Programme
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Welcome
Background to Functional Skills
Subject content and assessment
Refreshments
Preparation and planning
Support from AQA
Any further questions?
What are they?
Practical skills in
English, Mathematics
and ICT that allow
individuals to work
confidently, effectively
and independently in
life
Why teach FS?
• New nationally recognised qualification that has
been requested by employers
• From 2010 the FS standards will form a
significant part of the new GCSE specifications in
English, Mathematics and ICT
• They are included in the Key Stage 3 curriculum
(11-14), and embedded within the revised
programmes of study for Key Stage 4 (14-16)
• Tried and tested qualification that has been
piloted for 3 years
Pathways
• Standalone qualifications at Level 1 and Level 2
• Embedded into the programmes of study for ICT at
Key Stages 3 & 4 (including the new GCSE in ICT)
• Integral part of Foundation, Higher and Advanced
Diplomas
• Component of apprenticeship frameworks
• Component of Foundation Learning and
progression pathways
• Adult learning
• Replacement for Key Skills qualifications
AQA timeline
• National teaching of Level 1 and Level 2 to begin
from September 2010
• First assessment opportunity for L1 & L2 –
January 2011
• Entry Level 1, 2, 3 qualifications available from
September 2011*
• First assessment opportunity for E1, E2 & E3 –
November 2011*
* subject to accreditation
Designed for success
• Content – relevant to students’ interests, clearly
written and presented
• Assessment – all students have a chance to
display their strengths with our assessment
structure
• Accessibility – to all ability levels, reading level
for FS is a level below the standard of the
assessment (except for specialist vocabulary
which is at the level being assessed)
Designed for success
• Straightforward – use of Plain English and clear
layouts make our assessment materials easy to
understand
• Flexibility – available four times each academic
year, so students can take them when best
prepared
• Simplicity – streamlined resources and nononsense advice
Equivalence
Functional Skills equivalence table (QCDA)
Functional skills equivalences
Functional
Skills level
Functional Skills
performance
points
Skills for Life
(Achievement and
Attainment Tables)
(adult literacy
and numeracy)
Key skills
GCSE
NVQ level
Level 2*
23
Level 2
Level 2
A*-C
Level 2
Level 1*
12.5
Level 1
Level 1
D-G
Level 1
Entry 3
7
Entry 3
Entry 2
6
Entry 2
Entry 1
5
Entry 1
*The points for level 1 and 2 are in addition to points allocated for other qualifications such as GCSEs and
Diplomas.
Functional Skills in ICT
Functional Skills in ICT
• About the application of transferable practical ICT
skills
• A Functional Skills qualification in ICT at Level 1
or Level 2 will prove that a candidate can:
– use ICT systems
– find and select information
– develop, present and communicate
information
Benefits of FS in ICT
• Provides students with practical skills that can be
used in further education, work and everyday life
• Develops transferable skills
• Will motivate your students through interesting and
highly relevant content
• Earns (additional) points on the Achievement and
Attainment Tables – L1 = 12.5, L2 = 23
• Provides a qualification recognised by employers if
the student does not continue their ICT studies
• Could be provided as a precursor to GCSE suitable
for Year 9 students
Subject content
• Provided by Ofqual in the Functional Skills Criteria for
ICT (Nov 2009)
• Designed to enable students to:
–
–
–
–
apply their knowledge/understanding to everyday life
engage with others
solve problems in familiar and unfamiliar contexts
develop personally and professionally
• Focus in the assessment is on the Skills Standards,
but teaching should address the Coverage and
Range
• Refer to pages 6-9 of the specification
Level 1 Skill Standards
Using ICT
• Identify ICT requirements of a task
• Interact with and use ICT systems to meet the
requirements of a straightforward task in a
familiar context
• Manage information storage
• Follow and demonstrate understanding of the
need for safety and security practices
Level 1 Skill Standards
Finding and selecting information
• Use search techniques to locate and select
relevant information
• Select information from a variety of ICT
sources for a straightforward task
Level 1 Skill Standards
Developing, presenting and communicating
information
• Enter, develop and refine information using appropriate
software to meet the needs of straightforward tasks
• Use appropriate software to meet the requirements of
straightforward data-handling task
• Use communications software to meet the requirements
of a straightforward task
• Combine information within a publication for a familiar
audience and purpose
• Evaluate own use of ICT tools
Level 2 Skill Standards
Using ICT
• Plan solutions to complex tasks by
analysing the necessary stages
• Select, interact with and use ICT systems
safely and securely for a complex task in
non-routine and unfamiliar contexts
• Manage information storage to enable
efficient retrieval
Level 2 Skill Standards
Finding and selecting information
• Use appropriate search techniques to locate
and select relevant information
• Select information from a variety of ICT
sources to meet the requirements of a
complex task
Level 2 Skill Standards
Developing, presenting and communicating
information
• Enter, develop and refine information using appropriate
software to meet the requirements of complex tasks
• Use appropriate software to meet the requirements of a
complex data-handling task
• Use communications software to meet the requirements of
a complex task
• Combine and present information in ways that are fit for
purpose and audience
• Evaluate the selection, use and effectiveness of ICT
tools and facilities used to present information
Assessment
• Single unit: mainly task-based
• 2 hours, 80 marks
• Externally-set and externally-marked activities
completed at a computer
• Set around realistic contexts, scenarios or
problems
• Separate assessments for Level 1 and Level 2
• Not graded – pass or ungraded (U)
• Unlimited re-sits of the qualification
Assessment
• Candidate Booklet to guide through the activities
• Students use software available in school with
the exception of one activity that will use a
simulation of the use of the Internet and e-mail
• Some aspects of activity to be answered in
writing in Candidate Booklet, others printed out
and attached to the back of the Candidate
Booklet
Level 1 assessment
Please refer to the
Level 1 Specimen Candidate Booklet
(pink cover)
Level 2 assessment
Please refer to the
Level 2 Specimen Candidate Booklet
(white cover)
Virtual desktop
Virtual desktop
Virtual desktop
Availability
Availability of unit
and certification
January 2011

June 2011

November 2011

January 2012

March 2012

June 2012 and thereafter

Increased number of assessment opportunities
Planning and delivery
Working in groups, use the A3 Level 2 planner
provided. Focus on one assessment objective:
1. Discuss possible teaching and learning
activities
2. Think about timing – how many lessons
would you allocate?
Entry Level
• From September 2011, subject to accreditation
• Available at entry level 1, 2 and 3
• Assessment will be one hour on-screen test for
each level
• EL1 and EL2 will be practical tasks, assessed by
teacher checklist
• EL3 will require candidate to print 2-3 pages of
evidence to show tasks have been completed
• All will use ‘real’ Internet and e-mail
Transition from pilot
From QCDA:
• No ‘re-sit’ opportunity will be required (or
allowed) for the pilot FS qualifications
• All assessments post-September 2010 should be
based on the live qualification
• Component results for the pilot qualifications can
not be transferred over to contribute to the new
qualification
Further ICT studies
Continuing to study ICT to GCSE:
• Provides better preparation for L3 ICT qualifications
• Content in GCSE is more widespread and goes
beyond that in FS
• Skills acquired from controlled assessment provides
good preparation for ICT work in the ‘real world’
• Level 2 FS pitches at approximately grade C – GCSE
takes students beyond that to potential A*
• Economies can be made in teaching as Functional
ICT elements embedded as 50+% within the new
GCSE ICT
Support
• Resource Zone
FREE online resources to help you plan, including
specimen assessment materials and mark
schemes www.aqa.org.uk/functional-ict
• Free Introductory meetings for teachers
• Ask AQA
24-hour support through our free online question
and answer service www.aqa.org.uk/askaqa
• Enhanced Results Analysis free online tool that
provides an instant breakdown of exam results
www.aqa.org.uk/era
Support
• E-mail updates from our Functional Skills subject
team. Register at 2010ready.aqa.org/updates
• Continuing Professional Development courses
offering you in-depth training designed to meet
your needs
• Experience drawn from the 3 years of the pilot that
can be shared with schools new to Functional Skills
(piloted by AQA with almost 15,000 candidates in
the last two years)
Contacts
• If you have questions or would like to find out
more: Subject Manager, Katie Smith
[email protected] or 0161 953 7563
• For details of teacher support meetings:
Samantha Higson, Teacher Support Manager
[email protected] or 0161 957 3925
• To view the accredited specification, assessment
materials and support resources:
http://www.aqa.org.uk/functional-ict
Why choose AQA?
Face to face support
Direct access to subject
departments and specialists
Free meetings
The largest
Awarding Body
Dedicated to
education
More
support
Size
and
status
Not for
profit
charity
A range of free resources
Investing
in
technology
Enhanced Results Analysis
Exampro, CPD
Website
Working
in
partnership
Specification
development
Examiners / moderators
Controlled Assessment
Advisers
We don’t profit from education – you do
Any questions?
Please complete and hand in your
evaluation form