Key Skills

"Core" Skills are currently very high on the UK Government's agenda for lifelong learning and education. This increased focus has led to improvements in content and delivery of training to ensure that qualifications continue to meet the needs of candidates and employers in a changing workplace. Key Skills are a fundamental part of the range of Core Skills accepted as being required for modern living.

Key skills are for everyone, from learners in the workplace to chief executives in large companies. They are the skills regarded as being the most commonly needed for success in education, training, work and life in general.

The six key skills qualifications are:

• Application of Number
• Communication
• Improving own Learning and Performance
• Information and Communication Technology
• Problem Solving
• Working With Others

BENEFITS
In developing key skills, people improve the quality of their learning as well as their ability to perform and earn better at their work.

APPLICATIONS
The key skills represent the transferable skills considered to be those most commonly needed for success in almost every aspect of work, learning and life. In England, Wales and (in some cases) Northern Ireland, the six key skills qualifications recognise and accredit learners' ability to apply these skills in real situations.

Key Skills form an essential component of the new, national Engineering Apprenticeship programmes.

Key skills can be assessed and achieved as stand-alone qualifications for individual improvement in any situation. Delivery may more commonly form part of a broader learning programme as a fundamental step to being able to achieve a separate level 2 qualification.

The range of six separate topics are listed below. They are all available at 4 levels of qualification. They are described below in broad outline only.

Courses Available

• Application of Numbers - Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
• Communication -Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
• Improving Own Learning and Performance - Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
• Information Technology - Levels 1 - 4
• Problem Solving - Levels 1 - 4
• Working with Others - Levels 1 - 4

General Description of all the KEY SKILLS Courses

WHO ARE THEY FOR? The Key Skills courses are for anyone who wishes to improve their own personal skills capabilities.

They form an essential part of the current Engineering Apprenticeship programme.

AIMS OF THE COURSES
The courses are designed to help people to develop their various life skills, to enable them to play a fuller part in modern life, at work, socially and domestically. In particular, they can assist a person in reaching the stage of being able to undertake a Level 2 work-based qualification.

FORMAT OF THE COURSES
The courses exist in 6 distinct subjects and range over the levels 1 to 4. They can be pursued separately to any level. They each follow the same format:

The courses require participants to demonstrate their capability at performing everyday activities. The course requirements consist of two sections:

• Section A identifies the knowledge and techniques which are associated with each Key Skill at the particular level required.
• Section B describes the evidence which must be produced in order to demonstrate the correct application of the Key Skill. Written evidence is collated into a "Portfolio" for assessment purposes. Further evidence is gained from separate tests which are also required to be completed.

ASSESSMENT
All six Key Skills at all 4 levels of skill are assessed in the workplace. The various levels are described as follows:

Level 1 helps candidates to develop the basic skills that are important for key skills competence and recognises their ability to apply these skills in meeting given purposes within routine situations. The required tests at this level consist of 40 multiple-choice questions.

Level 2 builds on Level 1 by requiring candidates to extend their basic skills. It recognises their ability to take responsibility for some decisions about how they select and apply these skills to meet the demands of largely straightforward tasks. The required tests at this level consist of 40 multiple-choice questions.

Level 3 marks a shift from straightforward tasks to being capable of responding to the demands of more complex activities. Candidates need to demonstrate more explicit reasoning ability and personal responsibility in making decisions about how tasks are organised. The required tests at this level consist of short- and extended-answer questions.

Level 4 requires candidates to develop and apply their skills for different purposes and situations over an extended period of time. The required tests at this level consist of short- and extended-answer questions.

QUALIFICATIONS GAINED

• Key Skills Award: Application of Numbers - Level 1, 2, 3 or 4
• Key Skills Award: Communication -Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4
• Key Skills Award: Improving Own Learning and Performance - Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4
• Key Skills Award: Information Technology - Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4
• Key Skills Award: Problem Solving - Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4
• Key Skills Award: Working with Others - Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4

AWARDING BODY: The City and Guilds of London Institute or Skills Assurance Services Limited

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
There are no formal entry restrictions. Candidates must demonstrate their current skill levels with evidence of previous qualifications attained or complete a short, computer-based test.

FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, Course Fees and to enrol contact us

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