FOUNDATION LEARNING
Case study: Grimsby Institute
Grimsby Institute has
brought a different level of functionality in 2 course, even though they might not be
English, mathematics and ICT. able to cope with it,” she said.
been involved in the
“We have been running the Foundation The functionality tool will enable staff
Learning pilot for Functional Skills up to to put students on the most appropriate
now and we have found it is not the easiest learning programmes, which is what
Functional Skills pilot
area for further education colleges because of Foundation Learning is all about, Ms
the varying aptitudes of students who come Leaning said.
and is developing its
to us,” she explained. The college is currently piloting
“Some will have come from special methods by which to test students’
own diagnostic tool to
schools, while others may have been to functionality. One task, for example, might
mainstream but may have missed a lot of involve asking them to answer the phone
test the ‘functionality’
their education for a variety of reasons. and take a message. To meet benchmarks
“Students working towards Entry Level 1 for Entry Level 1, they might have to relay
may in reality have completely different that message verbally to another person. To
of Entry Level students
aptitudes and abilities. achieve Entry Level 2, they might be asked
“For example, some are able to write their to write the message down accurately and
name and address, while others will need pass it on.
T
he teaching of Functional Skills can to have a piece of paper with these details Similar exercises are being developed in
bring potential challenges to written down for them. They are both using mathematics and ICT. The important thing,
further education colleges functionality but at a completely different however, is that students are assessed
offering Foundation level. using uniform methods. Currently,
Learning. “The main awarding body we use here students arriving with Entry Level 1 will
Students who is City and Guilds, and we have also have gone through a variety of awarding
arrive from secondary worked closely with them in the recent bodies, which may have used different
schools or other pilots on Functional Skills at Entry Level, assessments. Around 100 Foundation level
providers, such giving feedback on where we believed Grimsby students are participating in trials
as pupil referral units standards were too easy or too difficult for of the functionality toolkit, and their views
or special schools, bring students, and they have listened and made are being sought on how they are finding
with them a variety of adjustments.” the tests and tasks.
aptitudes and abilities, all of Ms Leaning said the huge diversity of “We want to know what the learners
which must be catered for. ability among Entry Level students placed themselves think. Did they enjoy the tasks
At Grimsby Institute, a huge colleges in a “potentially awkward and understand what was expected of
regional further education college situation”. them, for example? We want to fill in all
with higher education provision, staff “Foundation Learning is about the gaps to ensure we put something in
are involved in an on-going trial to try to giving personalised learning place that will set benchmarks for what is
establish diagnostic testing of new student to students and putting them expected,” Ms Leaning added.
arrivals on entry, in an attempt to close the on a clear progression path. If it is successful, it is expected that
gap in the achievements being offered by Currently, we may have a the tests will eventually be rolled out
students. situation where we put nationally for use in other colleges.
A “functionality tool” is being developed students who have gained Ms Leaning said further education
in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Entry Level 1 on an colleges would be pleased that
Improvement Service, which promotes Entry Level functionality is to be taught within GCSE.
the drive for excellence within the skills “We have noticed that even students
sector, as part of the Skills for Life support achieving at the high end
programme. of GCSE sometimes do
Freda Leaning, the college’s curriculum not demonstrate the
leader for literacy and numeracy, said appropriate levels of
the college had around 500 functionality,” she
students at Entry Level, said.
each of which The college is
concentrating on
ensuring Foundation-
level students are
receiving the help
they need. An initial
evaluation on the
success of the toolkit
will be available
soon, and it is hoped
it will be ready for use
across the college by
September.
“We believe that this
will provide us with the
consistency we need to meet
the needs of all our students,”
Ms Leaning added.
6 SecEd
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