New figures show sustained growth in awards of key skills qualifications with 2.2 million made up to 2005/06 and achievements in that year 27% greater than in 2004/05.

Key Skills are highly valued by employers, universities and colleges.  They are practical, applied skills that complement subject studies. These transferable skills for learning, work and life include English, mathematics, ICT, personal and social skills. 

The ‘main’ Key Skills - Communication, Application of Number and Information & Communication Technology – were introduced as qualifications in 2000 and achievements have been rising by around 20% each year. The more recently introduced ‘wider’ Key Skills qualifications – Problem Solving, Working with Others, Improving Learning and Performance – rose by almost two-thirds in the latest 12 month reporting period.

Skills Minister Phil Hope said of the narrowing skills gap:

“Employers are starting to see the difference and seeing that the transformation in the education system means that they can recruit people with the skills they need for productivity and competitiveness.”

Speaking of government plans, he added:

“We will sustain the momentum of achievement in the Key Skills as we build towards new forms of provision which build on them. New Functional English, mathematics and ICT qualifications will be introduced in 2010 – and these skills will also be required within reformed GCSEs, the new Diplomas and Apprenticeships. We are also embedding the Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills framework in the new Diplomas, the most significant education reform in recent times.”

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