Functional Skills Level 2

[QuirkyBee]

Hello, DD is on a Level 2 Diploma at college & retaking English via FS 2 & maths via GCSE (as no FS 2 course for Maths available) - until today, when told should be on FS 1 for Maths as only achieved Grade 2 in her Maths GCSE. Not only can she not achieve anything higher than a Grade 3 in Maths ( just a few points more than what she achieved in July) no potential Grade 4 means no chance to continue onto Level 3 Diploma next Sept. Have been told if she wants FS2 or GCSE in Maths, she needs to arrange this independently. Makes no sense to me! Does anyone have any experience/ advice regarding this please?

English L2 FS is more straightforward than the GCSE so that's good. (What did she get for the GCSE? If they get a 3 they are usually meant to work towards the 4).

It is 'standard' ( I think) for those with grade 2 at GCSE to start with FS L1 maths and then work up to the FS L2 or the GCSE.

The FS can be sat as and when, not just twice a year. Is there any chance she could do level1 mid year then level2 later?
FS level2 is a subset of the gcse content, with more esoteric topics removed (trig, algebra for example). However questions are I believe more wordy.

Does she have to have got level2 in both English and maths to progress to level3 diploma? What is their progression route for second year if not?

My DD did FS level2 English independently this year (break from college) and is doing gcse maths in college plus private tutor. My intention is to look at sitting fs level2 maths independently in july without waiting for gcse result with transition tutoring post gcse resit.

FS can be done online from home I believe (with laptop camera on), though my DD needs to do hers on paper which is a bit more complicated.

College run free courses usually evening classes and usually 12 months - not 2 years.

She can take FS at any time it’s not a May exam.

Ring round some local providers.

You may find an issue trying to access adult education classes when of college age.
We did.
There appeared to be a black hole.
DD wasn't at college (having already done 2 years) but because she was under 19 as of 1/9/23 she didn't come under adult funding either. . .

In maths it is fairly standard for students who got a grade 2 to be offered functional skills instead as a stepping stone towards the gcse as very very few students who got a 2 at gcse pass on resitting and it is generally acknowledged that the gcse is too hard for them and they should do an easier qualification first.

The gap between a grade 2 and a grade 4 is massive.

Get her to sit the functional skills level 1 maths via the college.

If you think she can pass the gcse then you can enter her as a private candidate but be aware that exam centres that take private candidates are few and far between and you may have to travel a significant distance.

There are screening tests online to help with guiding current level.
Plus CGP do FS revision guides similar to GCSE so you can look at required content.

If your DD wants to do a L3 course, the college would have to offer a L2 maths qualification as part of that. If they are saying she won't be allowed onto a course without a 4 in maths (Unless its an A Level course, I think this is unusual) then yes, she should do the L1 FS at college then the L2 independently. The L1 course can be done in a term or two depending on how strong your DD is in maths. If she got a grade 2 in July it is highly unlikely she will be able to do the FS L2 without first passing the L1.

@Octavia64 thank you. Yes, that's a good point that grade 2 to grade 4 is a big jump! I'm OK with her not taking the GCSE but the college doesn't offer FS2 & without the grade 4 or equivalent she can't progress onto Level 3 diploma. It's helpful to know though, that she could take the FS1 classes & maybe pass that when ready & then perhaps move onto the FS2 independently! Minefield- thank you!

@DramaLlamaBangBang All this is making more sense than the college did! I can see now that the FS1 in, hopefully, a term would be the best first course of action before going for the L2 independently. I'll also double check that they will absolutely not allow her on L3 course without grade 4 or, if she continues to excel in her practical Level 2 diploma course (agriculture) they can make a reasonable adjustment perhaps for her disability - dyslexia. Thank you.

Grade 2 GCSe is a FS L1 Equivalent so they are wrong. She needs to be on L2 for it to be a progression. They are trying to screw double funding out of the ESFA.

www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels#:~:text=Level%201%20qualifications%20are%3A,level%201%20award

Tips- Reading- understand bias, fact and opinion. Recognise language techniques, layout techniques and the purpose of a text.
Writing-Understand how to lay out a formal letter, report, blog, email and article. - use the language techniques and layout techniques you have learned for Reading. Use a range of punctuation. Don’t use words you’re not sure of spelling. Using a complex sentence (such as one with bracketed information) will get extra marks. Use a capital I when referring to yourself. Capital at the start of a sentence.
That should do it! 😊

The CGP books are great too!

@TeenToTwenties really appreciate your input, seems you have a similar experience. I think I will go back on Monday to college & agree to FS1, to be passed as soon as possible & then look at the FS2 independently & also check with the college that a L2 English & L1 Maths might be enough to put her onto the Level 3 Diploma! Didn't know it would be this hard! She got top marks in the pre-test for the agriculture diploma as it's so practical & her passion. I think, having dyslexia, I might be able to push for a reasonable adjustment!

@StMarieforme o that's interesting! The college lady I felt was trying to bamboozle me with talk about conditional funding and when I looked that up on the D of E website, I guess she thought I wouldn't, I didn't see this at all, rather that progression must be shown or the college needs to justify their decision. Thank you.

@TeenToTwenties would you be able to direct me to one of those screen tests? for the life of me I couldn't find one - or maybe the college that day had simply frazzled my brain!

There is this for level 1 https://passfunctionalskills.co.uk/functional-skills-maths-level-1-past-papers/city-and-guilds-functional-skills-maths-level-1-past-papers/

Click on the link there seems to be a pre-assessment.

or this https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/resources/cgp-s-free-online-10-minute-tests/free-functional-skills-maths-online-10-minute-test?srsltid=AfmBOorRNkrEf_VZ7nD8n3okTMrA5AGNSIDBVfsFP-9ctqJw6M8NFaGC

or this https://www.futurequals.com/sample-assessments/#toggle-id-6

Mine is at an agricultural college too (in Hants, doing animal care). She has an EHCP and we have had a very non standard journey wrt maths & English.

I can imagine starting everyone at the level 1 exam so they build success and know the type of questions for level 2. I'm just surprised they seem to be not aiming t allow to do level 2 within one year.

@TeenToTwenties thanks for links, that's so helpful. I don't understand why they would offer FS2 in English but don't have FS2 course in Maths, just FS1 or GCSE! I'll definitely look at the links with my daughter this weekend - find out a bit more where her knowledge places her!

I'm not (yet) convinced fs maths is 'easier' for dyslexic DC than GCSE. My DD quite likes algebra and doesn't like wordy questions.
But I haven't done much looking in detail at papers as we are focusing mainly on the GCSE this year.

@TeenToTwenties yes, if FS more wordy, that's definitely a consideration. I'll take that into account. Good luck to you DD - is her college being supportive?

Yes, college have been very flexible / supportive (once we were assessed for ehcp). She went there on the back of missing all y11 (20-21 year. After schools closed in March 20 she never returned).

@TeenToTwenties I'm glad they've been supportive. I hope she's enjoying animal care - great choice!

Ask for her to be referred to the Senco or learner support for assessment. If the assessment comes back that she needs additional learning support she will get additional time or a reader in the exam.

@DramaLlamaBangBang thank you - this, at least, is in place!

Have you read up on Dyscalculia? It's closely related to dyslexia but applies to maths/numbers. I think at least 50% of people with dyslexia have an overlap with dyscalculia, usually when processing and interpreting informstion.
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyscalculia

@Fgfgfg she didn't at original diagnosis, but might be worth relooking - thanks for the link.