For many years we have delivered Edexcel’s Functional Skills exams at Trinity Academy Newcastle – but this half term, we approached it with their ‘on demand’ paper based format.

Learners at Trinity Academy, at the Upper Site are practiced using past papers, and as they reach their time to sit exams, they have been based on a computer with little resource to practice – and a requirement for some unique digital skills.

Edexcel have now released to schools, this paper based exam which is more suited to our learners, allowing them to ‘show their working out’ and present their calculations in ways they have been guided to in lessons.

We have had 6 learners access this paper based exam this half term (results in the New Year) and in 2022, the Maths Department at the Upper Site are to cascade this qualification down to Year 8 learners – providing them with that opportunity to ‘bag’ a formal qualification, allowing them to concentrate on their GCSE Maths in Year 10 and 11.