Two students working together in the library.

Functional Skills: our free courses in Maths and English

Intro

Not having the minimum requirements in Maths and English can be a frustrating barrier to achieving your ambitions. But here’s where we can help.

Main body

Three students studying and sat down at desks in front of each other in The Callaghan Library.

Our Functional Skills Level 2 courses in Maths and English give you the equivalent of a grade C /4 at GCSE and can help open doors to new career possibilities. We offer free Level 1 courses too if you need to build up to Level 2. 

And best of all – they’re completely free! You won’t have to pay a thing*. 

So, whether you’re returning to work after a break, trying to secure a promotion, or looking to study a degree at university – Functional Skills in Maths and English can help you to stand out from the crowd. 

Our courses are delivered face-to-face and include 60 hours of live classes. Each course lasts approximately 12 weeks, and courses take place regularly throughout the year. At the end of the course, there is an in-person exam. We require full attendance at our courses to ensure you are fully prepared to pass the exam.

Three students studying together at a desk and smiling.

Interested in our free Maths and English courses? Here’s what to do next:

  1. Check you meet the courses’ eligibility requirements.  
  1. Register your interest by emailing short.courses@ruskin.ac.uk
  1. Once you have registered your interest, we will be in touch to invite you to come in and complete a pre-assessment so that we can recommend which course level would be right for you. 
  2. Apply via our Functional Skills registration form.

It's that simple!

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Eligibility requirements 

To be eligible for our free Functional Skills courses, you need to:

  • Have been aged 19 or above on 31 August 2024 
  • Live in Oxfordshire 
  • Be a citizen of the UK or an EEA (European Economic Area) country, or have permission granted by the UK government to live in the UK, which is not for educational purposes. 
  • Have permission to live in the UK for at least 12 months from the first day of your course. 
  • Not currently be undertaking an apprenticeship with UWL or any other provider.

If you have any questions, please email: Alison.curry@ruskin.ac.uk 

  • *Terms and Conditions

    Applicants must meet our eligibility requirements to be accepted onto our free Functional Skills courses. Applicants may be asked to complete a free lower level Functional Skills course before completing Level 2. This will be based on the outcomes of a short pre-assessment to establish current working levels. 

Frequently ask questions

What are Functional Skills?

  • What are Functional Skills qualifications?

    Functional Skills are widely recognised qualifications, which aim to equip learners with the essential skills needed for work, further education and day-to-day life. Achieving a Functional Skills qualification can be a great way to build confidence and take the next step in your career or further education.

  • What are the Functional Skills levels?

    Functional Skills levels range from:

    • Pre-Entry (beginner level)
    • Entry Level 1
    • Entry Level 2
    • Entry Level 3
    • Level 1
    • Level 2 (highest level – equivalent to GCSE grade C/4)

     At Ruskin College, we offer courses at the Entry level, Level 1 and Level 2. 

  • Are these beginner courses in maths and English?

    No – Level 1 and Level 2 courses are not beginner level. Level 1 and Level 2 are the highest level of Functional Skills, and Level 2 is equivalent to GCSE grade C/4.

    If you have limited English or Maths knowledge, you may wish to first consider taking an entry Level or ESOL course with another provider to build your skills. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this further.

Pre-Assessment 

  • Do I need to attend a pre-assessment?

    Yes – the in-person pre-assessment is mandatory as it is part of the funding requirements for the courses. Based on your pre-assessment result, we will establish your current working level and which course level would be appropriate for you to join.  This must take place at Ruskin College. 

  • I already have a level 1 certificate. Can I go straight to level 2?

    No – If you have previously completed a level 1 course and have a certificate, you will still need to complete a pre-assessment to show that you are ready to take a level 2 course.

Our courses and how they work 

  • Are the courses/exams free?

    Yes – Ruskin College’s Functional Skills courses and exams are funded by the Adult Education Budget so there is no cost for eligible learners who take our courses.

  • When do classes take place?

    Each course consists of 60-hours of live classes. We offer a variety of timetables throughout the year.

  • Can I just take the exam, or must I take the course first?

    Everyone is required to take the full course first as part of the funding rules and to ensure they are fully prepared for the exam.

  • Do I need to attend all of the classes?

    Yes – 100% attendance is required for all classes on our courses. Our courses only last around 12 weeks, rather than the standard 6 months to a year it can take to complete a course with other providers. This means we require your full attendance to ensure you are ready for the final exam. If a learner misses classes, they may be withdrawn from the course.

Results and Exams 
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