Functional Skills


Functional Skills in English and maths help apprentices build the essential core skills needed to succeed professionally. These skills are embedded into apprenticeships and support apprentices to communicate clearly, work confidently with numbers, and perform effectively in the workplace.

Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths:

  • Help develop practical communication and numeracy skills
  • Support workplace competence and confidence
  • Can be funded as part of an apprenticeship where required or agreed

Funding and training requirements for Functional Skills depend on the age of the apprentice at the start of their programme and individual training needs.

Who needs Functional Skills?

Apprentices aged 16–18 at the start of their apprenticeship

  • If they do not already hold suitable equivalent qualifications, they must study Functional Skills English and/or maths as part of their apprenticeship and work towards achieving the appropriate level.

Apprentices aged 19 and over at the start of their apprenticeship

  • Functional Skills are optional under current funding rules. Employers and apprentices must agree at the outset whether Functional Skills will be included in the training plan. If included, learners will study and sit the assessments.

English

Your tutor will easily embed English throughout your apprenticeship when looking at the structure and content of the written work you produce.

You will be required to achieve your English Functional Skills qualification before the end of your apprenticeship if you are not exempt,

The final assessment for the English qualification consists of the following components:

  • Reading exam – 1 hour
  • Writing exam – 1 hour
  • Speaking, Listening and Communication assessment – 20 minutes (plus preparation time)
    • Task 1 – 5 minute presentation
    • Task 2 – Take questions on your presentation
    • Task 3 – 5 minute group discussion

Maths

Your tutor will embed maths throughout your apprenticeship and will support your learning with worksheets, videos and practice questions.

You will be required to achieve your maths Functional Skills qualification before the end of your apprenticeship if you are not exempt.

The final assessment for the maths qualification consists of the following components:

  • Non-Calculator component – ½ hour
  • Calculator component – 1 ½ hours