What's a GCSE worth?

Intersting conversation today.
Some schools are putting their pupils through the ALN tests which are really designed for adults - I guess that's why they are called Adult Literacy and Numeracy. But becuase they count half a GCSE it matters to the schools so they do it.
Functional English and Maths is worth 3/4 of a GCSE so this is another big focus area.
Part of the skill of developing materials and something which I'm cottoning onto quickly is that they have to convert to counting towards a qualifications - learning for the sake of learning doesn't count to schools.
It isn't quite the same in colleges but when functional skills in the diplomas takes over, it will!