Why choose us for Functional Skills?

Our Functional Skills offer provides flexible English and Maths qualifications equivalent to GCSEs.

We offer:

Functional Skills English

Entry Levels 1–3
Level 1
Level 2

Functional Skills Maths

Entry Levels 1–3
Level 1
Level 2

See all our Functional Skills qualifications

From initial assessment and diagnostics through to results within six working days, we provide the complete English and maths package from onboarding to certification.

We are committed to helping learners build the essential English and maths skills they need to succeed. Our qualifications build confidence, support progression into employment and further study, and enable learners to apply their skills in real-world contexts.

Our Functional Skills qualifications are suitable for a wide range of learners and are aligned with Department for Education (DfE) requirements.

For more information on how we can support you with your Functional Skills delivery, enter your details into the form and a member of our team will be in touch.

Now available: new Functional Skills assessments

Following valuable feedback and a thorough review of our English and maths qualifications, our new assessments, resources and past papers are now available.

The three key changes we’ve made to our new assessments

We’ve made our assessments more accessible, helping learners complete them with confidence and clearly demonstrate their knowledge.
Our new assessments are clearer and more reflective of learner skills. They include updated question formats, improved assessment of key reading and writing skills, extended time for writing tasks, and new mark schemes to support teaching and learning.
We’ve also expanded our support offer to help you deliver these assessments. This includes training and events, sample and practice assessments, comprehensive teaching and learning resources for all levels, and ongoing guidance from our specialist support teams.

For more information on how our new assessments can support your delivery of English and maths, enter your details into the form. A member of our team will be in touch.

An end-to-end Functional Skills offer shaped by providers:

flexible assessments, including online, paper‑based and remote invigilation
initial assessment using our market‑leading One Assessment tool, which identifies a learner’s English and maths level in a single 30‑minute assessment
dedicated support, including onboarding, curriculum support, continuing professional development sessions, webinars and events led by English and maths specialists
high‑quality resources, including schemes of work, session plans, PowerPoints, videos and individual skills plans
quick turnaround times, with assessment results issued within six working days.

Contact a member of our team to find out more about our Functional Skills qualifications:

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English

Maths

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Yes

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Skills Builder

Skills Builder is a comprehensive initial assessment and diagnostic solution that can support your Functional Skills delivery. The assessment will determine your learners’ current level in Functional Skills and GCSE English and maths. Discover our market-leading assessment tool.

Discover Skills Builder

2024/25 Functional Skills pass rates at a glance

The 2024/25 academic year was shaped by major changes to Functional Skills, including the February 2025 reforms. These removed mandatory English and maths requirements for adult apprentices. This shift reduced assessment volumes across the sector, but learner performance remained strong.

Pass rates have improved across every subject compared to 2023/24, with notable gains in Level 1 Reading (+6%) and Level 2 Maths (+4%). Online assessments continued to outperform paper-based formats, supporting accessibility for a growing number of learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (LLDD).

You want to be a hairdresser? If a train travels at an average speed of 60 miles per hour...

With English and maths being talked about more than ever before, David Redden, Functional Skills specialist at the awarding organisation NCFE, outlines the challenges facing both learners and educators, and discusses what needs to be done to change the status quo.

Story-based Functional Skills pilot could help vulnerable young people write a new chapter in their lives

A pilot by The Really NEET Project has investigated the impact of interactive, story-based assessment on vulnerable groups and found the method can improve engagement, motivation, and outcomes in Functional Skills.

Why even movie stars need maths

David Redden, Product Manager at NCFE, explains why having a spotlight on maths can be an opportunity to ensure people are equipped with the essential skills they need to thrive.

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