COMFSENGDW – Dudley Wood Neighbourhood Learning Centre 

Many adults looking to progress, academically or professionally, are now required to have a Level 2 qualification in English. Functional Skills qualifications are widely recognised by employers and institutions as a suitable alternative to the GCSE. In fact, employers were involved in the design of the reformed Functional Skills in order to address gaps in skills and knowledge needed for the workplace.

We offer classes to suit learners at Entry Level 3, Level 1 and Level 2 to achieve an English qualification that is appropriate for them.

Functional Skills is widely recognised by employers and other educational institutions. Level 2 is equivalent to GCSE Grade 4/C and meets the minimum standard of literacy required for employment.

The course will follow the Pearson (Edexcel) specification for Functional Skills at the level that is appropriate for you.

The course will be taught via one session per week by a subject specialist at Dudley Neighbourhood Learning Centre on Fridays, 12.00pm-2.00pm. Your attendance to taught sessions is expected weekly. This is not a distance learning course, and you will be expected to participate fully in all lesson activities.

You will be expected to complete regular assessments in order for us to track your progress.

The course will be assessed via written examination in December, March or June depending on your point of entry. The written exam is comprised of two components: reading and writing. Please note that we are only obliged to offer one exam entry per year and if you fail to attend an exam without good reason, we may not offer you a further opportunity.

There is also an internally assessed third component that assesses your speaking, listening and communication skills where you will be expected to complete an individual presentation in a formal style and a formal group discussion.

All written examinations will take place at our Whittingham Road campus.

In addition to taught lessons, it is expected that you will undertake up to 2 hours of independent study per week to embed the content covered in the lesson.

There are no formal entry requirements for this course and offers will be subject to initial assessment.

In addition, you will be required to complete a short initial assessment of your reading and writing skills that will take place at Dudley Wood prior to an offer being made. In addition, you will also be required to complete an online diagnostic assessment of your skills prior to your course commencing to help us identify your strengths and areas needing support.

You will need to confirm you have suitable equipment prior to the course commencing.

You will be provided with an exercise book to complete classwork in but you will be required to provide your own stationery. We suggest pens and highlighters as a minimum but you may also like to consider a pocket dictionary as well.

Any Functional Skills revision guide (for the reformed 2019 qualification) will support this course, but purchase of textbooks is not essential.

Dudley Wood Neighbourhood Learning Centre

Friday

12:00pm-2:00pm

Friday 27th January 2025

Functional Skills and GCSE English and Maths are free of charge for anyone who has not achieved a C/4 or above in those subjects.

Terri-Ann Wheeler – twheeler@halesowen.ac.uk

Laura Nixon – lnixon@halesowen.ac.uk

Part Time Admissions on 0121 602 7888