Contextual Resources

Functional Skills Level 2 (and T Level General English Competencies) writing tasks consisting of writing a report and a letter to apply for a job (both based on the current Covid-19 crisis).

A worksheet designed for motor vehicle students studying Functional Skills level 1/2. A spreadsheet activity encouraging them to look up on the internet cost of essential tools they need and then display this in an Excel Spreadsheet. Can be adapted to other industries.

Covers:

• formula
• average
• formatting
• % discount
• adding charts

Editor's note (19/3/2020): answer sheet now available (contributors only)

Based on a text about the annual St Patrick's Parade in London. Aimed at L1 /L2 Reformed Functional Skills learners but also includes some Entry Level questions. Unlike formal assessment papers, questions are arranged by topic so that teachers can pick and choose the subjects they want to focus on. Includes: 

This resource covers all the Functional Skills content descriptors relating to ratio and proportion. It was written with mixed L1-L2 classes in mind. I wanted to experiment with inverse proportion questions (a new topic in Reformed Functional Maths) but wanted to build up to them gradually. The questions are contextualised and problem based, with no underpinning taught, so learners will need an introduction to ratios (or a refresher) beforehand. Ratios, direct and inverse proportion are covered.

Covers all reformed Functional Skills  content descriptors relating to position and direction (from E1 to L1). Written with mixed-level classes in mind. Positional vocabulary; cardinal and intercardinal compass points; turns (e.g. quarter turns) and bearings are all covered in this set of graduated HS2 (high speed railway) themed problems. Problems are interspersed with context-free underpinning questions, examples and tips.

A topical resource that requires students to interpret a news infographic and calculate the difference between two times. There is also a second question for Level 2 learners on Speed, Distance, Time. As well as enabling students to practise time calculations it can lead to discussion about this controversial rail project.

Editor's notes

Really topical and interesting. With curriculum mapping. No answer sheet.

This is a speaking and listening activity written in the style of the NCFE reformed Functional Skills assessment.  It is based on the 'Happy News: It's not all bad' reading resource previously published on skillsworkshop. Three task are covered: presentation (talk), Q&A session and a formal discussion. 

Editor's notes

A set of Entry Level tasks - all based on a vending machine. The main focus is money but positional vocabulary is also covered. Skills covered include: recognising letters and numbers for items in a vending machine, identifying coins to pay with, working out change from £1,  checking answers, rounding and estimating, distinguishing between right and left.

Editor's note

A delightfully functional resource. With teaching notes. Fully mapped to the Reformed Functional Skills content.

A reading comprehension based on articles taken from Emily Coxhead's The Happy News.  This publication is to "celebrate all that's good in the world" and so it seemed a good time at the start of the year to have the opportunity to talk about the positives, rather than negatives, around us. Questions cover many aspects or the new reformed L1-2 curriculum including: main points & detail, textual and organisation features, interpreting punctuation and understanding vocabulary. I am also planning to use this as the basis of a speaking and listening discussion.

Specifically written to focus only on comparing and contrasting texts (now expected at Level 1 and Level 2).  This set of  graduated questions uses texts from "Six Texts about TV Licences" (available separately on skillsworkshop) and encourages learners to compare content, format, purpose and language of texts based on similar topics.