January 24th - the Functional Skills newsletter
In this week's issue we report on some really shocking numbers concerning maths in the skills for life sector, Guroo have some fantastic January offers to celebrate the start of 2012(launched at BETT but available for everyone), we have summarised details of four key events coming up in the next few weeks and of course details about the ever-popular Wednesday Webinar series.
The numbers continue to climb.
The recently published Skills for Life Survey has some truly terrifying numbers in it.
5.1 million adults of working age (15% of the population) lack functional literacy skills which is pretty bad, but the same survey highlights that an astonishing 16.8 million aduts (that's 49%) are functionally innumerate, operating at E3 or below. Not only is this number very large; it's getting worse, as it's increased from 14.9 million in the last 8 years.
But perhaps the biggest shock is that just 21.8% of the adult working population are at level 2+ in numeracy; only 1 in 5 are considered to have met the current minimum standard.
So these figures perhaps give us a big clue as to why there is such a lot of focus on Functional Skills across all age groups as English and maths become part of the core entitlement, and the reason why new performance tables in sectors including FE and WBL will show how providers are performing at level 2 English and Maths.
Great deals on Functional Skills resources available now!
Guroo has changed the way in which it sells its Functional Skills Solutions. Now, you buy learner licences that stay with the learner for as long as they are with you.
Plus all previous and existing customers are already fully registered so there is no set-up fee and no minimum subscription period - all you do is buy the appropriate number of student and tutor licences and that's it - full access to a massive range of teaching and learning resources plus the only Initial Assessment and Diagnostic system developed and written specifically for Functional Skills.
New customers can take advantage of a half price January establishment fee so get your skates on and act quickly. As an example,
- A typical secondary school who has been a previous subscriber supporting their bottom two sets can pay as little as £450
- A training provider with 150 apprentices and a few tutors would pay just £4.95 per person for full access to everything in Guroo
- A large college using the 5 minute levelling tool plus on-line diagnostic tests in all three subjects can do so for less than £1 a student
Call or email us now on 0191 305 5045 to place your order, have a chat about what you need or to book a free on-line demo with our friendly and expert support team.
Functional Skills related events coming up in the next few weeks
The Learning Technologies and Learning Skills conference and exhibition is on at Olympia, London this week - Wednesday and Thursday. Expect a big focus on SfL related developments and funding across all age ranges.
Sector Training are running Managing Functional Skills a residential conference on 5/6 March in Stratford Upon Avon. A varied agenda that includes the practical aspects of delivery and some great speakers from EDI, Guroo, Virgin, Ofsted and leading FE colleges.
Making Apprenticeships Work is scheduled for Wednesday 7th March in London. Three key themes are:
- IAG and post 16 options
- Employer engagement
- Standards, structure and quality
Initial and Diagnostic Tools for Functional Skills is the name of an open event at Staffs Univiersity on Monday 27th February. Contact Tina Richardson for more details about this event which will feature all the main suppliers including Guroo, BKSB and Forskills.
Do you have an event that includes Functional Skills? Let us know and we'll include your details here.
The Functional Skills Wednesday Webinar
We can't do a live one this week I'm afraid. And judging by the amazing response of previous weeks that will be a disappointment for many. Jonathan and Stewart are in London presenting at the Learning and Skills show, so this week it's impossible to run the webinar.
But don't despair we'll be back on Wednesday 1st February at 4.05 when Jonathan will be presenting a "Functional Skills Policy and Market Perspective" his personal view of the current state of the nation as related to Functional Skills.
Replay last week's webinar at the link below. Simply enter your name and use guroo as the password.
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