All students will undertake a baseline assessment each September to assess their levels of literacy and gaps in their understanding and skills. All students will have the opportunity to study for a Functional Skills Qualification in English at Entry 3-level 2. Level 2 is equivalent to a GCSE grade 4 pass.
English Functional Skills Qualifications provide students with the fundamental skills to use the English language in personal and professional situations. To gain the English Functional Skills qualification, learners must pass the following assessments:
• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking and listening
The curriculum includes reading and writing emails, letters, reports and briefing notes, articles and webpages. Students will also take part in discussions and learn how to create and deliver a presentation, slowly building up to this through manageable bitesize opportunities to share ideas, listen to the views of others and answer questions, until they are confident and skilled in doing so for an assessment.
Reading at the Heart of Our Curriculum
At our College, we believe that reading is the key to unlocking learning and opportunity.
It sits at the heart of everything we do – not only as a vital academic skill, but as a bridge to independence, confidence, and self-expression.
We recognise that for many of our young people, reading can present unique challenges.
That’s why our curriculum is designed to make reading accessible, purposeful, and inclusive for every student.
Through personalised support, structured interventions, and the use of assistive technology such as reading pens and exam readers, we ensure all students can access and engage fully with their learning.
We are currently in Phase One of our Reading Development Journey.
During this phase, we are assessing all learners where appropriate using evidence-informed platforms to identify specific reading strengths and areas for development.
This data will enable us to plan targeted interventions, provide bespoke support, and ensure every young person receives the help they need to thrive; both in lessons and during their courses.
Embedding reading across all subjects enables our young people to develop essential comprehension and vocabulary skills, build resilience, and strengthen their ability to process and retain new information.
This not only enhances day-to-day learning but also supports preparation for further study and training as well as life beyond college.
