• DfE launches consultation on fully-funded digital functional skills qualifications

    The Department for Education is calling for views on the content for new digital functional skills qualifications that will become available for first teaching and free of charge from August 2021. They will replace the existing functional skills qualifications (FSQs) in ICT, which will stop being available from July 2021. The legacy ICT qualifications are…

    12.15 May. 16th, 2019 | News

  • Is Gibb to blame for functional skills reform?

    The government, apparently under the influence of the schools minster Nick Gibb, is ploughing ahead with reforms to functional skills in English that run contrary to the advice it has received. The public consultation on reforming the English and numeracy qualifications, which are set to be introduced in September 2019, opened earlier this week, but…

    11.25 Sep. 15th, 2017 | News

  • Early years educator apprenticeship requirement u-turn confirmed

    The government has finally confirmed that it is u-turning on the requirements for early years educator apprenticeships. Currently early years learners must achieve at least a grade C in English and maths GCSE to pass the level three course, but from April this will be broadened to include functional skills. The announcement was reported to…

    13.19 Mar. 3rd, 2017 | News