English Functional Skills to have greater emphasis on grammar and spelling

The reformed English functional skills qualifications will have a greater emphasis on spelling, punctuation and grammar following feedback from an Ofqual consultation.

Functional skills qualifications (FSQs) in English and mathematics are being reformed and will be introduced for first teaching in September 2019.

Last year, Ofqual launched a consultation proposing that the weighting of spelling, punctuation and grammar be 30-35 per cent at levels 1 and 2 and 40-45 per cent at entry level. But the majority of respondents felt this didn't reflect the importance of grammar and spelling.

Ofqual has decided to keep the weightings the same as they currently are in the English functional skills paper at levels 1 and 2 (40- 45 per cent) and at 50-70 at entry level.

Ofqual has also revised its approach to monitoring of Speaking, listening and communicating assessments to focus on the assurance awarding organisations must obtain, without prescribing a particular approach to assurance.

It has also amended its proposed Conditions and guidance in a number of places to deal with concerns raised by respondents. For example it has made minor changes to its assessment criteria for Speaking, listening and communicating; and revised its proposed rules on issuing results and certificates to make its expectations clearer.

It is also revised its rules on standard setting to make them simpler and clearer, and to reflect the different information that will be available to awarding organisations at the different qualification levels.