GCSES
Recognising
the benefits
While obtaining a Level 2 in Functional Skills is
so in most cases it will be being taught
anyway.
not now compulsory in order to get a grade C or
“Functional Skills are not designed to just
be in English, mathematics and ICT. Many
providers are finding that the best way to
above in English, mathematics and ICT GCSE, the
teach them is by embedding them across the
whole curriculum.
qualifications still have a crucial role to play for
“For example, students may do some
work on scale in a mathematics lesson,
GCSE students. We look at why schools are still
before putting that work to practical use in
geography. This type of cross-curricular work
being urged to prioritise Functional Skills
really demonstrates to students the practical
uses for their studies.
“So by offering Functional Skills as a
standalone qualification, and embedding the
L
ast year, the government announced Turton High School in Bolton is one of teaching of them throughout the curriculum
that Functional Skills would no longer the schools that is piloting Functional Skills as a whole, the students get the best out of
become a compulsory part of GCSEs for 14 to 19-year-olds, and despite not being what they learn.”
in England, and that students would not need required to do so, the school will continue to Although the Functional Skills assessment
to achieve a Level 2 in the qualification in offer them to their GCSE students (see case focuses on a different set of abilities, Ms
order to get a grade C or above in English, study, opposite). Stalker believes that many teachers only
mathematics and ICT GCSE. Charlie Taylor, deputy head at the school, need to change their lesson focus slightly in
However, the potential benefits of explained: “The government’s decision to order to prepare students for the standalone
Functional Skills for GCSE students remain, drop the Functional Skills requirement for examinations.
and the government is encouraging schools to GCSE didn’t have any effect on us, because “We don’t stipulate how to deliver
offer them as standalone qualifications. that wasn’t the reason we were doing Functional Skills, but much of the content is
Sandra Stalker, director of general Functional Skills in the first place. about problem-solving, and this is something
qualifications and life skills at the QCDA, “Our purpose was to make independent that is already part of many lessons,” she
explained: “One of the benefits of gaining a learners and to do that, they need to have the said.
qualification in Functional Skills specifically, skills which allow them to access the rest of “There is a functional aspect to the new
rather than just completing the GCSE, is the curriculum, and Functional Skills gives GCSEs, but it is possible to get a good grade
that the student can prove that they have the that.” without excelling in that area. Therefore,
Functional Skills to future employers. This Ms Stalker believes that the school has teachers will need to prepare in order to
will be really valuable. made the correct choice, adding that it reinforce all of the aspects of the new
“The new GCSEs in English, mathematics would not be overly burdensome for other specifications.
and ICT, being introduced from September secondary schools to follow suit. “If they do that, however, then they will
2010, include a large functional element. She said: “There is not necessarily a lot of be teaching Functional Skills as part of the
“We know that employers value these skills extra work involved for schools that want to course anyway, and should consider entering
highly, and this is one of the reasons that offer Functional Skills with GCSE, since the students for the standalone exam,” she
secondary schools should embrace them.” new GCSEs already have a functional aspect, explained.
8 SecEd
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