Guroo announce full support for GCSE too.

Guroo announce full support for GCSE

Whilst there is some uncertainty about Government Policy, there is no uncertainty about the support you can expect from the UK's best provider of solutions for maths and English.

Guroo has already developed and launched KISS Assess for GCSE - a full assessment for GCSE Maths (Number) that automatically produces a diagnostic based on GCSE skills that highlights areas of strength and weakness with links to video based skills tutorials and resources.

This is the first of a series of developments from Guroo that will result in full GCSE support being available to all customers at no additional cost offering tutors and learners the choice of following GCSE or Functional Skills or a mix of both. 

GCSE vs Functional Skills

GCSE vs Functional Skills

This argument seems to be getting much more serious.  After the recent DfE announcement that all EYE courses would require passes in GCSE maths and English before an application can even be made, a report by FE Week is causing yet more concern in the sector.

First, let's be clear and re-emphasise that Functional Skills is and will remain a fully funded essential part of all Apprenticeships and Traineeships until at least 2017 (the time when the new 2015 specification GCSE will be first examined).  In between now and then there are lots and lots of ifs that can happen, but it is becoming more clear about the direction of Government thinking.   

In a written parliamentary response, Matthew Hancock (Skills Minister) was quoted as saying that Functional Skills should be "stepping stone" qualifications to GCSE. 

He said: “Students [aged 16 or over] whose initial assessment shows they are not ready to re-take GCSEs may take one of the interim qualifications as a stepping stone to GCSE, which can include Functional Skills and free-standing mathematics qualifications recognised by the funding condition.”

There has been lots of reaction to this with much support for Functional Skills from NIACE, AELP and AoC.  Read the FE Week story here.

The value and rigour of Functional Skills

The value and rigour of Functional Skills

The 2013 Functional Skills Annual Survey was completed by more than 400 respondents in the sector.  The results reveal very substantial (and growing) support for Functional Skills.  In the light of the GCSE vs FS discussion above, we thought it would be worthwhile repeating the results of the survey. 

	Very Confident	Somewhat Confident	Not very Confident	Not at all Confident
Functional Skills is a rigorous qualification	36%	54%	9%	1%
Functional Skills is a valuable qualification	44%	43%	10%	2%
I'm fully prepared and trained to deliver FS	50%	38%	9%	3%
Learners enjoy taking Functional Skills	17%	48%	26%	9%
Tutors enjoy teaching Functional Skills	22%	48%	23%	8%

The overwhelming evidence is that Functional Skills is rigorous (90% agree), valuable (87%) enjoyable (68%) with 88% of respondents feeling fully prepared and trained in delivery.

Functional Skills Assessment Research

An updated research paper looking at the initial assessment out-turn and the time it takes for learners to complete an initial assessment and diagnostic is now available from Jonathan Wells.

Simply email jwells@guroo.co.uk and we'll send you a copy.

Assessment Data

Assessment data for CY 2013/14

With more than 100,000 completed assessments in Functional maths, English and ICT since Sept 2013, Guroo have published figures showing the average attainment. Data such as this is used by Guroo to ensure that the appropriate level of rigour is built into the assessments to reflect the experience of College and Training providers.

They show that the additional rigour introduced by Guroo into the ICT assessment (left graph) have worked with the average assessment score reducing from 7.8 to 7.6 with more learners achieving "working towards L2" than "working at L2".  

The profile of English and Maths have not changed a great deal since last year but the average score has increased a little in English assessment (centre graph), from 7.6 to 7.8 representing average achievement at just under Level 1.  

Reflecting the issues described in the article above, the Functional maths (right graph) achievement remains a real concern with an average score stubbornly persistent at 6.8 (Entry 3 working towards Level 1) - half a level below English with 64% of assessments coming out at below Level 1! 

A full report, that also details the average time that a typical learner takes to complete the Guroo assessment and diagnostic process will be available in the next few days - please email jwells@guroo.co.uk of you'd like a copy when available.

How do the scores work?

• A score of 6 would indicate the central point of an Entry Level 3 result.
• A score of 7 is the central point of the working towards L1 result.
• A score of 8 represents the central point of a Level 1 result.
• A score of 10 represents a Level 2 result.

The Functional Skills Newsletter for Feb 18th

After the relative declining levels of literacy and numeracy amongst school age pupils were reported by OECD, we now have an investigation into a similar OECD report about adult literacy and numeracy.  

This coincides with a report published by Guroo that shows average attainment rates based on more than 100,000 completed Functional Skills assessments during the 2013/14 CY.

And this edition is rounded off with news of which Functional Skills solution provider is preferred by most Training Companies and details of this week's webinar.

As always, we aim to send this newsletter out every two weeks, your comments and thoughts are always appreciated - let us know what you'd like us to cover in the newsletter by emailing the editor - jwells@guroo.co.uk

BIS investigate adult literacy and numeracy

After the relative declining levels of literacy and numeracy amongst school age pupils were reported by OECD, we now have an investigation into a similar OECD report about adult literacy and numeracy.  

Numeracy levels in particular are a real worry with the National Numeracy Campaign reporting that almost 3 in 5 adults were below level 1 in numeracy - figures based on the 2011 skills for life survey.  

The Government asked for written evidence to be submitted by early February, the first committee sessions are now taking place hearing the evidence.  

This coincides with a report published by Guroo that shows average attainment rates based on more than 100,000 completed Functional Skills assessments during the 2013/14 CY - see below for initial results - and based on this data, 64% of those assessed are operating below level 1 in maths.

Key quotes by Key people

“I always say to my children, and to other people’s children that vocational education is a wonderful thing, but the most important vocational skill is English and maths and we’ve still got to get those basics absolutely right.” said the Prime Minister on Jan 27th at the FSB conference.

He didn't make a comment about which qualification, but continuing the ongoing discussion about GCSE vs Functional Skills, perhaps the best of the recent quotes comes from Martin Doel of the AoC, "Requiring Colleges to teach GCSE Maths to young people who have failed consistently is just continuing to bang heads against the same walls for another two years.