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Awarding Bodies Timetables for new standards and materials to be ready for use from September 201

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Awarding Bodies Timetables for new standards and materials to be ready for use from September 201

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Analysis of responses to DfE Consultation on Functional SkillsQualification reform – English and mathematics

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Analysis of responses to DfE Consultation on Functional SkillsQualification reform – English and mathematics

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2017 DfE subject content consultation document

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2017 DfE subject content consultation document

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Functional skills qualification (FSQ)reform 2017/19– English and mathematics

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Functional skills qualification (FSQ)reform 2017/19– English and mathematics

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Functional skills were first introduced in 2001 and revised in 2011.  An Ofqual thematic review in 2015 identified the need to improve the validity and reliability of the functional skills qualifications in English and mathematics. In November 2015, the government decided to reform Functional Skills qualifications 'to ensure they better meet employers’ needs and provide assurance of the knowledge and skills that

learners achieve'. The new ‘employer-driven’ qualifications qualifications will come into effect in September 2019.
A summary of the consultation process and copies of the latest draft and final documents are below.

2015: Awarding bodies voluntarily set up a working group to help support the reform process and Federation of Awarding Bodies  Functional Skills Group created

2016: Education and Training Foundation (ETF) Review of Functional Skills to propose new qualifications, including consultation with employers, practitioners, providers, and learners

2016: ETF revised and consulted on new National Adult Literacy and Numeracy Standards and worked on the revised Functional Skills subject content

2017: Ofqual said new FSQs would go live in 2018 but DfE asked for more time to review the standards

2017 DfE decided to consult further on FSQs from September -November

2017: There were 100 responses to the consultation: 60% from individuals (mostly teachers). 40% from organisations.

2018: DfE published its decisions and new subject content for English and mathematics in February

2018: Ofqual published the technical consultation on new the new FSQ rules and guidance published and new (draft) subject conditions in March

2019: From September, all teaching and assessment will be on the new qualifications

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1. All new functional skills qualifications (FSQ) must follow the subject content published by the Department for Education.

2. DfE will specify minimum and maximum overall assessment times and will set rules on the number of assessments.

3. The grading model will be 'Pass' or 'Fail'.

4. At levels 1 and 2 awarding bodies must be set 100% externally assessed (i.e. set and marked externally).

5. At the entry levels all assessments in maths, and the reading and writing assessments in English must be set by awarding bodies.

6. Decisions on setting specified levels of attainment in FSQs must be based on an appropriate range of qualitative and quantitative evidence.

7. DfE will put in place enhanced scrutiny of qualification outcomes.

8. DfE will set rules on what awarding bodies' assessment strategies must include and all awarding bodies must produce an assessment strategy document explaining their overall approach to FSQs assessment.

9. Transition between the current and new FSQs should take place as soon as reasonably practicable.

10. There should be a maximum 12 month overlap period between the current and new FSQs.

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Reforming Functional Skills Qualifications in mathematics and English Regulatory impact assessment

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Reforming Functional Skills Qualifications in mathematics and English Regulatory impact assessment

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March 2018

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DRAFT Functional Skills Mathematics Conditions, Requirements and Guidance

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DRAFT Functional Skills Mathematics Conditions, Requirements and Guidance

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March 2018 | not in use

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March 2018 | NOT in use

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DfE decisions and new subject content for maths functional skills qualifications (from 2019)

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DfE decisions and new subject content for maths functional skills qualifications (from 2019)

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1. DfE will introduce weightings for calculator-based and non-calculator based assessment.

2. DfE will introduce weightings for the assessment of underpinning skills and problem solving.

3. The weightings DfE set will place a greater emphasis on problem solving in assessments than on underpinning skills.

4. DfE will set rules (but not weightings) around the coverage of subject content.

5. New functional skills mathematics subject content at entry levels, level 1 and level 2. Published 27 February 2018

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DfE decisions and new subject content for English functional skills qualifications (from 2019) 

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DfE decisions and new subject content for English functional skills qualifications (from 2019) 

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1. Learners must pass all three content areas (reading, writing, and speaking, listening and communicating) to achieve an overall ‘Pass’

2. DfE will set weighting ranges for spelling, punctuation and grammar within the writing component.

3. There will be no access to spelling and grammar checks in the writing component

4. DfE will set level-based common criteria for assessing speaking, listening and communicating.

5. For speaking, listening and communicating at all levels, the assessments can be set and marked by the awarding organisation or the centre, or a combination of the two. if a centre sets any assessment, the awarding body must have specified parameters that ensure the assessment is fit for purpose and meets all the requirements specified

6. DfE will require awarding organisations to provide centres with guidance around the conduct and assessment of speaking, listening and communicating.

7. DfE will set detailed monitoring requirements around the speaking, listening and communicating component.

8. At the entry levels DfE shall set rules and guidance around the assessment of the reading and spelling of words and types of words as set out in the subject content.

9. New functional skills English subject content at entry levels, level 1 and level 2. Published 27.2.18.

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Ofqual technical consultation on Implementing Functional Skills reform

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Ofqual technical consultation on Implementing Functional Skills reform

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Consultation on rules and guidance for new Functional Skills qualifications in English and mathematics