With our professional team of expert tutors and high success rates, you will be fully equipped to develop your maths skills.
Uniquely flexible, this online course is designed to fit learning around your busy life, even if you are working full-time or caring for family.
Functional Skills qualifications act as the building blocks to your future, they are available at five levels, from Entry 1 to Level 2 and are recognised by employers. Being highly fundamental, these can be used to progress onto other qualifications, like GCSEs. Functional Skills Level 2 is equivalent to a Grade 4 (C) at GCSE and is accepted by some universities.
Are you wondering what the difference is between Functional Skills and GCSEs?
Both qualifications are suitable for anyone who does not have an GCSE Grade 4 (C) qualification and would like to update their skills.
If you have not studied for some time and want to improve your confidence, Functional Skills qualifications can be a useful starting point for GCSEs, because they involve fewer hours of study and can be completed quicker.
Available start dates and hours:
- Online Standard 20/02/2023 to 14/07/2023
- Online Fast-track 17/04/2023 to 14/07/2023
Standard: You will receive one, two-hour online lesson with your tutor every week, for a period of 18 weeks. Morning sessions run from 9:30 to 11:30am, while evening sessions run from 6:30-8:30pm. The day you attend will depend upon your level.
Fast-track: You will receive one, three-hour online lesson with your tutor every week, for a period of 12 weeks. Morning sessions run from 9:00am to 12pm, with evening sessions running from 6:00-9:00pm. The day you attend will depend upon your level.
What you'll learn
Improving your maths skills can give you the confidence to help you reach your individual goals, whether it be helping your children with their homework, progressing in your job role, or gaining further qualifications.
Functional Skills Maths qualifications focus on the practical application of maths in real-life situations, covering topics, including:
- whole numbers
- fractions
- decimals
- percentages
- calculating perimeter, area and volume
- extracting information from graphs and charts
How you'll learn and be assessed
To access the lessons, you will need access to a digital device, such as a computer, laptop or tablet, as your lessons will be delivered via Microsoft Teams or Zoom by one of our friendly, professional tutors.
You will be given access to Century Tech, an award-winning learning platform that will support you in developing your skills at your own pace!
When will I study?
Our courses take place in the daytime and in the evening and are designed to fit in with work or family commitments.
How long does it take?
Our two different course durations depend upon how quickly you need to achieve your qualification, including:
Standard: You will receive one, two-hour online lesson with your tutor every week, for a period of 18 weeks.
Fast-track: You will receive one, three-hour online lesson with your tutor every week, for a period of 12 weeks.
For both types of course, in addition to your weekly online lessons, you will be expected to allocate two to three hours per week for homework.
How will I be assessed?
At the end of your course, you will take a Pearson accredited exam at your closest Activate Learning college campus:
- Oxfordshire: City of Oxford College, Banbury and Bicester College
- Berkshire: Reading College, Bracknell and Wokingham College
- Surrey: Guildford College, Farnham College, and Merrist Wood College
Progression
Depending upon your starting level, you can progress to the next level of Functional Skills or GCSE Maths. Functional Skills Maths Level 2 can be used as a stepping stone to higher education.
Entry requirements
Before joining a Functional Skills Maths online course, you will need to take a short assessment so that we can ensure that you are on the right course to meet your needs.
Functional Skills courses are government-funded and free-of-charge, as long as you meet our eligibility requirements. These will be shared with you when you apply for the course.
