Functional Skills Maths Course Outline
Foundation Level 1
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Study Maths
This course will enable students to use Maths in many everyday and work related situations. Students will first take Entry Level 3, which will then lead onto Level 1.
The course builds on students’ knowledge of using numbers and the number system to include fractions, decimals and percentages, the use of common measures, shape and space and handling information and data. Students will work together with their teacher to assess where they feel confident and where they need support. The tests can be taken any time online, so students can cover what they need and take the test when their teacher feels that they are ready.
Anybody with a grade 1 or below in Maths at St Charles will automatically be enrolled onto Functional Skills. It is a government requirement that anybody without a grade 4, who is in full-time education, must be working on a Maths qualification.
You will have 3 lessons per week. In which you will be learning practical Maths skills. You will complete an induction booklet and 2 topic related booklets in preparation for your Entry 3/ level 1 test. At the end of each topic you will have an assessment.
You will encounter a variety of approaches to help you learn, including:
Class discussion, group and pair work, teacher presentation of key concepts, and individual feedback from your teacher.
Your teacher will check your work every lesson and give you feedback in order to help you improve.
You will sit your Entry Level 3 in December (on paper), and your level 1 online test when ready. However, as stated above there is flexibility around when you sit the exams, and you can sit them more than once.
Board: Edexcel/Pearson
Entry 3 Test: Non-Calculator – 25 Minutes (on paper)
Calculator – 75 Minutes (on paper)
Level 1 Test: Non-Calculator – 25 Minutes (online)
Calculator – 90 Minutes (online)
After passing Level 1, students can re-take GCSE the following year. Many employers, professional bodies and higher education institutes demand a grade 4 or above in mathematics as part of their entry requirements.
"The teachers are really supportive and really want you to do well."
"Doing this course at St. Charles helped me to feel more ready to take on the GCSE Maths Course ."
Once enrolled onto this course, you will have full access to relevant resources on the college’s Moodle website.
The Functional Skills team consists of highly qualified and very experienced teachers: Ms Cotter (MCO) and Ms Lancaster (ELA), and Mr Gyakyi (CGY) and from time to time other members of the team.
Contact: Ms Cotter on MCO@stcharles.ac.uk (FS Subject Lead) if you require more information.
