GCSES
Making learning better
The next pathway we
focus on is Functional
Skills for GCSE, which
are part of learners’
statutory entitlement
D
espite the ministerial decision taken
almost a year ago that students
should not have to achieve Level 2
in Functional Skills in order to gain a grade
C or above in English, mathematics and ICT
GCSE, Functional Skills remain a crucial
part of this learning pathway.
Functional Skills remain embedded within
the new programmes of study in the three
subjects, opportunities abound for them
to be embedded across all subjects in the
curriculum, and they are part of learners’
statutory entitlement.
They are also an integral part of revised
GCSEs from 2010.
Sue Pope, programme manager at the
QCDA, said: “Many people do not seem
to appreciate that and because they are not
linked to GCSEs they think they don’t have
to do them, which is not true.
“Functional Skills should be established
within subjects in a meaningful and
purposeful way, with teachers incorporating
meaningful activities within their teaching.
By September 2010 they should be In the meantime, however, examiners passed the Functional Skills tests. Experience
implemented across key stages 3 and 4. will look at the outcome of GCSE results shows that this has been partly to do with
“The new curriculum coming in this year in 2012 and compare these with the results the less familiar style of the assessment, or
gives teachers an opportunity to reflect and of the standalone tests to establish whether perhaps insufficient preparation.
adapt things to make learning better for their candidates gaining grades A* to C at GCSE While the old GCSEs focused very much
learners. also achieved Level 2 in Functional Skills. on knowledge and did not perhaps address
“We are confident that schools are taking A DCSF spokesman said that Functional the Functional Skills gap, the new GCSEs in
this on board, and that teachers will be able to Skills were being worked into the new mathematics, English and ICT will start to
find ways of incorporating Functional Skills curriculum this year using the standards that address this gap.
into their teaching, using particular tasks.” had been previously trialled by the QCDA so Questions in the new GCSEs will test
The aim is that as many young people that teachers’ understanding of the skills was whether you can apply the knowledge in a
as possible should be able to develop consistent across qualifications. structured way and solve problems. However,
their Functional Skills to Level 2. While He explained: “Because of how GCSE the new GCSEs will not fully assess all
assessment will no longer be linked to GCSE grades work, an employer who is faced with of the Functional Skills criteria, so taking
grades, a standalone qualification will be an applicant with a grade C in mathematics a standalone qualification will confirm
available and schools are being recommended cannot be certain whether they have acquired students’ ability.
to ensure that students take them to the full range of Functional Skills. So what The DCSF spokesman said that more of
demonstrate their proficiency. we have developed are individual Functional the challenge in the future would come from
A learner who takes the standalone Skills qualifications, which are skills the application of knowledge.
qualification but fails it can still achieve qualifications which you pass or fail – they He continued: “The teaching of Functional
a GCSE grade in the associated subject. simply test if you have the skills or not. Skills within GCSE will be about giving
Candidates may also take the Functional “We are going to encourage schools pupils real problems to solve.
Skills assessment earlier than GCSE if their to offer Functional Skills qualifications “Pupils will need to be aware that they’re
teachers feel they are ready. alongside GCSEs, as they show something doing Functional Skills across all of their
Over the next couple of years, work different to what a GCSE grade reflects. subjects. For example, you cannot study
will continue between the Department for There has been an assumption in the past geography without using mathematics and
Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), that if you have a grade A* in English, analysis, and all subjects require the use of
Ofqual, and other bodies to perfect a system mathematics or ICT then your Functional English.
of assessing Functional Skills. This might Skills must be of a high standard, but this has “We don’t expect teachers will ‘teach
include introducing a component into the not always proved to be the case.” mathematics’ in geography, but pupils
GCSE examination to specifically test The pilots have shown that some young should be made aware when they are using
Functional Skills. people with high grades at GCSE have not mathematics to work out a problem.”
SecEd 5 7
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