Everyone should have the opportunity to succeed in work and life – practical skills in English, mathematics and ICT can help make that possible.

We all need a range of skills to succeed in our jobs and in our lives. Functional skills are the practical skills in English, information and communication technology (ICT) and mathematics that allow people to work confidently, effectively and independently in life.
Functional skills qualifications are:

• A component of the new Foundation, Higher and Advanced Diplomas
• Part of all Foundation Learning programmes
• A component in apprenticeship frameworks (NB Key skills have been extended until March 2011 for use in apprenticeship frameworks, allowing providers the choice of offering either functional skills or key skills until 31 March 2011)

They are also available as stand-alone qualifications.

Functional elements are also a part of new GCSEs in English, mathematics and ICT and are included in key stage 3 and key stage 4 programmes of study.

The three-year functional skills pilot ended on August 31 2010. All functional skills pilot qualifications have been withdrawn and the new accredited functional skills qualifications are now available for all learners.

Learners who have passed functional skills pilot qualifications will be able to continue use them as credible qualifications.

Apprenticeships

Key skills qualifications in communication, application of number and ICT are available for use in apprenticeship frameworks until 31 March 2011. This gives centres and providers the choice to offer functional skills or key skills until 31 March 2011. If learners register for key skills qualifications as part of their apprenticeship framework by 31 March 2011, they will have two years (until 31 March 2013) to complete the key skills qualifications.

There are no proxies for functional skills qualifications in apprenticeship frameworks but the relaxation rule for key skills qualifications will be extended for a transitional period for functional skills qualifications. The relaxation rule applies to learners who:

• Are 16 or above by 31 August 2012 and,
• Start an apprenticeship before September 2016.