Maths and English
Learners who have not already achieved GCSE grade C/4 (or above) in English and Maths at 16 will continue to study these subjects alongside their full-time Study Programme. Depending on the grades you achieved at school and your future destination will determine the appropriate pathway for you.
- If you don’t have a GCSE in English or have a GCSE with a grade of E/2 or lower, you will study for a qualification called Functional Skills in English (City and Guilds).
- If you don’t have a GCSE in Maths or have a GCSE with a grade of E/2 or lower, you will study for a qualification called Functional Skills in Maths (City and Guilds).
Functional Skills qualifications are recognised and valued by employers and industry and provide individuals with key skills in that subject area. Functional Skills qualifications can be studied at different levels which allows learners to progress from one level to another as they grow in confidence and expertise. At UCB, the content is designed to be both vocationally relevant and applicable to a wide range of real-life situations.
Learners with study for 2 hour per week, per qualification. This will be part of their Study Programme for that year.
- Representing – making sense of a situation and representing it mathematically.
- Analysing – processing and using maths.
- Interpreting – interpreting and communicating the results of analysis.
- Speaking and listening – making an oral presentation or report.
- Reading – reading and understanding information and instructions.
- Writing – writing accurately so that meaning is clear.
- If you have a GCSE in English with a grade of D/3, you will study for a qualification called IGCSE English (Educas).
- If you have a GCSE in Maths with a grade of D/3, you will study GCSE Mathematics (Edexcel).
- If you have a GCSE with a lower grade but you have successfully passed the Functional Levels qualification for that subject (at Level 1), you will study the GCSE programme
GCSE qualifications are academic qualifications which are usually studied as part of the National Curriculum. As such, they are recognised and valued by employers and industry and provide individuals with key skills in that subject area. At UCB, the content is designed to be both vocationally relevant and applicable to a wide range of real-life situations.
- Learners will study for 3 hours per week English and 4 hours per week Maths. The content of your individual study programme will vary depending on what you have already achieved.
It was definitely a punch in the air moment for England Youth Boxing champion and UCB student Ben “The Bomber” Vaughan when he finally passed his GCSE English.