Functional skills are practical skills that help learners gain the most from education, work and everyday life. A three year pilot in functional skills qualifications started in September 2007.

Key features:

• Qualifications are available in three subjects - English, mathematics and ICT - either as stand-alone qualifications or as part of a Diploma.
• Originally, it was expected that in order to achieve grades A*-C from the new GCSE specifications in English, mathematics and IT from September 2012, candidates would also have to have obtained functional skills level 2 in the relevant subject. This will not now be the case. GCSE grades A*-C achievement for the new specifications will not require functional skills qualifications achievement in English, mathematics and ICT.
• Functional skills standards will be incorporated into the revised GCSE specifications for English, mathematics and ICT.

What's happening and when

• September 2007: Start of pilot programme to investigate different assessment options starts in centres planning to offer the Diploma from September 2008. Some centres not involved in Diploma consortia piloted stand-alone qualifications.
• 2007/08 academic year: First assessments and awards of pilot qualifications.
• September 2008: All centres offering the Diploma offering functional skills qualifications.
• September 2010 onwards: Functional skills qualifications will be formally available to all learners.

Changes to look out for

• A variety of innovative assessment methods arising from the pilots.

The awarding bodies currently offering functional skills qualifications are: