Advice on next step

[Doogie191]

My son has an EHCP plan and has passed his Entry Level 3 English Functional Skills qualification. Could you please tell me what that is equivalent to in GCSE. what would his next step be when he goes back September. Would it be English GCSE or foundation level 1. Which would be easier. Thank you

Google tells me that it’s equivalent to GCSE 4.

It’s equivalent to a GCSE pass at Grade 4. So if you wanted he could now work towards English GCSE at a higher level, or he doesn’t have to do English anymore if you’d rather he didn’t.

There are no tiers for English GCSE.
You need to talk to the school about whether the best way forward would be English GCSE or a different qualification.

Thankyou for your replies. So he has already got an equivalent to a GCSE grade 4 which is classed as a pass ? Do you know what foundation level 1 is. Is it an easier exam to sit. Is it sections like the functional skills exams. And is it easier than GCSE. He struggles with reading and writing and retaining information. I feel GCSE might be to much information for him to retain for the final exam. Thanks you again

Why do you want him to do the GCSE when he has rhe equivalent of a pass (grade 4) gcse already?

Entry Level 3 in FS is not equivalent to GCSE grade 4.

Functional Skills Level 1 is the next level after Entry Level 3, followed by FS Level 2. It is Level 2 that is an equivalent level to a pass at GCSE (less broad but equivalent level). At least that’s what I understood and this website seems ot agree.

https://passfunctionalskills.co.uk/functional-skills-entry-level-3/

My DS1 has FS Level 2 after getting 3 x E grade at GCSE so it is attainable. How old is your DS @Doogie191 ?

So sorry OP but I think PPs are not correct. He doesn’t have a grade 4 equiv yet. But well done to him on getting Entry Level 3 - the next step as I say is FS1 then FS2. That’s really worthwhile as you can put it on CVs as a GCSE grade 4 equivalent. DS1 took it at college post-16 – IIRC he worked on it for about 18 months.

My son is 22 in September. He has his EHCP until he is 25. He has tried for years to get his qualifications. I am proud of him. He goes to the senco department at college. I was thought he would do his foundation level 1 next. But the college wants to put him in for his GCSE. I feel this will be too much for him to sit an exam at the end. He does better sitting exams in sections like the functional skill exams. Do you know whether the foundation exams are sat in sections or one final exam at the end of year. Thanks.

@clary is right. Entry Level 3 is not equivalent to a GCSE grade 4. Entry level qualifications are below GCSE level. Entry 3 is just below a GCSE grade 1.

Functional skills level 1 or GCSE would be the next step. Some find the GCSE more accessible than functional skills. Depending on DS’s needs, that might be why the college is suggesting it for DS.

You have mentioned foundation level 1 @Doogie191 – do you mean Functional Skills Level 1 I wonder? That would be a possible next step. There is no foundation level for GCSE and L1 FS is not called foundation level as far as I know.

GCSE is a higher level than that and is also broader in scope which is one reason why FS is more appropriate for some; but equally the college may be right about GCSE being more accessible. Has he attempted any GCSE papers? It might be worth having a look at some, with the mark schemes, over the summer so you can get an idea of what he would be attempting.

Equally the two of you could look at some FS1 and FS2 work to see what that would involve.