Literacy and Communication and ICT” (DCSF, Tomlinson 2004)

Why Functional Skills? “A UK productivity improvement of £1 billion a year if we could just half employer dissatisfaction with the young people they recruit straight from education.” Sir Alan Jones, Chairman Emeritus of Toyota UK and Chairman of Semta http://www.qcda.gov.uk/6062.aspx

Why Functional Skills? Reduce the NEET figure Designed to address a perceived deficit in GCSE English, Mathematics, ICT ‘practical skills in English, mathematics and ICT that help learners gain the most out of work, education and everyday life’ (www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19) Mastery

Functional Skills built into the 14-19 pathways: Foundation learning Specialised Diplomas Apprenticeships New specification GCSEs aligned with FS KS 3 and 4 curricula aligned with FS (L1 and L2 respectively) Schools encouraged to let learners do both GCSE and FS

Attainment and Achievement Tables Level 2 = 23 points Level 1 = 12.5 points Entry 1 = 5 points Entry 2 = 6 points Entry 3 = 7 points For Tables purposes, a short course GCSE which contributes 10% to the thresholds, and a Functional Skill which contributes 10% to the thresholds, would count as contributing 20% to the threshold - the equivalent of a full GCSE. (www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/) UCAS points: Yes, but they won’t count for HE progression

Timeline September 2007 Start of three-year pilot September 2008 All three Functional Skills become a mandatory part of the first tranche of Diplomas End August 2010 Last registration for the Communication, Application of Number and ICT Key Skills September 2010 Functional English, Mathematics and ICT available nationally September 2010 First teaching of revised GCSEs in English, mathematics and ICT (for examination in 2012) End August 2012 Last accreditation for the Communication,

A little more detail Criteria published by Ofqual November 2009 Available at Entry 1,2, and 3 and Level 1 and Level 2 English, Mathematics, ICT No portfolio One assessment for each of Mathematics and ICT Separate assessments for Reading, Writing, Speaking Listening and Communicating (separately certificated)

Assessments Realistic contexts, scenarios and problems Tasks relevant to context Application of K,S and U for a purpose Process skills Level is differentiated by Content (coverage and range, or technical demand) Complexity/familiarity/independence

Assessments Entirely or predominantly open-response Mark based, except for Speaking, Listening and Communicating (but not graded) Maths ICT Eng R, W Eng S,L,C L2 E/E E/I L1 Entry* E/E = externally set, externally marked E/I = externally set, internally marked = except in case of e-assessment requiring electronic marking Shaded = some contextualisation possible

Online assessments…..

Bernie Zakary 02476 516500 berniezakary@ediplc.com