Key Skills

What are key skills?

Key skills are a range of essential skills that underpin success in education, employment, lifelong learning and personal development.
Key skills qualifications can be achieved at four levels, (levels 1-4), and are in three core areas:

• Communication
• Application of Number
• Information Technology (IT).

Also available at levels 1-4 are the wider key skills units:

• Working with Others
• Improving Own Learning and Performance
• Problem Solving.

For students and trainees working towards the key skill qualifications in Communication, Application of Number or IT, assessment comprises both an internal (portfolio) and an external (test) component. For those working towards the wider key skill units, assessment is via an internal (portfolio) component alone.
Key skills can be achieved as stand-alone qualifications or are delivered as part of an Apprenticeship framework.

All Apprenticeships have key skills components, each set at a suggested level. These levels can be amended to a higher level to suit the needs and the ability of learners.
Key skills are integrated into the NVQ qualification for each occupational area, so trainees can gain a key skills qualification alongside their NVQ and as they undertake their working rôle.

Key skills are of benefit to everyone. They give trainees the essential abilities they need in their day-to-day life, and, from an employer’s point of view, they help employees do a better job for their company.