DistanceLearningCentre.com
Online courses to suit your lifestyle
The most flexible study
The most flexible fees
Giving you the best support
Friendly online student community
Excellent reputation & experience
English Functional Skills Image

Online English Level 2 Functional Skills

Recognised alternative route to GCSEs
Trustpilot

Get the qualifications you need to progress your career and your educational aspirations

We are here to help you fulfil your potential and start you on the pathway to your dream career.


On this course, you learn to deal with English problems that will help you develop skills across speaking, listening and communication, reading, and writing.

If you don't have English GCSE, this English Level 2 Functional Skills qualification can be used to meet many degree entry requirements and the requirements of an Advanced Level Apprenticeship.

Save £20£418.00 (from £136.00 a month) enrol today for just £10.00

What are they?

Functional Skills give you the opportunity to demonstrate real-life English and Maths skills and achieve a qualification as an alternative route to GCSEs. Level 2 qualifications can be used to meet many degree entry requirements and the requirements of an Advanced Level Apprenticeship. "They allow individuals to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and work" (DfES).

How do I study?

The Courses are studied entirely online with one-to-one tutor support to develop your skills and prepare you for the assessments. Your tutor is there to support you and guide your studies, and you will be in regular contact over email, phone, WhatApp, text and virtual meetings. They know how to help you to improve, develop and advance as you progress through the course.

Are they accredited?

Open Awards Logo
The qualifications are fully accredited, awarded by Open Awards, our OFQUAL approved Functional Skills Awarding Body. All assessments are externally set and marked by Open Awards. You will complete all assessments online, meaning that you don't need to arrange your Functional Skills assessments yourself. We will agree a mutually convenient time.

More info

There are no entry requirements for these Courses. You can start and complete when it suits you. You will gain access to our high quality and skills-focused learning materials that will teach you to develop the skills needed to pass the assessments. We can also offer Additional Support to individual students where needed.

Can I use only my phone?

No, you will not be able to study it entirely on a Mobile Phone or Tablet, you will need access to a Laptop or Desktop computer.


How can I use this qualification?

Many universities now accept Functional Skills English & Maths instead of GCSEs in these subjects. Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications can also be used to meet the requirements of Advanced Level Apprenticeships.


How long will it take?

This is intended to be a fast-track course, studied over 15 weeks or less. To achieve the qualification you will be required to commit to approximately 55 hours of guided learning.


How am I assessed?

All assessments are externally set and marked by our awarding body, Open Awards.

You will only sit the externally set and marked assessments when you are ready, and our Exams Department arranges this at a time that is convenient for you.

The cost of all assessments is included in the course fee and it is completed and invigilated entirely online.


What if I fail an exam?

If you do not pass an exam first time and want to try again, you can resit up to three times. However, additional fees are incurred if you wish to do this.


Do I need to buy a text book?

No. You will have access to our high quality and skills-focused learning materials that will teach you to develop the skills needed to pass the Functional Skills assessments. Everything you need to pass the exams are in the materials.



Course content

You learn to deal with English problems that will help you develop skills across speaking, listening and communication, reading, and writing.

Examples of the types of skills you will develop include, but not limited to:

  • Considering complex information and giving a relevant, cogent response in appropriate language
  • Preparing for and contribute to the formal discussion of ideas and opinions
  • Making different kinds of contributions to discussions
  • Reading and summarising, succinctly, information, ideas from different sources
  • Identifying the purposes of texts and commenting on how meaning is conveyed
  • Detecting point of view, implicit meaning and/or bias
  • Using a range of writing styles for different purposes
  • Using a range of sentence structures, including complex sentences and paragraphs to organise written communication effectively


External Assessments

You will be required to pass three externally set and marked assessments which test your ability to read, write and communicate verbally in practical settings such as: writing emails and letters, giving presentations and group discussions.

You will only sit these assessments when you are ready, and our Exams Department arranges this at a time that is convenient for you.

If you do not pass first time, you can resit each External Assessment up to three times, but each resit will incur an additional fee.


Fee Calculator


Start Date:
End Date:
days


Total Fees = for up to days of study

The most flexible fees

Easy to manage flexible instalments. Payment holidays. No tie-ins or credit agreements. Great value. If the course is not for you, pay no more. If you leave & return, fees paid previously are still covered. More details on our Fees Page.

Save £20£418.00 (from £136.00 a month) enrol today for just £10.00

Discount - if you study more than one Functional Skills qualification with us, you only pay the Enrolment Fee once. A saving of £30.00.

If you want to study more than one Functional Skills qualification, please enrol on one of them. When you do this you will also be able to inform us that you would like to study both.

External Assessment Resit Fees

You can resit External assessments up to three times, but each resit will incur an additional fee of £77.00.


Funding your course

  • This course is not eligible for Advanced Learner Loans.
  • This course is not eligible for Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) funding.

The majority of our students fund themselves using our easy payment options. Some secure funding through their employers and a few manage to get some help from local charities. We cannot provide advice on funding but we do have a Grants & Funding page which you may find useful.


