Designed to fit around your life
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Study around your life
No fixed timetable and no commute. Log in on a lunch break, in the evening or at the weekend, and work at whatever pace suits you.
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A qualification that counts
Every course leads to a nationally recognised qualification from an established awarding body, not a certificate of attendance.
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A real tutor, not just a website
You submit your work to a tutor who reads it and writes back within five working days, and who you can reach by email or phone during office hours.
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Funded for eligible adults
For most adults aged 19 and over living in England, the Adult Skills Fund covers the tuition, the materials and the assessment.
The Functional Skills English qualification is designed to help you develop the level of English needed to work, study, and manage everyday life confidently. Achieving the qualification shows that you can read, write, speak, listen, and communicate effectively in a range of real‑life and workplace situations.
Exams and Assessment
At the end of the course, you will be required to sit three exams under exam conditions in the college or at home so long as you meet the correct specifications to sit at home:
- Speaking and listening – completed in a small group via Microsoft Teams.
- Reading – final written exam.
- Writing – final written exam.
Technical Requirements
To study the course, you will need:
- A suitable device such as a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet (e.g., iPad).
- Reliable internet access.
Certification
Once you successfully complete the course and pass all exams, you will receive an official certificate from TQUK, confirming your achievement
There are 3 modules to the course:
Reading – you will be given texts to read and questions to answer. We will look at facts and opinions, finding the main points in a text, language and organisational features and comparing texts.
Speaking, Listening and Communication – you will take part in discussions with your classmates and you will prepare and deliver a brief presentation on a topic of your choosing. We will look at asking and answering questions, expressing opinions and picking up on the main points in a presentation.
Writing – you will be given writing tasks to complete. We will look at spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, layout, tone, style and proofreading.
There is an exam at the end of each of the three modules.
What studying online actually looks like
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Everything happens online
The course runs on our online learning platform. There is no need to attend college at any point, though you are welcome to if you would rather work here.
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You submit work as you go
Each unit ends in questions you answer and send to your tutor through the platform. There is no exam hall and no fixed deadline to sit anything.
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Your tutor writes back
You get full written feedback on every assessment within five working days, and your tutor is available by email or phone during office hours if you get stuck.
Who can study these courses
Funding eligibility
Funding is set nationally. To study one of these courses at no cost you need to be:
- Aged 19 or over
- Currently living in England
- Resident in the UK or EU for the last three years, for reasons other than study
- Not currently on an apprenticeship
For this course
An initial assessment will be conducted to ensure you are studying at the most appropriate level for you.
Withdrawals
Your Tutor will provide support and guidance throughout your qualification. In return, we expect learners to demonstrate commitment and engagement in completing the qualification within the academic year.
If no work is submitted for a period of four consecutive weeks, and no mitigating circumstances have been communicated, we will assume that you wish to withdraw from the course. Where mitigating circumstances apply, you must inform your Tutor as soon as possible by telephone or email so that appropriate support and arrangements can be considered.
Please note that, should you be withdrawn from the programme, an administration withdrawal fee of £249 will be payable. This fee covers administrative costs only and is not a charge for tuition.
Four steps from here to qualified
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Find the course
Browse by subject or search for what you need. Every course page lists the units, how long it takes and who it suits.
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Apply online
Fill in the form. It takes a few minutes and you do not need anything to hand.
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We check you are eligible
We confirm the funding, set up your account on the learning platform and introduce you to your tutor.
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Study at your own pace
Work through the units in your own time, send your assessments to your tutor, and finish with a qualification.