Thursday, 19 June 2008
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
QIA Teaching & Learning Resources for Maths, Enlish & ICT - Important
Hi Colleagues - here are the QIA documents for implementing Functional Skills in your Department - these are a must to download and read.
Teaching Functional Skills English
Teaching Functional Skill Maths
Teaching Functional Skills ICT
Managing The Delivery of Functional Skills
Teaching Functional Skills English
Teaching Functional Skill Maths
Teaching Functional Skills ICT
Managing The Delivery of Functional Skills
NKLP Letter to HODS / Directors introducing Functional Skills
NKLP Letter to HODS / Directors introducing Functional Skills
Dear Head / Director of DepartmentMy name is Paul Annear, I am the Lead Co-ordinator for the implementation of the Functional Skills pilot across the CPR schools.The ‘Gateway 2’ Consortia of Camborne, Pool & Redruth Schools, otherwise known as the North Kerrier Learning Partnership (NKLP) were successful in our bid to host Level 1, 2 & 3 Diplomas in Engineering, Business and ICT to start in the September 2009. As part of the Gateway process the NKLP has to start delivering Functional Skills in September 2008. Don’t panic! We have a year to get things in place. Initially you will need to nominate someone who will lead Functional Skills in your department. This does not necessarily have to be the HOD, but could provide a professional development opportunity for another teacher. It would be a good idea for each school to have working knowledge of ‘who is who’ in terms of Functional Skills Representatives.Having established staff as Representatives in each department for Functional Skills, we need to get staff trained! The South West training events are:24th June 2008 - Bristol4th July 2008 - Gloucester17th July 2008 - PlymouthThe contact number for booking is 0845 071 0800, but you can only book with a representatives name. I would advise you to book this as early as possible. This training day offers the national perspectives and framework for Functional Skills generally. However, most examination awarding bodies are offering specific training events for Functional Skills geared towards their own specifications for assessment. You are advised to send your Functional Skills Representatives to these training days also. There are meetings and further training sessions being planned by myself and the LA, and you will be contacted about these as they are scheduled.We are currently working on a NKLP website which will include the latest information available to HODs and Representatives, but this site will also be aimed at sharing resources, information and good-practice. This will be available by the end of June 2008.At present the model for delivery of Functional Skills is still being formulated and agreed. Also, other training events, LA Advisors roles, meetings, etc, are still being scheduled and planning is ongoing. May I assure you that I will inform you of any latest developments as they unfold. In the meantime please feel free to contact me and I will help sort any issues as best I can.Thanks for your time.
Dear Head / Director of DepartmentMy name is Paul Annear, I am the Lead Co-ordinator for the implementation of the Functional Skills pilot across the CPR schools.The ‘Gateway 2’ Consortia of Camborne, Pool & Redruth Schools, otherwise known as the North Kerrier Learning Partnership (NKLP) were successful in our bid to host Level 1, 2 & 3 Diplomas in Engineering, Business and ICT to start in the September 2009. As part of the Gateway process the NKLP has to start delivering Functional Skills in September 2008. Don’t panic! We have a year to get things in place. Initially you will need to nominate someone who will lead Functional Skills in your department. This does not necessarily have to be the HOD, but could provide a professional development opportunity for another teacher. It would be a good idea for each school to have working knowledge of ‘who is who’ in terms of Functional Skills Representatives.Having established staff as Representatives in each department for Functional Skills, we need to get staff trained! The South West training events are:24th June 2008 - Bristol4th July 2008 - Gloucester17th July 2008 - PlymouthThe contact number for booking is 0845 071 0800, but you can only book with a representatives name. I would advise you to book this as early as possible. This training day offers the national perspectives and framework for Functional Skills generally. However, most examination awarding bodies are offering specific training events for Functional Skills geared towards their own specifications for assessment. You are advised to send your Functional Skills Representatives to these training days also. There are meetings and further training sessions being planned by myself and the LA, and you will be contacted about these as they are scheduled.We are currently working on a NKLP website which will include the latest information available to HODs and Representatives, but this site will also be aimed at sharing resources, information and good-practice. This will be available by the end of June 2008.At present the model for delivery of Functional Skills is still being formulated and agreed. Also, other training events, LA Advisors roles, meetings, etc, are still being scheduled and planning is ongoing. May I assure you that I will inform you of any latest developments as they unfold. In the meantime please feel free to contact me and I will help sort any issues as best I can.Thanks for your time.
