The Key Skills Qualification is a frequently required component of 14-19 education in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The aim of Key Skills is to encourage learners to develop and demonstrate their skills as well as learn how to select and apply skills in ways that are appropriate to their particular context. By 2010 the main three key skills will be replaced by Functional Skills in England, which will form part of the new Specialised Diploma Framework. The wider key skills will continue to be accredited. Wales is currently developing a set of converged basic and key skills.

It is generally available in schools (alongside GCSE's, A-levels or other qualifications), FE colleges (alongside NVQ, as part of Modern Apprenticeship traning or other equivalent vocational or academic courses) and other places of learning (sometimes alongside other qualifications and sometimes independently). The qualifications can be taken at levels 1-4.

The Department for Education and Skills in England and the Department of Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills in Wales define Key Skills as "a range of essential skills that underpin success in education, employment, lifelong learning and personal development". The DfES website states that the Key Skills Qualification is offered as a response to concern from employers about lack of essential skills in young recruits and as part of the response to the 1996 Dearing Report. Key Skills qualifications at levels 2-4 may attract UCAS Tariff points for University admissions. However, many universities do not accept Key Skills level 2 in place of a GCSE at grade C, as was intended, it is therefore advisable that students check with the admissions tutor of their chosen university to ensure acceptance. The UCAS tariff is a points system used to report achievement for entry to higher education (HE) in a numerical format.

Useful links:
Key Skills Support Programme

Key Skills Activities
Grand Slam Tennis
Grand Slam Tennis level 1 AON
A Place in the Sun – Internet Research Activity
A Place in the Sun – Internet Research Activity Level 2

Supporting Documents
Useful charts