English Skills - Print version

How improving your English could help

• Improve your self confidence
• Improve everyday interactions
• Secure a place in further education
• Secure a job
• Secure a promotion
• Help you read notes from your children’s school
• Allow you to support your children with their homework

GCSE or Functional Skills – What is the difference?

We offer a choice of GCSE or Functional Skills in English. Which one is right for you?

The GCSE exams are better known, so if you need an English qualification to help you get a job this is the best option in the long run. There are several reasons why you might prefer to start with functional skills:

• Functional Skills Level 2 is counted as equivalent to GCSE grade 4. This is a high enough level for many jobs.
• If you need a qualification quickly, we can enter you for functional skills as soon as you are ready. You can only sit GCSE once a year when the schools do them. This is around late May and early June.
• Functional Skills has more levels, so if you are not ready for GCSE you can work your way up by doing Functional Skills exams.
• You must pass an assessment to do GCSE with us. Functional Skills is open to everyone.
• Functional Skills focuses on more everyday English. GCSE is more theoretical.

Functional Skills English classes

Functional Skills courses and qualifications focus on the English skills you need to carry out tasks for life and work, e.g. letter writing, giving a short talk or understanding and comparing information from different pieces of writing.

Qualifications are available across five levels: Entry 1, 2, 3 and Level 1 and 2. To pass a Functional Skills qualification you will have an assessment in Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening.

Functional Skills level 2 is often taken as an equivalent qualification to GCSE.

Course costs

Functional Skills maths courses are free, as long as you meet the grant eligibility criteria [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/adult-education/eligibility-courses-fees/2].

Course location

Throughout the pandemic, our online courses were very popular: we will be continuing to offer online courses across the week using Microsoft Teams.

There will be face-to-face classes in the following venues:

• Adult Education Centre, Telfer Road
• Bell Green Library
• Broad Street Centre
• Cheylesmore Community Centre
• Foleshill Women’s Training Centre
• Muslim Resource Centre
• Salvation Army
• Southfields Old School
• Stoke Aldermoor Adult Learning
• Tile Hill Library
• Willenhall Education Employment and Training Centre
• Job Shop

Sign up for a course

You can book a place on an enrolment session [http://coventry.council.bookingbug.com/home/37022-AES-Pre-Course-Assessment-Live]. This will ask you to choose the venue where you would like your appointment and then ask you to choose the day and time that suits you.

If you don’t feel able to apply online, please ring our Learner Services team on 024 7697 5200.

ID needed to enrol

You will need to prove your identity and that you meet the grant eligibility criteria [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/adult-education/eligibility-courses-fees/2]. To do this we need to see some ID

• If you were born in the UK please bring your birth certificate, driving licence or passport.
• If you are an EU citizen please bring your passport/ID card and a share code generated within the last 90 days.
• Otherwise, please bring your resident's permit, passport with visa or whatever documentation you have that shows your resident status.
• We will also need your National Insurance Number.

About the assessment

Online and Face-to-Face: You should allow up to two hours in order to complete a full assessment and receive advice and guidance on the best course for you.

At the assessment, we will answer any questions you might have, find out what level of English you are starting from and then find a class that meets your needs.

Course dates

We run classes during the school term times.

Classes are one session per week at the following times (no evening classes on Friday):

• Morning classes are from 9.15am until 11.45am
• Afternoon classes are from 12:30pm until 3pm
• Evening classes are from 6:30pm until 9pm (6pm - 8.30pm or 6.15pm – 8.45pm in some venues)

Entry requirements

If you struggle with spelling or reading and writing, we can help you. We welcome absolute beginners up to pre-GCSE level

If English is not your first language, we can help you gain a qualification but you will need to show that you have basic English reading and writing skills. There are no other formal entry requirements.

Qualifications

Qualifications are available across five levels: Entry 1, 2, 3 and Level 1 and 2. To pass a Functional Skills qualification you will have an assessment in Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening.

