Who are Functional Skills for?

Functional Skills qualifications are being developed for use by a wide range of different learners in a variety of settings.

OCNW Functional Skills qualifications have been approved by the QCA for use by all learners aged 14+. Our qualifications could be used equally by Adults on Literacy course in a college of further education or by learners in school studying English as part of their secondary education.

The qualifications will also form an integral part of the ‘Skills Pledge’ and ‘Train to Gain’ agenda by providing employers with a ladder for their in work training by which they can up skill their employees skills in the core subject of English, ICT and Maths.

Functional Skills and other strategies

The Functional Skills will form a central part of the 14-19 progression routes available to learners in schools, forming a core element of GCSEs and the new 14-19 Diplomas.

Additionally new Full Level 2 qualifications and FLT progression pathways are expected to have a Functional Skills strand