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What are Functional Skills?
The NCFE Functional Skills qualifications are designed to provide practical skills in English, Mathematics and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to help learners ‘function’ confidently, effectively and independently in their work and life in general. They’re available to all learners aged 14 and above.
These are new qualifications which have been developed in response to the employability needs set out in the Government’s 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper. They offer learners the chance to gain useful, transferrable skills and will eventually replace Key Skills in Communication, Application of Number and ICT. The qualifications will also be constituent elements of new Foundation, Higher and Advanced Diplomas.
The key milestone for Functional Skills is Level 2, which is seen as the minimum requirement for functioning in life, learning and work. To ensure that Functional Skills are readily accessible to the full range of learners, they’re currently being offered as stand alone qualifications at Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 during the 3 year Functional Skills pilot that began in September 2007.
