Functional Skills Newsletter Jan 8th

Making Sense of Functional Skills - fortnightly news and comment about Functional Skills

edited and compiled by Jonathan Wells - jwells@guroo.co.uk 0191 305 5051

February 8th - in this issue

Mick Waters on skills; the end of free functional skills training; links to the performance tables which now include figures for performance in English and maths at level 1 & 2; win fantastic executive box tickets to see Take That in Sunderland.

Mick Waters on the national curriculum review

This piece appeared in the TES Comment on 28th January. Mick Waters (ex QCA and now Professor of Education at Wolverhampton) wrote about the review. What caught my eye was his focus on skills and I quote.

"What is missing and what matters?

A key word almost absent from the remit and from the white paper is "skills". In countries that are successful in the international tests, skills lie at the heart of the curriculum. Such skills are usually those that enhance the learning of the subject disciplines, but are also those that equip a young person for "the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences of life"

Singapore has "life skills" and "knowledge skills" that underpin all areas of the curriculum, and New Zealand and Scotland use the term "key competencies".

They recognise that employers and business will need skills for the future, while also realising that without being able to read and write and manage numbers most people will not survive."

No more free training for Functional Skills

We understand that National Strategies work is now being completed and so there will be no more free training for schools. Although National Strategies actually finish in March, the Functional Skills contract finished on 31st December.

With no nationally co-ordinated support approach now available, Guroo is developing a programme that will bring together experienced Functional Skills practitioners and consultants with schools, colleges and training providers who need help and support.

Whether you are a provider or consumer of help and support, we'd like to know more about what you need or can provide. Get in touch with Jonathan.

Take That!

Click here to get the full rules and download the entry postcard - and yes you will have to think, it's not a free prize draw.

The prize is for two tickets to an executive box on Tuesday 31st May show at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. Included in the prize package:

• Pre concert 2 course meal with coffee
• Post concert tea/coffee and biscuits
• Private balcony for concert viewing
• Hostess service
• Minibar (at additional cost)
• Cloak facilities within each box
• Access to after show party with disco until late
• Souvenir programme
• Hotel (room only)

All you have to do is get to Sunderland.

The next newsletter is scheduled for Tuesday February 22nd - if you have any comments, suggestions or your own news that you'd like to publicise, just let me know.