Functional Skills - Frequently Asked Questions
When starting out with an apprenticeship, you may be required to complete one or more functional skills qualifications in order to finish your apprenticeship. but what exactly are functional skills? We asked our resident expert Philip to walk us through some of the key information, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
The Key info
Functional Skills are qualifications in English, Maths and ICT. English and Maths are a required component of all apprenticeships and ICT Functional Skills is required in some apprenticeships.
Like Apprenticeships, Functional Skills are available in different levels. For an intermediate apprenticeship (level 2), the achievement of Functional Skills is required at level 1 and for an advanced apprenticeship (level 3), the achievement of Functional Skills is required at level 2. Once level 2 Functional Skills are achieved, they will not be required to be achieved again.
Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English is equivalent to a GCSE level 4 or grade C; consequently, any learner who wishes to undertake an apprenticeship will be exempted from Functional Skills if they have achieved a GCSE level 4 or grade C (or higher) in those subjects.
Maths – there’s no escaping it!
We all use maths every day of our lives, without even thinking “Oh, I am doing some maths now”. Every time you wait for a bus or a train and look at the indicator to see how long ‘til it comes, you are thinking if you’ll be late for work or an appointment; every time you check your payslip; every time you check your work rota and think what time you need to leave home for an 8:00am start of a shift; every time you check your change (if you paid cash) in a shop; every time you look at your on-line banking app and check your statement; every time you cook following a recipe; every time you think on a Saturday evening, “How long ‘til Strictly starts?”; every time you do any of these or loads of other things, you are doing maths!
Even the more complex areas of maths are used in everyday life:
“how many square meters of carpet shall I buy for the living room?”
“What about that round bit where the bay window is? How much will it cost? Can I afford it when I consider also the fee for fitting it?”
“Am I getting the best deal from Amazon? Can I find a cheaper offer? How much will 33% off really save me?”
“What is the compound interest on my loan really going to cost me? Can I find a cheaper way to borrow?”
“How can I budget my money better to have enough to pay the higher costs of gas and electricity this winter?”
Likewise, English; we all use it every day, but do we make ourselves clearly understood?
“Could my CV be improved to make it more attractive to a potential employer?”
“Let me read that article again, I’m not sure I understood it properly.”
“Oh, the head teacher at my child’s school is not setting a very good example, little Johnny’s report has so many spelling mistakes in it.”
“Is there such a thing as coffee shampoo? Oh, I see – my other half forgot to put the comma between coffee and shampoo on the shopping list…”
There are so many ways we read and use written and verbal communication in English every day. All methods of communication need to be clear, correct and to have the desired effect!
I can speak English, why do I need to do this as a Functional Skill?
Functional Skills in English will provide the necessary skills to be able to communicate, not only verbally, but also in writing. Writing in English, with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation are essential skills for employment and life.
A badly worded and incorrectly punctuated CV and cover letter to a potential employer will not give the best impression; inter-departmental communication within any business needs to be clear, logical and correct. One misplaced comma, or one misspelt word or incorrect use of a word can alter the entire meaning of any communication leading to many kinds of errors and ultimately adversely affecting the guest or customer experience.
Functional Skills in English not only sharpens speaking, listening and written communication skills but also supports the development of reading skills. Again, this is something essential both in the workplace and in everyday life; being able to fully understand what is being communicated by the writer, being able to appreciate why a document has been written and what action needs to be taken as a consequence of the information given.
In a world where “fake news” and scams are becoming more and more prevalent, it is vital to be able to separate truth from fiction; fact from opinion or bias and to decipher the true meaning, intent and validity of what has been written.
How long do I need to study functional skills before I can sit an exam?
This will very much depend on your starting level of English and maths skills; however, Functional Skills should ideally be completed within the first six months of your apprenticeship programme.
At the outset of your apprenticeship, you will be asked to complete an initial assessment of your English and maths skills; this will determine your starting level and must be completed without any assistance in order to show a true reflection of your current skills. You will then complete a diagnostic assessment for both English and maths; this is designed to show what you are already good at and where you need to develop your English and maths skills further.
Before sitting an exam, there are also sample exam papers and online sample exams to fully prepare you for your exams; these will help to highlight any areas of your English and maths skills that may need further development before being exam-ready. It is recommended that all apprentices needing to achieve Functional Skills should complete and pass a mock exam before sitting the real exam assessments.
Apprentices who struggle with the learning and development of their English and maths skills may be referred to a dedicated Functional Skills Learning Consultant for additional learning and support.
If you are unsuccessful with your first attempt at the exams, you can take them again following further learning to support development in areas where marks have been lost.
Are Functional Skills important or even necessary? YES, YES, YES!!!
A Little about Philip, our Functional Skills expert!
I have quite an extensive background in the hospitality industry, specifically in bar management and have been involved in the development of apprentices for the past 14/15 years, supporting Key Skills (the predecessors to Functional Skills) as just a part of the overall apprenticeship programme. I get a great feeling when I can see the “penny drop” with a learner!
Of the two Functional Skills subject that I support, I find maths much more logical….(well, it actually is more logical than English, in which every rule has umpteen exceptions). If 2+2 =4 today, or if π(pi) gives you the area of a circle today, 2+2 will still equal 4 and π will still give you the area of a circle in a thousand years’ time. English, on the other hand, is constantly evolving and changing, like any language; words change their meaning, new words come into existence. Not so very long ago, wicked meant something terribly bad; now it means just the opposite; words like selfie, mansplain, twerk did not exist not that many years ago. The internet (and dare I say it – US influence) has a lot to answer for in the way it has changed the way we speak, write and communicate with each other.
We hope this has helped you to better understand Functional Skills. Don’t forget you can always contact our friendly team for support and advice.