Functional Skills level 2 is often taken as an equivalent qualification to GCSE.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

The Language Skills Team offer ESOL classes - which are courses for people who speak little or no English. Please see their webpage for more information or phone on 024 7683 2100 or email esolclasses@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:esolclasses@coventry.gov.uk].

GCSE English classes

Note - our GCSE English classes are all now full, but if you require further information or need the qualification for University contact us via email on AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk]

GCSE English includes developing your writing skills and language analysis of 19th, 20th and 21st Century texts.

Courses are delivered through single 2 1/2 hour classes and up to 5 hours of home study per week. Optional supplementary classes and tutorials will also be offered.

GCSE classes will start the week beginning Monday 16 September.

The exam dates are Friday 23 May and Friday 6 June

Course costs

If you do not already have a grade ‘C’ GCSE in English (or grade 4 if you’ve studied the new curriculum), then the course is free. (We claim funding from the Government)

If you have a grade ‘C’ (or grade 4) GCSE in English and are looking to improve your grade, then email us on AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk] and we can discuss costs with you.

Enrolment

Prospective GCSE learners should have a minimum of GCSE grade D/3 or Functional Skills Level 1 and must pass a pre-course assessment before starting the course.

If you have been away from education for a while or have no qualifications but are confident in your everyday skills, come and talk to us.

Passing the pre-course assessment is the criteria for being offered a place on a course. You should allow 2 hours for the assessment.

Sign up for a course

You can book a place on an enrolment session [http://coventry.council.bookingbug.com/home/37022-AES-Pre-Course-Assessment-Live].  This will ask you to choose the venue where you would like your appointment and then ask you to choose the day and time that suits you.

If you don’t feel able to apply online, please ring our Learner Services team on 024 7697 5200.

ID needed to enrol

You will need to prove your identity and that you meet the grant eligibility criteria. To do this we need to see some ID

• If you were born in the UK please bring your birth certificate, driving licence or passport.
• If you are an EU citizen please bring your passport/ID card and a share code generated within the last 90 days.
• Otherwise, please bring your resident's permit, passport with visa or whatever documentation you have that shows your resident status.
• We will also need your National Insurance Number.

Exams for private students

Contact us on AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk] to discuss this in more detail.

Exam board

We use the AQA exam board.

Further information

If you are offered a place on the course, you will be required to purchase a textbook at a discounted price of £6. Textbooks are available at Southfield Old School and at the Broad Street Centre.

If you study online there will be a requirement to have a PC, Laptop or tablet.

English for visually impaired learners

• Specialist English classes with access to assistive technology are held at Cheylesmore Community Centre.
• Braille: Learn or improve your Braille skills. Classes are primarily for learners with visual impairment, who will be given priority, but places may be available for other interested learners.

For further information please contact the Adult Education main office on 024 7697 5200 to speak with admin support or email: AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk]

Brush up your English

What is this course about?

It is about giving you as the learner some underpinning skills and knowledge around using the correct techniques to write clearly, logically and for the appropriate audience. It will also help with spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

What will I learn?

It will help the learner to develop confidence with reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The course will be delivered in a fun an interactive way.

Length of the course:

Five weeks @ two and a half hours, every half term.

What will this course lead to?

• A Functional Skills Course
• Other Adult Education courses

Contact

Get in touch via email on AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk] or ring on 024 7697 5200.

English for work

What is this course about?

It is about giving you as the learner some underpinning skills and knowledge around using the correct techniques to write clearly, logically and for the appropriate audience. It will also help with spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

What will I learn?

The course is framed around the skills learners need in the world of work such as how to write letters, emails articles and reports. You will be given advice and support around how to write CV’s, how to complete job applications and how to write personal statements for jobs and how to develop skills for interviews.

Length of the course

Five weeks at two and a half hours, one every half term from Friday 17 January 2025

Note this course is held at the Job Shop.

Contact

Get in touch via email on AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:AESessentialSkills@coventry.gov.uk] or ring on 024 7697 5200.