Key Skills will be extended until March 2011 for use in Apprenticeship Frameworks, following the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning’s announcement on July 14. This means learning providers can offer a choice between either Functional Skills or Key Skills until 31 March 2011.  

The Minister, John Hayes, stressed that this is a temporary measure to allow more flexibility for providers whilst they finalise their preparations for delivery of Functional Skills from April 2011, when the new Apprenticeship Frameworks are due to come into force.  Providers who are ready to deliver Functional Skills from September 2010 can go ahead, as this is not a postponement of Functional Skills but rather a period of dual running alongside Key Skills. 

Please note this extension does not apply to Wales.

In Wales, the position regarding the final dates for Key Skills in Apprenticeship Frameworks remains as follows:

· The last date for the registration of candidates on to Key Skills qualifications is on/before the 31st August 2010

· Candidates undertaking Key Skills must complete their Key Skills qualifications before the 31st August 2011

Post 19 – Wider Key Skills Funding

Funding for Wider Key Skills (Performance and Problem Solving, Working with Others and Improving Own Learning) has been extended from September 2010 to December 2010, as agreed between BIS and the Skills Funding Agency. 

Further information about these announcements can be found on the BIS website.

If you have any queries about Functional Skills or would like to know more about OCR’s offering please seewww.teachfs.co.uk, or call the Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.  Alternatively you can register for training on delivering Functional Skills via Eventbooker.

If you have any queries about Functional Skills or Key Skills, provision, or would like to know more about OCR’s offering please see our Functional Skills and Key Skills webpages, or call the Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.