What's happening with Functional Skills?
Looking at Nick Boles' latest AoC speech gives
us the best clue.
"Those who lack a basic mastery of English and Maths lack the means
to navigate successfully through the modern world.
I do understand however that it is not practical or fair to impose the
same requirements (as those on full time courses) on students taking courses of
less than 150 hours – who are often young carers with a lot on their plates
already. While we expect them to receive English and Maths tuition as part of
their course, we will be waiving the requirement for them to study for
standalone qualifications.
Where I have found your arguments more persuasive is in relation to
those students who have not secured D grades in English and Maths GCSEs – and
who are unlikely to be retaking their GCSEs while they are at college. I
believe it is vitally important that we offer them alternative qualifications
that are high quality, consistent, understood by parents, and respected by
employers. As you know, Ofqual is undertaking a review of functional skills
qualifications and I eagerly await their findings.
The DfE briefing note confirms this by posing the question "Will
functional skills be scrapped?"
"No, Functional Skills qualifications will continue to be available
for 16-19 students as a ‘stepping stone’ to GCSEs, in apprenticeships and for
adults.
Ofqual is currently reviewing Level 2 English and maths functional
skills qualifications, and will recommend action to improve these
qualifications. This is likely to lead to changes to some Functional Skills
qualifications in the short to medium term. Awarding organisations will work
with their centres to communicate and explain these changes and what they mean
for teachers and students."
So Functional Skills are
being reviewed by Ofqual to ensure quality, rigour, understanding, consistency
and respect.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment