Functional Skills English for Adults

Gain confidence in reading, writing and communication with a practical, recognised qualification.

Location: Reaseheath College (face-to-face)

Duration: 18 academic weeks

Schedule: Thursdays, 5.30pm – 8.30pm

Course Dates:

  • Intake 1 runs from Thursday 18th September to Thursday 5th February
  • Intake 2 runs from Thursday 12th February to Thursday 9th July
Apply Now for February 2026

Course Overview

Functional Skills English helps you improve your communication in everyday life — at work, at home, and in education. Whether you’re looking to boost your job prospects or simply want to feel more confident with words, this course is designed for adult learners and taught in a supportive, welcoming environment.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll develop your English skills through real-life reading, writing and speaking tasks, including:

  • Reading letters, forms, emails, articles and instructions
  • Writing clearly and accurately for different purposes
  • Spelling, punctuation and grammar
  • Building vocabulary and sentence structure
  • Taking part in discussions and giving short presentations
  • Understanding tone, structure and purpose in texts

How You’ll Learn

  • Weekly face-to-face sessions with experienced tutors
  • Practical tasks based on real-world scenarios
  • Group discussions and personalised feedback
  • Additional learning materials to support your progress
  • A relaxed, adult-focused learning environment

Assessment and Exams

Functional Skills English is assessed in three parts:

  • Reading – a short test using practical texts
  • Writing – two writing tasks to test clarity and accuracy
  • Speaking, Listening and Communicating – a group discussion or presentation

You’ll have two opportunities to take the assessments. We offer Edexcel Functional Skills English qualifications at Entry Level, Level 1 or Level 2, depending on your initial assessment.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements. You’ll be sent a short assessment so we can place you on the right level (Entry Level, Level 1 or Level 2).

What Can This Lead To?

Functional Skills English can help you:

  • Meet requirements for apprenticeships or further study
  • Apply for jobs that involve writing, reading or communication
  • Gain confidence in everyday communication — from emails to interviews

Support Every Step of the Way

Our tutors understand that returning to education as an adult can feel daunting. We’ll work with you to build your confidence, at a pace that suits you, with one-to-one support available when needed.

If you have any questions or require more information please click here to complete our contact form.

Student Success

Ben – Functional Skills English

“I really enjoyed studying Level 2 Functional Skills English at Reaseheath College last year. My tutors were excellent; they were always ready to help and were really understanding if I needed to miss a couple of sessions due to work commitments.

“The biggest challenge for me was the speaking test, but my tutor was so helpful that when the time came for me to take the test, I was so ready.

“This qualification has opened so many opportunities for me as now I will be able to advance to a lead role at work or apply for a university course in the future.

“Remember, it is never too late when it comes to learning!”