Skills for Life Print

Skills for Life: What are they?

Skills for Life qualifications are designed to help you develop the skills you use in everyday life, such as reading, writing or maths. They can also help you boost your CV or move on to further study.

You can take a Skills for Life qualification if you:

  • are over 16 years of age
  • have left compulsory full-time education
  • do not have an up-to-date English or maths qualification at level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework (such as a GCSE)

As well as 'Skills for Life', you may have also heard people talking about 'Basic Skills'. The two terms mean the same thing, and refer to the same qualifications.

What will I learn?

We have a wide range of courses to help you improve your Maths and English skills, many of which lead to a nationally recognised qualification - the National Certificate in Adult Literacy or Numeracy.
We will help you choose the courses that are right for you and it's more than likely that funding will be available and it won't cost you a penny.

Where they can lead

Skills for Life qualifications are based on national standards, so everyone, including potential employers, can see what you're capable of. They can:

  • give you more confidence in your own abilities
  • show what you have achieved in your learning programme
  • boost your CV
  • help you get onto other courses such as NVQs