February 21st - the Functional Skills newsletter
This week we have confirmation that Functional Skills replaces Adult Basic Skills from August 2012 and also confirmation of funding availability for Functional Skills from Entry Level to Level 2 for all adults, a repeat of the Functional Skills events piece that was so popular last week, a lovely quote from a TES forum and what's on Wednesday's webinar plus links to the previous recordings this term.
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Functional Skills replace Adult Basic Skills at Level 1 and Level 2 from August 2012
News from BIS confirms that Functional Skills will be fully funded and will replace Adult Basic Skills from August 2012.
"BIS wrote to Awarding Organisations in January 2011 to confirm that it will no longer be funding the centrally held test bank which supports Adult Basic Skills (ABS) qualifications and Key Skills Communication and Application of Number qualifications at Levels 1 and 2. Ofqual has confirmed that the operational end-dates of these qualifications mean that no new enrolments will be taken beyond August 2012 for ABS Certificates and September 2012 for Key Skills qualifications. The certification end-dates are August 2014 and September 2013 respectively"
The BIS advice goes on to say about Entry Level
"It is expected that providers will offer either Functional English and Maths qualifications at entry level or whatever new qualifications are available that provide a coherent progression pathway for learners from entry level upwards."
Underlining the importance that the Government places on adults progressing towards GCSE using Functional Skills, the section about funding says:
"We will fund GCSE English and Maths qualifications for adults from August 2012. Functional English and Maths qualifications from Entry level up to and including Level 2 will also be funded."
Click here for a direct link to the statement made on 15th February.
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| Major Functional Skills events It feels as though the interest in Functional Skills is growing exponentially and we had a lot of people contact us about the events we publicised last week. So here's that story and links again. Managing Functional Skills: 2012 and Beyond. This is a national conference aimed at the FE sector and taking place at Alveston Manor, Stratford Upon Avon on 5/6 March. A comprehensive programme of speakers include EDI, Guroo, Virgin Media and major Colleges; the aim is to get managers and practitioners up to date with best practice in this rapidly changing environment. Initial Assessment and Diagnostic for Functional Skills. An excellent example of how Functional Skills is growing; this event is purely about giving you an opportunity to view the initial assessment and diagnostic tools available for Functional Skills. This is a hands on session where participants will be able to sample what is on offer from the various organisations providing these tools, such as Tribal Group, Mindset, PMetrics, BKSB, Guroo, Skills in Sight Project, and Forskills. The exhibition is 10-1 with optional peer group exchange to discuss your expereince between 2-3.30. The event will be held at The Gallery and Gallery Bar, Beacon Building, Staffordshire University, Beaconside, Stafford, ST18 0AD. Contact Tina Richardson for more details. Making a reality of Functional Skills is a new conference just announced by LSIS/AELP who are keen to ensure all members are fully prepared and equipped to take on the delivery of Functional Skills in September 2012. It is free to attend and aimed at all providers of Functional Skills in post-16 education. It takes place on 26 March at the Congress Centre, Great Russell Street, London. You can register your interest by contacting AELP. When you do, please mention this newsletter!
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really nice quote from a TES forum
This is a very recent posting and I picked it up as I was following a thread that was discussing a comparison between Edexcel and C&G assessments.
I hate to say this but I actually quite like Functional Skills!! Perhaps it's just me but they seem to make more sense than anything else out there. This is borne out by students recognising where a lot of the processes and calculations are actually used in "real life" (well, some of the time anyway!)
Well said and so nice to see a completely independent and unsolicited quote!
Click here for the full sequence of messages - the quote is in post 4.
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The Functional Skills Wednesday Webinar
It's a return to the webinar this week for Andy and Simon (the main guys behind support@guroo.co.uk) who are hosting the session entitled "Reports and Reporting in Guroo 2.1".
How to get the most out of reports in Guroo. This session will help you uncover the information contained within Guroo and how to use it in your teaching and administration. We’ll look at the reports available from Initial and Diagnostic Assessments as well as the monitoring and tracking reports that follow your learners’ progress through Guroo’s Teaching and Learning Materials.
Email info@guroo.co.uk and we'll send you the link on Wednesday.
So if you're a customer (or would like to be) join us at 4.05pm on Wednesday 22nd February to learn reports and reporting, plus (at the end of the session) any other support questions you have.
Replay previous webinars at the links below. Simply enter your name and use guroo as the password.
Initial and Diagnostic Assessments
Guroo 2.1 User and Group Admin
Functional Skills Policy, Rumour and Opinion
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Please Plus One us on Google follow us on Twitter @guroofs and like us on Facebook at guroo.functionalskills. The next newsletter is likely to be Tuesday March 6th - if you have anything you'd like us to know about, just get in touch jwells@guroo.co.uk
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