Functional Skills Generic Description
Functional Skills - Generic Description
Generic definition of functional skillsOne of QCA's first tasks is to define what functional skills are in more detail, and to establish the content of learning covered for each subject. In October and November, three working days were held to share initial thinking on functional skills and to begin to consider technical aspects relating to qualification development. A consultation on the content of the standards should take place in early 2006.Generic definition of functional skillsFunctional skills are those core elements of English, maths and ICT that provide an individual with the essential knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and at work. Individuals of whatever age who possess these skills will be able to participate and progress in education, training and employment as well as develop and secure the broader range of aptitudes, attitudes and behaviours that will enable them to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work.In the case of English this means that: each individual is confident and capable when using the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing and is able to communicate effectively, adapting to a range of audiences and contexts. This will include being able to explain information clearly and succinctly in speech and writing, expressing a point of view reasonably and persuasively and using ICT to communicate effectively. in life and work each individual will be able to read and understand information and instructions, then use this understanding to act appropriately and to analyse how ideas and information are presented, evaluating their usefulness, for example in solving a problem. They will be able to make an oral presentation or report, contribute to discussions and use speech to work collaboratively in teams to agree actions and conclusions.In the case of maths this means that: each individual has sufficient understanding of a range of mathematical concepts and is able to know how and when to use them. For example, they will have the confidence and capability to use maths to solve problems embedded in increasingly complex settings and to use a range of tools, including ICT as appropriate. In life and work, each individual will develop the analytical and reasoning skills to draw conclusions, justify how they are reached and identify errors or inconsistencies. They will also be able to validate and interpret results, to judge the limits of their validity and use them effectively and efficiently.In the case of ICT this means that: each individual is confident and capable when using ICT systems and tools to meet a variety of needs in a range of contexts. For example they will use ICT to find, select and bring together relevant information and use ICT to develop, interpret and exchange information, for a purpose. In life and work each individual will be able to apply ICT safely to enhance their learning and the quality of their work.(Functional Skills Update 2, QCA, December 2005)
QCA developing functional skillsThe Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has begun work to develop functional skills qualifications, led by Paddy O'Hagan of Skills for Life and Work Team. Functional skills are seen as fundamental skills that need to be developed and built into programmes of learning and development for young people and adults to prepare them for participation in life and work. They will be a set of qualifications in their own right, but will also underpin and support other qualifications such as GCSEs.Two recent White Papers mentioned functional skills; the 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper (March 2005) and the Skills White Paper (March 2005). The three areas of functional skills as defined in the White Papers are functional maths, functional English and functional ICT. The functional skills will build upon the existing key and basic skills and GCSEs and also contribute to ensuring that more young people achieve and progress to level 3 and beyond.QCA's remit asks that the new skills be developed in ways that will ensure that young people and adults can engage purposefully as citizens and in employment. They should be suitable therefore for a wide range of candidates, young people involved in GCSEs at school, and adults involved in learning programmes to prepare them for work. QCA has refocused the work originally planned for the Convergence Project (the convergence of basic and key skills qualifications into one set of qualifications) to progress this work.A first draft of standards will start with levels 1 and 2 in each of the three subjects. Once agreement has been reached about the standards at entry level and levels 1 and 2, further work will be done on levels 3 and 4.(Functional Skills Update 1, QCA, Autumn 2005)
