Functional Skills Reform Update March 2019

Facilitator David Redden Product Manager for English and Maths davidredden@ncfe.org.uk (0191) 239 8091 or 0773 903 4830

Section 1 Overview of the Functional Skills Reform What do you know about the FS Reform so far? A - Everything B - Quite a bit C - I know it’s happening D - Nothing Section 1 Overview of the Functional Skills Reform

The story so far The new purpose: The government is reforming Functional Skills qualifications in English and mathematics. The reformed qualifications will be available for first teaching from September 2019. The new purpose: “Functional Skills qualifications should provide reliable evidence of a student’s achievements against demanding content that is relevant to the workplace. They need to provide assessment of students’ underpinning knowledge as well as their ability to apply this in different contexts. They also need to provide a foundation for progression into employment or further technical education and develop skills for everyday life. In some contexts, Functional Skills qualifications will also play a part in the Government’s accountability systems.”

Timeline of Events July – November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 Summer 2019 September 2019 July 2018 First teaching of the new FSQs start and registrations for legacy qualification ends. Ofqual released the Conditions and Guidance for new FSQs. AOs create the new FSQs and get ready to submit for approval. Ofqual advises AOs if they have been successful. Resubmission opens. AOs submit their FSQs for evaluation by Ofqual. Centres to get first sight of the new FSQs.

Maths - Key content changes Key Changes: Non-Calculator Section added. Continues to be a single component. Increased focus on Underpinning Skills. Increased focus on Problem Solving Skill, and at: Entry Level this will be “Simple” Level 1 this will be “Straight Forward” Level 2 this will be “Complex”. More descriptive guidelines on what content should be assessed. Entry Level assessment time: Minimum – 1hr 15mins Maximum – 1hr 45mins Level 1 and 2 assessment time: Minimum - 1hr 45mins Maximum – 2hrs 30mins GLH set at 55 hours.

Mapping Case Study - Level 1 Maths (Number) Legacy Qualification Content: a) Understand and use whole numbers and understand negative numbers in practical contexts; b) Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers using a range of strategies; c) Understand and use equivalences between common fractions, decimals and percentages; … f) Use simple formulae expressed in words for one- or two-step operations; Reformed Qualification Content: 1. Read, write, order and compare large numbers (up to one million) 2. Recognise and use positive and negative numbers 3. Multiply and divide whole numbers and decimals by 10, 100, 1000 … 13. Read, write, order and compare percentages in whole numbers More descriptive subject content

Mapping Case Study - Level 1 Maths (Number) – Revised Meaning Legacy Qualification Content: c) Understand and use equivalencies between common fractions, decimals and percentages Reformed Qualification Content: Read, write, order and compare common fractions and mixed numbers Find fractions of whole number quantities or measurements 10. Read, write, order and compare decimals up to three decimal places

Maths - Key content changes DfE Guidance on Problem Solving (Page 19): Attributes, of which one or more may be present in a single task to consider it as problem solving, are listed below: Tasks that have little or no scaffolding: there is little guidance given to the student beyond a start point and a finish point. Questions do not explicitly state the mathematical process(es) required for the solution. Tasks that provide for multiple representations, such as the use of a sketch or a diagram as well as calculations. The information is not given in mathematical form or in mathematical language; or there is a need for the results to be interpreted or methods evaluated, for example, in a real-world context. Tasks have a variety of techniques that could be used. The solution requires understanding of the processes involved rather than just application of the techniques. The task requires two or more mathematical processes or may require different parts of mathematics to be brought together to reach a solution4.

Maths - Key content changes Underpinning Skills: Problem Solving:

English - Key content changes for Entry Levels The content will be split into three areas which all need to be passed in order for the learner to achieve. Writing, Reading ; and Speaking, Listening and Communication. Key Changes: The structured teaching of phonics to be delivered at Entry Levels. Spelling Assessment (Not part of SPaG) for Entry Levels sampling 10 words from the subject content. SPaG will be assessed for 50-70% at Entry Level. Contextualisation will be allowed for SLC. No dictionaries or spell check enabled equipment for writing assessments. No “Spiky” Profile allowed. Entry Level overall assessment time: Minimum – 1hr 30mins Maximum – 2hrs GLH set at 55 hours.

Content Changes (English) Phonics and spelling tests are new to Entry Level assessments. More detailed requirements can be found in the subject content guide, including a list of words to be assessed (Page 23). How the letter is pronounced

English - Key content changes for Level 1/2 The content will be split into three areas which all need to be passed in order for the learner to achieve. Writing, Reading ; and Speaking, Listening and Communication. Key Changes: SPaG will be assessed for 40-45% at Level 1 & 2. Contextualisation will be allowed for SLC. Speaking, Listening and Communication (SLC) will be more structured (minimum of two tasks) and will come with pass descriptors. No dictionaries or spell check enabled equipment for writing assessments. No “Spiky” Profile allowed. Level 1/2 overall assessment time: Minimum - 2hrs Maximum – 3hrs GLH set at 55 hours.

Mapping Case Study - Level 1 English (Reading) Legacy Qualification Content: a) Identify the main points and ideas and how they are presented in a variety of texts; b) Read and understand texts in detail; c) Utilise information contained in texts; d) Identify suitable responses to texts; e) In more than one type of text. Reformed Qualification Content: 9. Identify and understand the main points, ideas and details in texts 10. Compare information, ideas and opinions in different texts 11. Identify meanings in texts and distinguish between fact and opinion … 17. Read and understand a range of specialist words in context More descriptive subject content

Mapping Case Study - Level 1 English (Reading) – Revised Meaning Legacy Qualification Content: c) Utilise information contained in texts; Reformed Qualification Content: 13. Use reference materials and appropriate strategies (e.g. using knowledge of different word types) for a range of purposes, including to find the meaning of words 14. Understand organisational and structural features and use them to locate relevant information (e.g. index, menus, subheadings, paragraphs) in a range of straightforward texts 15. Infer from images meanings not explicit in the accompanying text

Accessing the information

Mapping Document NCFE have produced a mapping document which maps the current Functional Skills onto the reformed Functional Skills. The mapping document indicates new content, content changing levels and also comments on content that may have previously been implicitly indicated. The content is now more descriptive than it was previously:

Maths Level 2

Maths Level 2

Maths Level 2

English Level 1

English Level 1

English Level 1

Disseminating the information Recorded Webinars of the Mapping Documents for each level: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq4gYxDygQ0&list=P L05CIlRfHw9iei1hW2kpaC3BL7OC9jZN2 The Mapping Documents which are accessible here for all levels: https://www.qualhub.co.uk/delivery-and-learner-support/functional-skills/functional-skills-news-and-updates/

Reform preparation Things to consider when managing the transition from the legacy qualifications: Are your resources fit for purpose? Have you reviewed your Internal Quality processes? Does your timetable accommodate the new requirements? Do you have a plan for moving learners on to the new qualifications? (Transitional Period) Apprenticeship Learners? Are staff up to date with the new requirements? Are all departments prepared? Think about registrations and entries on to assessments as well as delivery. Guided Learning Hours and Total Qualification Time currently have not been set.

Reform preparation NCFE have produced a preparation document which highlights the key changes and decisions that will need to be considered by centres at this stage. Once NCFE has gained approval to offer the reformed Functional Skill from Ofqual we will then be releasing later preparation checklists which offer more guidance on assessment delivery decisions. https://www.qualhub.co.uk/media/7829/functional-skills-reform-preparation-checklist.pdf

What are NCFE doing? “Lunch and Crunch” Webinars Functional Skills Conference Event Functional Skills Delivery Days Functional Skills Workshops Functional Skills Webinars Level 1/2 Maths Level 1/2 English Entry Level Maths Entry Level English Event in London 22nd May. We’ll have a number of guests speakers and workshops at the national event. Delivery Days in June/October once we’ve been approved to kick off the start of the FS Reform. Workshops planned for July 2019 once we’re able to release assessments and resources. Workshops will focus on new subject content and specific levels. Webinars planned in April further updates on the FS Reform. Webinars planned for August focussing on specific training.

Functional Skills News and Updates https://www. qualhub. co