Functional Skills

Functional Skills

In February 2025, the Department of Education announced a policy change for functional skills qualifications and apprenticeships. Under the new rules, the requirement for Maths and English functional skills qualifications for apprentices aged 19+ will now be determined by the apprentice’s employer. The new rules state that the study of functional skills qualifications is now optional and in the gift of the employer to decide for apprenticeships.  

Apprentices aged 16-18 will still be required to secure up to a Level 2 functional skills qualifications or equivalent in English and Maths,  if they do not already hold them. 

For some higher level apprenticeship i.e. Nursing, Functional Skills remains a requirement so please contact us should you have any concerns.

For apprentices, during the enrolment stage, you will be required to complete a short Maths and English Initial Assessment. This is for everyone, regardless of whether you have your Maths and English qualifications or not. It is not a test, but a way of assessing your working knowledge, so we know how to best support you throughout your apprenticeship.

If you are not an apprentice but wish do develop your Functional Skills English and Maths, we have courses available with external training providers that, with the agreement of your manager, you can be referred to. Please contact Karen for more information.

If you have any further questions about Functional Skills, please contact Karen.Bishop@hhft.nhs.uk