Functional Skills Maths Level 1

Course Title: A6934 - Functional Skills English Level 1

Brief course description:

This 8-week Functional Skills Maths Level 1 course, mapped to the Pearson Edexcel level 1 qualification, is designed to help learners build essential mathematical skills for everyday life, work, and further study.

Delivered three times a week, the course covers key topics including whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, and ratios, as well as practical applications involving money, time, measurement, and shape.

You’ll develop confidence in solving real-world problems, interpreting data, and using mathematical reasoning to make informed decisions.

By the end of the course, participants will be well-prepared for the Level 1 exam and equipped with the skills needed to progress to higher levels or apply maths effectively in daily situations

 

Objectives:

1. Read, write, order, and compare large numbers, including positive and negative values, fractions, decimals (up to three decimal places), and percentages. Perform calculations using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and apply these skills to classroom tasks and everyday scenarios.

2. Recognise and calculate equivalences between fractions, decimals, and percentages. Work confidently with simple ratios and direct proportions, estimate answers, and calculate percentages of quantities in practical contexts.

3. Draw and identify 2-D shapes, demonstrate understanding of line symmetry and angles, and interpret plans, elevations, and nets of basic 3-D shapes. Use angles to describe position, direction, and measure accurately in degrees.

4. Apply mathematical methods to calculate area and perimeter of simple shapes, including combinations of rectangles, and work out volumes of cubes and cuboids. Use scales on maps and drawings, and interpret results to solve real-life problems such as redecorating a room.

5. Calculate simple interest and discounts in multiples of 5%, and convert between units of length, weight, capacity, money, and time within the same system. Understand how these calculations can help manage spending and make smarter financial decisions.

6. Represent discrete data using tables, diagrams, and charts such as pie charts, bar charts, and line graphs. Group and display data graphically, calculate statistical measures like mean and range, and use probability to compare the likelihood of events and express outcomes as fractions.

 

Entry requirements:

You will need to have completed an Entry level 3 qualification or be able to demonstrate language at the required level. This means you will be able to develop and apply mathematical skills to solve increasingly complex real-world problems. Understand the importance of mathematics in both work and everyday life.

Equipment required:

Please bring to every lesson:

• A folder
• Pens & pencil
• Lined A4 paper
• A smartphone (if you have one)
• A reusable water bottle
•  

We will give you the WIFI details in the first lesson.

If you do not have access to a smart phone or a computer, speak to your tutor.

You will also need a personal Gmail account to access the Google classroom, which will be used for submitting coursework and accessing course materials. If you do not have a Gmail account speak to your tutor.

What courses can I go on to:

There are other courses you can do after or at the same time as this course:

• Getting ready for Functional Skills Maths Level 1 / 2
• Functional Skills Maths Level 1/2
• Becoming confident with numbers - mental maths/ shapes and measurements
• Maths for Work and Life Level 1&2 Part 2
• Digital Skills Entry 3/Level 1
• Digital Skills in the workplace: Using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Please ask your teacher for more information or contact Functional Skills email: functionalskills@towerhamlets.gov.uk

What examination is there:

You will undertake the Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills Qualification in Maths at Level 1.

The following topics will be covered during your class to help you achieve your qualification:

Working with numbers - Basic arithmetic skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It also focuses on understanding and working with fractions, decimals, and percentages, and applying these skills in real-life contexts like budgeting, estimating, and rounding.

Measure, Shape and Space - Apply measurements in various contexts, such as cooking or construction, and how to calculate area, perimeter, and volume. Additionally, focus on recognising and working with shapes and spatial relationships.

Handling Data - Collect, organise, and interpret data from charts, graphs, and tables, while using averages, ranges, and other basic statistical measures. You'll learn to apply this data to solve problems, such as comparing prices or analysing local and national trends.

Problem Solving - Use mathematical reasoning to tackle everyday problems. You'll apply these skills to real-world scenarios, like planning a journey to work, school or a holidays and managing finances.

The exam is taken at The Shadwell Centre at the end of the course. You MUST attend all your classes.

How will I know I am making progress:

At the start of the course, your tutor will talk with you about which parts of your Maths you need to practise most and help you create an individual learning plan. Throughout the course, you will have a tutorial meeting to discuss your strengths, areas for improvement, and any problems you may have. You will keep a folder with your work, which will help you review your learning outside of class. Your tutor will give you regular feedback on your class work and homework to help you improve. To make progress, you need to attend all your classes and do work outside of class.

You will lose your place if your attendance is less than 80%.

Other info:

One of our aims is to help you make progress in work or future studies. We also want to help you participate in your communities and become an active citizen. In our classes, you will develop important skills that employers value and that will help you in everyday life. Here’s what you will learn:

• Communication Skills: You will learn to speak and write more clearly and confidently. This includes practising conversations for work, writing emails, and filling out forms.
• Decision-Making: You will learn how to make good choices by evaluating different options and thinking critically about situations.
• Teamwork: You will learn how to work well with others.
• Problem-Solving: You will develop the ability to identify problems and find effective solutions, useful in both work and daily life.
• Time Management: You will practice managing your time effectively, including setting goals and meeting deadlines.

By improving these skills, you will increase your chances of finding a job, advancing in your career, and becoming an active member of your community.

Extra support

We can help you if you tell us you have a learning difficulty, disability or other support needs. Please tell us when you enrol or in your first class.