learndirect Blog

Together we can break the glass ceiling! Even though we live in the age that has seen the most technological advancements and breakthroughs, there is one hurdle we can’t seem to break through just yet – the advancement of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). There are multiple reasons for this, including the fact that many women still view STEM careers as being reserved for men and that the industry often fails to showcase the exciting opportunities available...

Are you thinking about taking a Functional Skills exam without any prior study? You may think that it will be a piece of cake. After all, Functional Skills are all about common sense, right? Wrong. Whilst Functional Skills are based on real-life capabilities and problem-solving, they’re recognised GCSE equivalent qualifications that require you to meet a certain level of maths & English proficiency to pass the exam.  Functional Skills – especially at Level 2 – need your...

From workplace schemes to life mentoring sessions, you’ve probably heard about mentoring in some context or another and the benefits mentees can reap from it. You may have even experienced these benefits first hand at some point in your career. But have you ever thought about the advantages of mentoring for the mentor? If you haven’t, we don’t blame you. Such considerations often get overlooked, which is understandable considering that the main aim of mentoring is to help mentees...

Have you ever been given a task at work and felt like you’re not qualified to do it? Or that you’re not worthy of the promotion or achievements you’ve been awarded? Then you’re likely suffering from imposter syndrome. And you’re not alone. An estimated 70% of the world’s population will experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives and careers. But what is imposter syndrome? Originally coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, the term...

Have you got your GCSE result and it’s not quite what you were expecting? Don’t worry, there are things you can do! Future Skills by learndirect has a couple of options that could mean you are still able to do all the things you wanted to do with your GCSE. We offer two different English and maths options: Functional Skills and GCSE. Take a look at the table below to see which could be right for you:   Functional...

Yes - you can! You can go to university and qualify as a social worker with no A-levels with an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Social Work with learndirect. The diploma is a Level 3 qualification and a recognised A-level equivalent, which means that it could be your ticket to university and a career as a social worker. If you want to know more about studying social work and becoming a social worker with no qualifications, you’re in the right place. Check out our...

Doctors save hundreds of lives each day and are the cornerstones of the healthcare systems across the world. It’s no surprise that becoming a doctor is a popular career path for those who want to make a difference to the lives of people in their local communities. But many aspiring doctors dismiss a medical career based on preconceived ideas of what’s required to go to medical school. One of the most-asked questions is ‘can you become a doctor without A-levels?’ but everyone knows...

  Is it possible to become a nurse without A-levels? Short answer, yes If you missed out on traditional A-levels, it does not mean you should miss out on your dream of becoming a nurse. There are many routes into nursing, suitable to the qualifications and experience that you do have. So, if you think nursing is right for you, but you are not too sure about entry requirements or the training process, take a look below for a few of the most asked questions about a...

  Is it possible to become a teacher without A-levels? Short answer, yes If you left school with no A-levels it does not mean you should miss out on your dream of becoming a teacher. There are many routes to take for a career in teaching and it depends greatly on the qualifications and experience you currently have. With a severe shortage of teachers across the UK, a career as a teacher is in high demand. Maths and science teachers are especially in-demand, and with a...

Want to go to university? Then you will need (at least) a level 2 qualification in English or maths (the equivalent to GCSE grade 4/C). Now, if you don't have this qualification, you may be thinking that you need to resit a GCSE to gain the relevant qualification in English or maths, but there could be another option.  A level 2 Functional Skills qualification could be the solution you are looking for. Even though they are more flexible than GCSEs, there are still some timings that...

Do you dream of going to university? Then you'll need to have a GCSE in English and maths at grade C/4 or above, or an equivalent Level 2 qualification, to enrol on a degree programme. If you don’t have one of these under your belt, your chosen university could ask you to get one fast or even decline your application. Fortunately, we have a solution. A Functional Skills qualification could be just what you’re looking for. These qualifications are accepted by most universities as an...

The Functional Skills standards are changing on 1st September 2019. These changes have been made in response to feedback from employers about the sort of skills they need in the workplace, and the reform to qualifications – including GCSEs – that occurred a few years ago. The main changes are to the exams, but there are some changes to the content too. Exams The new exams will be slightly longer and you will no longer be able to use a dictionary to check your spellings in the...

English is important because anything you do that involves other people is done through the medium of language. If you have a poor grasp of your own language this will affect the standard of everything else you do. You can have fantastic ideas, but language is what brings them to life. If you cannot put your concepts into words, no one will ever know about them. Maths is also used in everyday life. It is important because it allows people to take complex processes and make them...

Maths teachers will tell you that the most common cry from students is “why am I learning this? I’ll never use this again.”   This can be followed with, “I want to be a [insert job title here], so why do I need maths?” More than likely, the subtext here is “what is the point of maths?” With the way maths is often taught in schools, it is no wonder we feel like this. So many of us describe ourselves as not being ‘a maths person’ or being ‘rubbish at...

  If you missed out on your level 4 (grade C) at GCSE, or need to catch up with maths and English, don't worry. Functional Skills Level 2 are an equivalent qualification to GCSE that could be for you. They offer learners useful skills in maths and English to help them get onto college courses, apprenticeships, further education and enter the world of work. Unlike maths and English at school, they offer practical skills and help you to face your demons in maths and English. There...