Functional Skills: helping you to reach the next stage in your career

Functional skills are qualifications designed to help both young people and adults develop their essential maths and English skills. The ability to apply them in employment and everyday life is a key pathway into the world of work, unlocking career opportunities. We are working with more and more students to help them gain the skills they need to progress into the career pathway they want.

We spoke to Richard Blower, the Functional Skills Manager at Busy Bees Education and Training, to learn more about functional skills and how they can help you to get your reach your career goals.

Q. Why are functional skills important?

A. Functional skills ensure the young people and adults that we work with are provided with the skills and knowledge they require not only to further their employment opportunities but for life itself.

Q. Are functional skills equivalent to GCSEs? 

A. Yes, functional skills are a recognised alternative qualification to GCSEs. 

Functional Skills Level 1 is equivalent to a GCSE grade 1-3, and functional skills level 2 is equivalent to a GCSE grade 4. 

Functional skills courses can also be taken in a shorter timeframe than traditional GCSE exams, making them ideal for school leavers looking to resit their maths and English. 

 
Q. What does the functional skills course cover?

A. Our functional skills courses cover both English and mathematics skills. These skills are vital for the workplace and help our learners to be ready for the next step in their careers.

Our English functional skills course covers several topics. This includes how to listen and contribute to discussions and presentations in a meaningful way. It also looks at how to read a range of different text types with confidence and then transfer this knowledge to their own writing. Plus there’s support with writing to varying levels, highlighting accuracy and conveying the correct message with correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Meanwhile, our mathematics course covers a variety of topics, including how to use numbers and the number system, and how to use common measures, shapes and space. This is alongside tasks such as handling information and data and developing an appreciation of the role played by mathematics in the world of work and in life generally.

 
Q. What does your role as a Functional Skills Tutor require you to do?

A. Predominantly, the role of a Functional Skills Tutor is to provide inspirational teaching and learning to learners. They are there to support learners through the entire process, including:

• Assessing the learner's current ability
• Preparing and agreeing a detailed learning plan
• Meeting with learners to discuss progress and provide feedback
• Working with the learner's Development Coach and employer to provide the most effective support
• Preparing the learners to sit their exams

Q. How do Busy Bees Education and Training support people taking the functional skills course?

A. When each learner starts with us here at Busy Bees Education and Training, they are assigned a personal Functional Skills Tutor, alongside a Development Coach who helps embed the Functional Skills through support and advice. All of the resources are provided. We deliver online learning sessions throughout the day, including lunchtime and evenings.

 
Q. Can people get further support in the course?

A. Yes, especially if a learner requires additional support due to their individual learning needs.  We have a dedicated SEND professional who supports the learners and tutors.

Busy Bees Education and Training offers functional skills courses alongside its nursing, catering and workplace apprenticeships. This means that whatever academic grade you achieved at school, we will be able to help get you started on your career path.

Discover our apprenticeship vacancies here