If you are not funding your course yourself

Please ensure that you make us aware of this when you apply so that we can advise you & make any necessary arrangements with the funder to cover your course costs.


Payment methods

The normal method of payment is online with a Credit or Debit Card. We accept all major cards.

If there are genuine reasons why you cannot pay online, you will need to contact us to discuss whether there are other feasible options available such as bank transfer or Standing Order.


The support that our students receive is central to who we are and the service that we deliver.


Your tutor

Your tutor is both your personal support and your subject specialist teacher. They were chosen for their expert subject knowledge and qualifications, and for their skills in supporting and motivating adults who may have been out of education for some time. They are there to support you and guide your studies, and you will be in regular contact over email, phone, WhatApp, text and virtual meetings. They know how to help you to improve, develop and advance as you progress through the course.

To a great extent, their role adapts to your own personal needs as a student. Some students like a lot of interaction and support, whereas others may prefer to get on with things on their own and check their progress less regularly. This is your choice but you will always been entitled to a telephone or virtual meeting once a week and email support within 24 hours of your request (except weekends). Your tutor is there to make sure that your time with us is as successful and enjoyable as possible.


Student Services

Our Student Services team are here for you from your first enquiry to the end of your course. From clarifying university entry requirements to finding the course which is right for you, Student Services are here for everybody - past, present and prospective students alike.


Additional Support

Learning Support - support if you have declared a disability. They provide advice and guidance and signpost you to help and resources which can help with your studies.

Student Support - supporting you if you are having problems with your studies. This may be due to a wide range of factors, personal, financial, confidence, changed circumstances etc. Generally, tutors will refer you to this section if they feel that you will benefit from some extra help or advice.


Peer Support

We have a dynamic private Facebook community over 2000 students for you to join and if you want to raise points with staff this can be done via the Student Action Group.


Flexibility

We make our courses suit you and your life: if your circumstances or priorities change then your course can too. We are here to help you achieve, and so altering your target completion date, payment date, or extending your study period is always possible.


Technical Department

From accessing learning materials to uploading documents, if you need any technical support during your studies our Technical Department is there for you.


Financial Department

Should you need any help or advice about fees, payment options, or there are changes to your circumstances the Finance Department is there for you.


Emily

The website and materials were easy to navigate and the Facebook group gave me extra reassurance and support.

The tutors were supportive, patient and most importantly motivated me to carry on when I found it tough. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing to gain an extra qualification to achieve their dream career. Emily

Yannick

The learning materials were excellent and they exceeded my expectations. I would like to thank my family and the tutors for their amazing support.

I am happy to say to have secured a place to study a Nursing Degree this September. I cannot recommend them enough. Yannick

John

The course is excellently written with information perfectly explained for those who have been out of education.

I completed mine whilst working full time, undergoing several overseas military deployments in support of the COVID pandemic. I could not have done this without them, my tutors were with me every step of the way! John

Richard

Support of tutors, & the wider student community were fundamental in enabling me to overcome adversity. The peer support of fellow students proved a wonderful resource. People of all ages & backgrounds united in their desire to study & self-develop, quick to offer help & encouragement. So I became active in supporting others through the Facebook Group. Richard

Sam

I have dyslexia. They suited all my needs. It was flexible, affordable, and the modules offered would provide me with the fundamental basics to study a Law degree.

They did more than help me get into my dream Russell Group university studying Law. The whole experience finally made me feel academically worthy. Sam

Aaliya

Tutors and staff have been fantastic in helping me achieve the grades I need, as well as any other situations I needed support with.

I applied to 2 universities and have received conditional offers from both.

I have achieved more credits than the offer requires, it wouldn't have been possible without them. Aaliya

Mehluli

I loved the flexibility that comes with the course and the outstanding tutors.

I have since been offered a place from two universities to study a BSc in Adult Nursing.

It is in this regard that I strongly recommend them without hesitation for any person who would like to reboot their career. Mehluli

Beth

I was very nervous about beginning my studies as I thought that Access to HE Diplomas were aimed at mature students, being 17 at the time of beginning my studies. But I was so wrong!

The Diploma is for anyone wanting to enter higher education. The staff, and my tutors especially, couldn't have been more accommodating and supportive. Beth

Victoria

From day one I found my tutors to be incredibly friendly, supportive and accessible. They encourage independent learning, but are always there to give guidance and answer questions of any kind.

The learning materials are brilliant; extremely thorough and logically laid out in topics and sub-topics, so you move smoothly through. Victoria

Sean

The materials were easy to follow. I received advice from others via the Facebook page & from my personal tutor, who was always so quick to answer any questions. During the modules, I developed my research methods & even my English improved. I am far more confident in finding the pros & cons of every theory. I now feel I am in a far better position & I am currently enrolled on an LLB Qualifying Law degree. Sean

Fanny

They stood out for me because of their flexibility and affordability.

Enrolling to study remotely for a science course, was overwhelmingly nerve-wracking but my tutors were very kind, supportive and helpful. Their support allowed me to excel and achieve high grades. I have now secured a place at a university. Fanny

Trustpilot