Generic definition of functional skillsOne of QCA's first tasks is to define what functional skills are in more detail, and to establish the content of learning covered for each subject. In October and November, three working days were held to share initial thinking on functional skills and to begin to consider technical aspects relating to qualification development. A consultation on the content of the standards should take place in early 2006.Generic definition of functional skillsFunctional skills are those core elements of English, maths and ICT that provide an individual with the essential knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and at work. Individuals of whatever age who possess these skills will be able to participate and progress in education, training and employment as well as develop and secure the broader range of aptitudes, attitudes and behaviours that will enable them to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work.In the case of English this means that: each individual is confident and capable when using the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing and is able to communicate effectively, adapting to a range of audiences and contexts. This will include being able to explain information clearly and succinctly in speech and writing, expressing a point of view reasonably and persuasively and using ICT to communicate effectively. in life and work each individual will be able to read and understand information and instructions, then use this understanding to act appropriately and to analyse how ideas and information are presented, evaluating their usefulness, for example in solving a problem. They will be able to make an oral presentation or report, contribute to discussions and use speech to work collaboratively in teams to agree actions and conclusions.In the case of maths this means that: each individual has sufficient understanding of a range of mathematical concepts and is able to know how and when to use them. For example, they will have the confidence and capability to use maths to solve problems embedded in increasingly complex settings and to use a range of tools, including ICT as appropriate. In life and work, each individual will develop the analytical and reasoning skills to draw conclusions, justify how they are reached and identify errors or inconsistencies. They will also be able to validate and interpret results, to judge the limits of their validity and use them effectively and efficiently.In the case of ICT this means that: each individual is confident and capable when using ICT systems and tools to meet a variety of needs in a range of contexts. For example they will use ICT to find, select and bring together relevant information and use ICT to develop, interpret and exchange information, for a purpose. In life and work each individual will be able to apply ICT safely to enhance their learning and the quality of their work.(Functional Skills Update 2, QCA, December 2005)
QCA developing functional skillsThe Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has begun work to develop functional skills qualifications, led by Paddy O'Hagan of Skills for Life and Work Team. Functional skills are seen as fundamental skills that need to be developed and built into programmes of learning and development for young people and adults to prepare them for participation in life and work. They will be a set of qualifications in their own right, but will also underpin and support other qualifications such as GCSEs.Two recent White Papers mentioned functional skills; the 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper (March 2005) and the Skills White Paper (March 2005). The three areas of functional skills as defined in the White Papers are functional maths, functional English and functional ICT. The functional skills will build upon the existing key and basic skills and GCSEs and also contribute to ensuring that more young people achieve and progress to level 3 and beyond.QCA's remit asks that the new skills be developed in ways that will ensure that young people and adults can engage purposefully as citizens and in employment. They should be suitable therefore for a wide range of candidates, young people involved in GCSEs at school, and adults involved in learning programmes to prepare them for work. QCA has refocused the work originally planned for the Convergence Project (the convergence of basic and key skills qualifications into one set of qualifications) to progress this work.A first draft of standards will start with levels 1 and 2 in each of the three subjects. Once agreement has been reached about the standards at entry level and levels 1 and 2, further work will be done on levels 3 and 4.(Functional Skills Update 1, QCA, Autumn 2005)
NKLP Functional Skills E-site
Hi and welcome to the NKLP Functional Skills E-Site. My name is Paul Annear and I am an Advanced Skills Teacher and Assistant Headteacher at Pool Business & Enterprise College. In May 2008 I was appointed Lead Co-ordinator for Functional Skills across the Camborne Pool Redruth (CPR) secondary schools.This site is designed to communicate information to all colleagues and students of the North Kerrier Learning Partnership (NKLP), which consists of all the primary and secondary schools in the CPR area and Cornwall College. Clearly this e-site is intended for use by the secondary schools because it features information about Functional Skills. I will make any links, documents, downloads, etc, available as they become available, so please check this site fequently. A real feature of the site is the opportunity for collaboration between all schools and Cornwall College, and in particluar sharing our experiences, ideas, success, concerns and issues in a forum context. Idelaly, materials, resources and blog comments will made by the students themselves once the site is more established.In the meantime, please add comments to help and support the delivery of Functional Skills across our schools.
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