Functional Skills English (Workshop) 2024-25

Functional Skills courses are designed to develop practical skills that will help you in life and the workplace. The course is designed to help you progress at your own pace and develop your confidence in using a wide variety of skills. They allow you to independently develop employability skills in a positive and supportive environment. We offer a range of sessions throughout the week at different locations and are committed to helping our students achieve their goals.

You will study Functional Skills English which includes practical development of spelling, punctuation and grammar skills alongside your presentation skills through speaking and listening assessment.

Achieving a Functional Skills qualification is a stepping stone into many types of education and employment. Many universities require you to have at least a Functional Skills Level 2 qualification to be accepted onto a graduate course. Similarly many employers now require you to have some level of English qualification to demonstrate you have the necessary reading, writing and communication skills needed in the work place.

After successfully completing the appropriate level you can progress onto the next level. You can also progress onto GCSE English after achieving Functional Skills Level 2.

You do not need to hold any previous qualifications for this course, however you cannot study this programme if you already have a level 2 qualification in English. At enrolment you will be diagnostically assessed to see which level of Functional Skills it is most appropriate for you to start with.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

Formal assessment will include online/paper based exams and a speaking and listening assessment. These will take place at East Durham College but can be held at either our Willerby Grove or Houghall campus.

We have various start dates throughout the year. Contact us for the next start date.

We offer weekly sessions, both during the day and in the evening. Sessions are two hours long. We have classes at both our Willerby Grove and Houghall campuses as well as delivering the courses in the community. If you are unable to attend classes on a regular basis ask us about the option to study through distance learning (Level 2 only).