Functional Skills Pilot Overview Presentation

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Functional Skills
Pilot overview and update
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Objectives for today

• Understand the rationale for Functional Skills
• Explore the Edexcel FS models and support
  available for centres
• Discuss teaching and learning of Functional
  Skills
• Consider strategies for preparing learners for
  the live assessments

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What are Functional Skills?
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Functional Skills - the journey so far!
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Functional Skills the journey so far!

• January 2007
• the start of the Functional Skills Pilot.

September 2008 another 1000 (gateway 2) centres
are able to join the pilot.
September 2007 1000 (gateway1) centres join the
pilot across 12 Awarding Organisations.
2nd April 2009 Rt Hon Jim Knight announced the
removal of the GCSE hurdle.
September 2009 the eligibility criteria allows
around a further 2500 centres to join the pilot.
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Where do Functional skills fit ?
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Achievement Attainment Tables

• Level 1 12.5 points
• (Short Course GCSE Grade E 14 points
• Grade F 11 points)
• Level 2 23 points
• (Short Course GCSE Grade B 23 points)

Each qualification contributes 10 towards
threshold
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Skills for Life legacy qualifications timelines

• A replacement for Skills for Life (SfL), Adult
  Literacy and Numeracy (ALaN), ESOL and possibly
  Entry Level certificate.
• part of the old and new GCSEs.
• form part of the Diplomas and Apprenticeships.
• mapped within vocational programmes including
  BTecs.
• offered as stand-alone qualifications.

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Skills for Life legacy timelines
2007
2008
2010
2009

• ALAN Key skills continue
• 35 pprships
• accept FS
• FS Pilot expands 2500 Centres
• 1st wave of Diplomas
• Foundation Learning

• ALAN Key skills continue
• FS in most apprships
• Most centres now able to offer FS
• 2nd wave of Diplomas
• Foundation Learning goes Live

• FS Live
• Last teaching for KS
• New GCSEs start
• 3rd Wave of Diplomas
• Skills for Life?

• Skills for Life
• ALAN/ESOL
• Key Skills
• FS Pilot Starts 1000 Centres

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10 minute activity (1)discuss the
implications of the above timelines.
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The Pilot Published resources
For learners
For teachers
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Who is on the Functional Skills Pilot?

• Schools 62
• Colleges 12
• Training Providers 11
• Special schools/colleges 4
• Sixth form colleges 1
• Pupil Referral Units (PRU) 2
• Community Learning 4
• Adult Learning 1
• Work based Learning 2
• Custodial 1

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The Pilot Edexcel Assessment Models (Level 1 2)
ICT 1 test per level and a centre
authentication (witness statement) document
Maths 1 test per level externally set and
marked

Reading Writing (external)
English 3 separate assessments per level
Speaking and Listening (internal)
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Entry Level Functional Skills

• The same as Levels 12
• Maths single test
• English three components
• ICT test plus centre authentication document
• For maths and ICT the reading ability is set
  below the level of the test

• Differs from Level 12, in that
• Entry Level is internally marked and externally
  verified
• Assessment is on-demand
• Requires registration, not entry, of candidates

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ResultsPlus

• What is it?
• The most compelling results analysis service ever
  seen
• Puts real tools for raising attainment into the
  hands of teachers

www.edexcel.org.uk/resultsplus

• How does it work?
• Question-by-question, ResultsPlus helps teachers
  understand trends in performance
• Skills Maps, available for GCSE Maths and GCSE
  Science, show areas of the specification where
  performed was poor, average, or strong
• ResultsPlus presents information at individual,
  group (class), or cohort (school) level
• One click reports generate valuable comparative
  information that schools need for the senior
  management team and Governors

Who is it for? Available for teaching staff at
all schools and colleges to use.
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The Pilot Reminders
English Unit 1 Speaking Listening (L1 FE101,
L2 FE201) marks need to be submitted through
Edexcel Online.
ICT Unit 2 Centre Authentication (L1 FT102,
L2 FT202) marks need to be submitted through
Edexcel Online.
Instructions on how to submits these marks can be
found in the ICE (Instructions for the Conduct
Of Examinations) document
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The Pilot Key Dates
January 2010 assessment Entries can be made from
20th September 2009 Entries deadline 21st
October 2009 Centre marks submission deadline
29th January 2010 Results 18th March 2010
January 2010 examination series Maths 27th
January 2010 - am English 28th January 2010
am ICT 25th 29th January 2010 5 day window
Key dates for the March, June November 2010
assessments can be found on the website.
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Activity 2 10 minutes

• Discuss the next steps for introducing FS in your
  centre.
• Consider
• How will you cascade information from today to
  colleagues?
• What further development needs to you have in
  your centre?
• How can the resources available be best used in
  your centre?
• Do you need further guidance?

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Further Support National Organisations

• Functional Skills Support Programme (FSSP)
• http//www.excellencegateway.org.uk/functionalski
  lls   
• Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency
  (QCDA)
• http//www.qcda.gov.uk/6062.aspx

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Further Support Edexcel

• Online training events
• www.edexcel.com/quals/func-skills/Pages/training
  .aspx
• Dedicated support teams
• fspilot.recruitment_at_edexcel.com - 0844 576 0028
• Free online resources
• www.edexcel.com/quals/func-skills/Pages/default.a
  spx
• Ask the Expert
• www.edexcel.com/quals/func-kills/Pages/Askaquesti
  on.asp
• Results Plus
• www.edexcel.com/resultsplus/Pages/home.aspx

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Further Support Ask the Expert

• Ask the Expert will put you in direct email
  contact with your Senior Subject Examiners
• English functionalskillsenglish_at_edexcelexperts.co
  .uk
• ICT functionalskillsict_at_edexcelexperts.co.u
  k
• Maths functionalskillsmaths_at_edexcelexperts.co.u
  k

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Functional Skills Contacts
Pilots Team fspilot.recruitment_at_edexcel.com Tel
ephone Support FS Line - 0844 576 0028
Regional Edexcel Support Regional Office and
Curriculum Development Manager