Functional Skills

What are functional skills?

* Functional skills are practical skills that equip learners with the necessary knowledge and understanding to use and apply English, mathematics and ICT in everyday life, so they can get the most out of work and education.

* Functional skills underpin all educational and training choices. They have been designed in response to employers’ perceptions that many young people and adults are not achieving a firm enough grounding in the basics.

In the community -

Functional skills will enable learners to 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.

Competence in the core skills supports student progression and develops students’ capacity for independent learning.
At work -
Employees who gain functional skills are able to make a positive contribution to the workplace, with practical experience of teamwork and the presentation and assessment of ideas