Functional skills are practical skills that help learners gain the most from education, work and everyday life. New functional skills qualifications are being piloted from September 2007.

Key features:

• Qualifications will be available in three subjects - English, mathematics and ICT - either as stand-alone qualifications or as part of a Diploma.
• To achieve grades A*-C for GCSEs in English, mathematics and ICT, it is expected students will need a level 2 in the relevant functional skills from 2010.
• Functional skills standards will be incorporated into the revised GCSE specifications for English, mathematics and ICT.

What's happening and when

• September 2007: Pilot programme to investigate different assessment options starts in centres planning to offer the Diploma from September 2008.
  Some centres not involved in Diploma consortia will pilot stand-alone qualifications and their relationship with GCSE attainment in those subjects.
• 2007/08 academic year: First assessments and awards of pilot qualifications.
• September 2008: All centres offering the Diploma will offer functional skills qualifications.
• September 2010 onwards: Functional skills qualifications will be formally available to all learners.

Changes to look out for

• A variety of innovative assessment methods arising from the pilots.

What you should do now

Discuss plans for your centre taking part in the functional skills pilots during 2007/08 with your heads of English, mathematics and ICT.