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Secondary education

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Original poster

GCSE/Functional Skills

9 replies

Minx179 · 17/09/2011 20:31

I'm trying to find out what, if any, equivalence there is between Functional Skills and GCSE, but can't seem to find anything relevant.

If anybody can help I would like to know what Functional skills level 3 (Eng and Maths) would equate to as a GCSE please.

OP posts:
Talker2010 · 17/09/2011 20:46

Entry level 3 is worth 14 points

This is just below a G which is worth 16 points

Is the qualification you refer to entry level

Talker2010 · 17/09/2011 20:49

Just double checked and yes it will have been entry level 3

Original poster
Minx179 · 17/09/2011 21:01

Thanks both, I have been looking further and thought I may have confused people with the question.

Talker - Yes I think that is what I wanted.

I was just interested as DS is doing a level 1 course, my request. He just scrapped a D in Eng lang an E in his other exams and I was just interested to know if we had made the right decision for him as his quals could feasibly have got him onto a level 2 course.

Last week he was tested for Eng, Maths and came home stating he is a level 3, if the info you have given is correct, it helps to make me feel that we made the right decision.

OP posts:
Talker2010 · 17/09/2011 21:33

Level 1 sounds right to me ... has he just started college?

Original poster
Minx179 · 17/09/2011 23:01

He has just started college.

DS needed minimum of E's to do the level 2 course, he achieved that, but looking at the grade boundaries only just. He also had a significant amount of 1-1 teaching prior to exams; especially in maths and English.

We originally applied for a level 2 course, but I had a number of concerns about him doing this pathway. Discussed my concerns with the college and they thought he would be better off doing the level 1.

He had a functional skills test on Fri and came home stating he'd gained a level 3, but he didn't know what this meant, what his other peers had got etc.

If a level 3 is on par with a G, then it helps to reinforce that we did make the right choice for him regarding the level of course he undertook. If I'd not said anything then it is possible he would have ended up doing a level 2 course, struggling and maybe dropping out of education.

OP posts:
Demiwave · 17/09/2011 23:12

Functional skills is as it sounds - it is about teaching Maths and English (and ICT) to a level where the student is 'functional' at a particular level. So if your ds was doing a level 2 course with functional skills at Entry level 3, he would find the written/mathematical work very difficult. With a grade E at GCSE, he probably at the higher end of Entry 3, with probably some level 1 skills so a level one course would be right for him. I know with NVQ students they generally work at a Functional skills level one below the course they are taking (so an NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care would have to also achieve a Level 1 in their functional skills). Functional Skills, if taken seriously and taught well, can be invaluable to less naturally academic students as they teach the skills needed for everyday life, study and work. I think you have made the right decision, good luck to your ds in his studies.

Talker2010 · 17/09/2011 23:22

Well done to him for gaining the Entry Level 3 ... he should be proud as that is a really positive step

At college he will probably not have the 1-1 so Level 1 makes total sense ... it will be within his capabilities (given the GCSE grades) and that should boost his confidence Smile

Original poster
Minx179 · 17/09/2011 23:43

Thanks both.

Talker - He will get some 1-1 at college, there are only about 15 children in his group, and it is highly staffed with teachers, pastoral care and TA's.

Demiwave - Thanks for the explanation. I hope he does manage to progress with his maths, tested by an EP last year as working at age appropriate to 10 year old. His old school originally predicted a D, even though data suggested an F; hence the additional 1-1 support coming up to GCSE's.

From a social perspective I was happy with my choice; DS has only been in college 3 days, but it is like having a completely different child, he has dived out of bed in the mornings, then arrived home chatting about what he's been doing etc, which is the complete opposite from when he was at school. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it continues for the rest of the year.

It was from an academic standpoint that I was unsure, I don't have any faith in his GCSE results, which is why I asked the initial question .

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