About Workplace Core Skills

Core Skills are are a central part of the Scottish qualifications system. They are broad, transferable skills that help learners develop the main capabilities needed to be active and responsible members of society.

Core Skills can be completed automatically within some Standard Grade and Higher qualifications (and some SVQs). City & Guilds offers stand-alone Workplace Core Skills units for use within Modern Apprenticeships and other forms of work-based learning. All Core Skills achievements, wherever completed, are recorded on a Core Skills Profile maintained by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

The Workplace Core Skills units are designed to help learners build or plug gaps in their Core Skills Profile using workplace evidence. This is particularly important for apprentices as all Modern Apprenticeship frameworks in Scotland require a Profile covering all five Core Skills.

The five Core Skills each cover levels 3-6 of the Scottish Credit and Qualfications Framework (SCQF).
 

***New 2008 Workplace Core Skills***

SQA has recently carried out a thorough review of Core Skills (known as Core Skills for the Future). A new Core Skills Framework, including new workplace-assessed units, was introduced in August 2008.

City & Guilds will begin accepting registrations for the new 2008 Workplace Core Skills units during the autumn (the new qualification number is 3658). All centres currently offering the previous Workplace Core Skills units dating from 2001 (3628) with City & Guilds are eligible for fast-track approval.

Please be aware that 3628 closed to new registrations on 31 August 2008; certification is still available (for candidates registered before that date) until 31 August 2010.
 

How different are the 2008 Workplace Core Skills units?

Contentwise, the new units aren't that different and SQA has produced mapping guidance for each core skills explaining the differences in more detail. Generally:

• there's more focus on process and application of skills for a purpose
• IT is now known as 'ICT'
• SCQF level terminology is now used, eg 'Level 4' instead of Intermediate 1
• all units are now SCQF credit rated (each core skill is worth 6 credit points).

Click on the links below to access the unit specifications, assessment support packs and 'old vs new' mapping guidance for each of the 2008 Workplace Core Skills:

• Communication (SCQF levels 3-6)
• Information and Communication Technology  (SCQF levels 3-6)
• Numeracy (SCQF levels 3-6)
• Problem Solving (SCQF levels 3-6)
• Working With Others (SCQF levels 3-6)

Documents relating to the old 2001 Workplace Core Skills units are also still available to download.

Are Core Skills available outside Scotland?

Generally not. The Key Skills qualifications are available in England and Wales and Essential Skills qualifications operate in Northern Ireland.