Course Overview
Looking to explore new career paths, start a business, or enhance your Maths and English skills for daily use?
Our entry level courses are tailored to help you achieve these goals by boosting your confidence and proficiency in Maths and English.
Functional Skills English:
- Speaking, listening and communication
- Reading
- Writing
Functional Skills Maths:
- Handling information & data
- Measures, shaping & calculations
- Using numbers & the number system
- Ratio & proportions
- Algebra
- Shapes & Geometry
- Probability & Statistics
Who is the course for?
At school, most students obtain Level 2 qualifications through GCSE exams taken at the age of 16. However, there are individuals who did not achieve these qualifications at that time. This is where we can help. Our Functional Skills courses are designed for adults aged 19 and above who want to improve their Maths or English skills and gain a recognised certification. These courses are available to individuals at any point in their adult life, whether they want to change careers or return to education later, or if their job requires a specific level of Maths or English. With our Functional Skills courses, learners can obtain these qualifications whenever they wish.
Functional Skills are practical skills in English and Mathematics, that help individuals gain the most out of life, learning, and work. These qualifications are designed to equip learners with the skills required to operate confidently, effectively, and independently in education, work, and everyday life.
Entry Requirements
- Candidates must be unemployed – proof of this will be required
- Proof of address within the area postcode region is necessary
- Proof of right to work/reside in the UK
- In order to take classroom-based exams, it is necessary to be able to travel to the designated venue.
- The Candidate must have computer/internet access
- Candidates must complete an initial assessment before the beginning of the course to ensure they are on the correct level.
Other Useful Information
Why are Functional Skills Important?
- Employability: They are essential for job applications as they demonstrate to employers that you have the practical skills needed to contribute effectively in the workplace.
- Education: For students, they provide the foundation for further study and higher education.
- Everyday Life: They enhance everyday problem-solving skills, from understanding a bank statement to calculating the area of a room.
Levels of Functional Skills
- Functional Skills qualifications range from Entry Level to Level 2:
- Entry Level: Helps beginners to progress by giving them a solid base.
- Level 1: Equivalent to a GCSE grade D-G in England and Wales, and a National 4 in Scotland.
- Level 2: Equivalent to a GCSE grade A *-C in England and Wales, and a National 5 in Scotland.
Assessment Methods
Assessments are designed to be as accessible as possible, allowing learners to demonstrate skills in ways that are relevant to their own experiences.
They Include:
- Reading and Writing Tasks: For English, including comprehension and composition.
- Mathematical Problems: Practical math problems that require the application
of knowledge.
Destination Data
We will contact you at the end of your course to find out how you are getting on and ask you for details of the job you have secured. Please help us to collect this information, called Destination Data, as it is essential for us to monitor both your success and ours. Please expect a call or an email from your friendly Betaris @Gloucestershire College team. It would be great if you could let us know as soon as you get a job and email us at info.betaris@gloscol.ac.uk.
FAQs
It’s worth keeping in mind that written work is typically part of the qualification process,
with the amount of writing required increasing as you pursue higher qualifications.
This will depend on what you are restricted to do, it is a manual job where you
will be demonstrating different exercises and equipment to clients.
Once you have successfully achieved your qualification and you have received your
certificate, you will be a qualified Advanced Beauty Therapist, specialising in
massage. You can then seek employment opportunities, whether that is selfemployed
or as a PAYE member of staff.
Yes, you will receive a certificate, which may be an e-certificate. Please note that it
may take up to 12 weeks to arrive.
If your course includes any exams, it is important that you are familiar with the exam regulations and understand that they are in place to ensure valid assessment of learning. During exam times, you will not be permitted to bring any equipment or
technology into the exam room that allows you to access the internet. This includes
mobile phones, tablets, and smartwatches. We require you to arrive in advance of the exam time and ensure that you leave your equipment at the designated safe spot.
At the end of your course, you may be eligible or choose to advance onto higher
courses or additional training known as progression. Further training refers to the
ongoing process of enhancing skills, knowledge, and abilities beyond the initial training or education. If you would like to receive further information on additional courses, please email infobetaris@gloscol.ac.uk
Contact your local job centre and inform them that you will be attending one of our
courses and ask for assistance with travel and/or childcare costs.
We value all our learners and welcome all feedback, whether positive or negative. Please let us know how we did, and if there is anything we can do to improve for future learners. We are really interested in your next steps so please let us know if you progress onto another course, find employment, or do an apprenticeship.
