If the learner fails the functional skills assessment does that mean they cannot get the associated GCSE?
A. No, at the moment passing functional skills assessments will not be a requirement for achieving A*-C in the associated GCSE. But the issue is not closed. We will continue to work with Ofqual and others on ways to further improve the assessment of functional skills in the GCSE so that we can, in future, have a reliable, more integrated, approach to assessing what every child can do. This will include looking at whether some manner of “hurdle” can in practice fit within the GCSE route. As part of this work, we will carry out an evaluation amongst young people taking the new GCSEs in 2012 to test whether successful candidates at grade A*-C also attain level 2 functional skills in the stand alone test.
