The Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills has outlined the government’s expectation that guided learning hours (GLH) for reformed Functional Skills qualifications should be set at 55.
In her letter of 3rd December 2018 to Sally Collier, the Chief Regulator and CEO Ofqual, Anne Milton, Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills states:
“It is generally the role of the Awarding Organisations to set the GLH of their qualifications. The history of the reform programme, however, was such that it was acknowledged early on that the reformed qualifications were likely to attract an increase in teaching time and that this work would be guided by DfE.
Mapping exercises, comparing the subject content between the current and reformed Functional Skills Qualifications, undertaken internally by policy officials and externally by Awarding Organisations conclude that there is indeed additional content, albeit the differences vary according to subject and level. Additionally we have concluded through workshops with Ofqual, ESFA and awarding organisations that the underpinning skills required have been enhanced with the introduction of assessment without the use of a calculator in mathematics or a dictionary and spell checker in English.
As a result I have agreed that the GLH for reformed Functional Skills Qualifications should be increased to 55. I have asked officials to work with Ofqual to set the increased GLH as part of Ofqual’s requirements.”
