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Key Skills (Including Basic Skills)

Network Information

VESA has provided support Networks for Key Skills since their introduction to the Post 16 curriculum as part of Curriculum 2000. In the past the networks focused on the needs of Key Skills Managers and practitioners working across each of the main skills.

The demand for support for Key Skills has declined in recent years reflecting fundamental problems with Curriculum 2000 generally and Key skills, in particular - problems of delivery, high failure rates, poor recognition by HE and curriculum overload.

The development of "skills" is crucial for the future well-being of all learners and, through them, for the future prosperity of our country. Ongoing demands from industry and developments within education, notably the focus on Numeracy, Literacy and ICT in the Secondary National Strategy and the inclusion of a range of skills qualification on the revised Attainment and Achievement Tables means that the skills agenda has not gone away. The recent Education and Skills White Paper recognises the need for all learners to develop Personal, Employability, Learning and Thinking Skills (PELTS) and Functional Skills. New names - same, or very similar skills!

VESA retains a commitment to supporting the emerging skills agenda through:

Forum for Skills Managers (at least one during the year)
One off events - in response to needs identified by schools and colleges (eg. to support the offer of Basic Skills qualifications 13-19 in schools and colleges)
Skills based workshops as part of VESA Conferences
Consultancy - working with individual schools on request
Providing a link to the national Key Skills Support Programme (KSSP)