![A chart showing the functional skills pass rates for 21-22](/media/xfdnoe2x/fs-pr-1.png?width=572&height=382&mode=max)
When we break down the first-time pass rate by provider types, Private Training Providers (PTP) have continued to outperform the other types. As with last year, a lot of learners within PTP are on apprenticeship programmes where English and maths is mandatory, which means that there is financial and employment motivations for the learners to achieve.
The PTP sector is the biggest by far, so our FE College and Schools sector have a smaller sample of assessments – meaning they are more likely to be affected by a large individual cohort performing poorly.
Due to the condition of funding, 16 to 19-year-olds at FE Colleges with a Grade 3 are required to complete GCSE resits, which means the learners who sit Functional Skills are those learners who came out with Grade 1 and 2 at GCSE. The switch from GCSE to Functional Skills can be a challenge, particularly with the large percentage of problem solving in the Functional Skills assessments.
Most of our school sector running Functional Skills are largely alternative provision providers who work hard with learners placed outside of mainstream learning. These learners have struggled with loss of learning during the pandemic, and lack of exam experience will add further anxiety to a challenging learning path.
The ‘Others’ sector features charities, local authorities and adult/community learning that produced a bigger sample size and a more mature learner age group. The pass rate was largely in line with the overall picture for English and ICT.