Hip Hip HURWA!
(How to uncover reading, writing and
arithmatic)
WEA North West
Aims of the Workshop
 To consider the importance of including the
development of functional skills in our
courses.
 To recognise how functional skills are covertly
included in WEA courses across the wider
curriculum.
• To produce some functional skills learning
outcomes for your subject area.
What are Functional Skills?
 Functional skills are the essential English,
mathematics and ICT skills that will enable
learners to deal with everyday situations and
practical problems in education, in work and in
their everyday lives.
 Functional skills qualifications assess the
practical application of knowledge, skills and
understanding when using English, mathematics
and ICT in everyday life and work.
How do we teach Functional Skills?
 Functional Skills has replaced the Key Skills
qualifications (i.e. Communication, Application
of Number and ICT) and SfL adult literacy and
numeracy qualifications at levels Entry 1 to
level 2.
 Functional Skills is taught mainly through
straight English and Maths courses and may
also be embedded or contextualised within
other subjects.
What is different about Functional
Skills?
 Focus on skill rather than subject and doing
rather than theoretical study or recall.
 For courses within the wider curriculum this
involves embedding activities and learning
outcomes that aim to develop practical and
transferable skills.
Discussion
1. What is the impact of poor Functional Skills
for students attending your courses?
2. How do you consider you are supporting the
development of Functional Skills for students
attending your courses?
Activity 1 - What skills to develop
• In pairs or small groups consider the range of
activities that may be embedded into a course
with the aim of developing the following skills:
–Reading
–Writing
–Speaking and Listening
–Maths
Reading
Writing
Speaking &
Listening
Maths
Research
List
Presentation
Analyse
Skimming/scanning
Record
Discussion
Select
Role Play
Estimate
Communicate
Calculate
Describe
Interpret
Investigate
Measure
Activity 2 – Learning Outcomes
• Using the list of skills identified in activity 1, in
small groups identify at least 3 ‘functional’
learning outcomes that you could include on
your course.
Please note, the intention is not to highjack your
course/subject with functional skills but to tease
out the range of skills that you are likely already
to be supporting.