Functional skills in subjects

© Crown copyright 201000229-2010PPT-EN-01

Functional skills in subjects

© Crown copyright 2010

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Aims of the session

• Outline the aims and objectives of the project• Describe the content, structure and principles of

the Functional skills in subjects booklets• Consider ways to use the booklets• Confirm some key features of functional skills

pedagogy and leadership


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Aim and objectives of project

Aim• Help all schools to implement functional skills

across the curriculum

Objectives• Show how functional skills can be applied and

developed in other subjects or contexts• Support subject teachers to amend and adapt

the featured plans, or their own, to suit their learners and circumstances


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The Functional skills in subjects series• 11 booklets in two ‘batches’• 28 pages each• 3,000 copies each (one per school)• Also available for download as PDFs• Batch 1: history, modern foreign languages, religious

education, geography, citizenship and music – available February 2010

• Batch 2: science, design and technology, art and design, PE and PSHE education – available March 2010

• The main audience will comprise: subject teachers, and senior and middle leaders in schools

• The focus on applied learning is relevant to teachers across the curriculum


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What must the booklets provide?

• A process for planning and collaboration to implement functional skills across the foundation subjects

• Models of curriculum organisation for functional skills in subjects

• Support for teaching and learning through practical examples of planned activities

• Principles and approaches for implementing functional skills across the whole school


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The writing process

• Subject specialists (who provided guidance for the new secondary curriculum)

• functional skills advisers• Development over six months• Balancing needs of the subject and functional

skills


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How is each booklet structured?• Complements the approach for Functional Skills in

Diplomas (LSIS)• Title page ‘Developing Functional Skills in…’• Two page spread outlining the role of functional skills

within the given subject area• One page diagram outlining the learning and teaching

process• Two multi-page spreads of Key Stage 3 subject schemes

of work• A multi-page spread of a Key Stage 4 subject scheme of

work• One page diagram covering how to plan a subject

teaching sequence that includes functional skills• One page containing some useful functional skills

resources


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Planning a learning sequence• Identify:

– the skills that learners will build – the skills that learners will apply – a learning context– what learners already know – the level of demand that is required – which skills are transferable

• Construct an appropriate learning sequence


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Principles for planning

• Progression to independence is the ultimate goal of functional skills

• Problem solving needs to be at the core of planning for functional skills

• The process for teaching and learning will involve building, applying and securing skills

• Realistic, purposeful, relevant contexts are essential for engagement and applied learning


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Developing functional skills diagram


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Sample booklet covers


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Key points

• The booklets are starting points for action, not finished solutions

• They are offered for adaptation• Subject teachers can use their own plans if they

wish• The booklets have implications for time,

collaborative working and curriculum organisation


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Tasks

• Familiarise yourself with the booklets. Ensure you consider the introduction as well as the planning examples

• Identify three key issues and/or features to emphasise in mediating the booklets to practitioners

• How might the booklets best support leaders and teachers to implement functional skills across the curriculum? Identify three practical ideas or approaches


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Possible sections of an INSET day

• Overview of functional skills• functional skills in subjects booklets• Work in subject departments• Plenary review


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Support for functional skillsFunctional Skills Support Programme (FSSP) www.fssupport.orgNational Strategies e-learning moduleswww.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies(Introduction to Functional Skills)DCSF 14–19 www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/QCDA functional skillswww.qcda.gov.uk/6062.aspxLSIS Excellence Gatewaywww.excellencegateway.org.uk/functionalskills Diploma Support Programmewww.diploma-support.org


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Queries

• National Strategies contacts: Lucy Roff, Oona Butler

• Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

• Telephone: 0118 918 2820 or 0118 918 2830


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© Crown copyright 201000229-2010PPT-EN-01

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Documents

Functional skills in subjects