Enrol on an English, ESOL or Maths course

Functional Skills courses and qualifications focus on the English skills you need to carry out tasks for life and work, e.g. letter writing, giving a short talk or understanding and comparing information from different pieces of writing.

Qualifications are available across five levels: Entry 1, 2, 3 and Level 1 and 2. To pass a Functional Skills qualification you will have an assessment in Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening.

Functional Skills level 2 is often taken as an equivalent qualification to GCSE.

Course costs

There is no cost to the learner as Functional Skills English courses are funded by the Government.

Course location

Throughout the pandemic, our online courses were very popular: we will be continuing to offer online courses across the week using Microsoft Teams. Please see 'How do I sign up' for details.

There will be face-to-face classes in the following venues:

• Adult Education Centre, Telfer Road
• Bell Green Library
• Broad Street Centre
• Cheylesmore Community Centre
• Foleshill Women’s Training Centre
• Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre
• Muslim Resource Centre
• Southfields Old School
• Stoke Aldermoor Adult Learning
• Stoke Heath Community Centre
• Tile Hill Library
• Willenhall Education Employment and Training Centre

Sign-up for a course

For online and face to face courses, you need to have an assessment so we can find out the level you are currently working towards.

Online course

If you would like an online course, you should attend an online assessment. For this, you should have access to a laptop, PC or tablet.

Please register your interest for an English course online using Coursefinder, choose the ‘I love English’ icon and then the option that best suits the course you want to do: for most people, this will be the bottom option, ‘English’.

When you have completed the application, you will be contacted by an English manager to discuss the best time for your assessment. You will also be asked for your ID.

Face-to-face class

To enrol on a face-to-face class you must book your appointment.

You can do this by registering online using Coursefinder, choose the ‘I love English’ icon and then the option that best suits the course you want to do: for most people, this will be the bottom option, ‘English’.

When you have completed the application, you will be contacted by an English manager to discuss the best time for your assessment. You may also be asked for your ID.

or you can book by phone: call 024 7697 5200 

About the assessment

Online and Face-to-Face: You should allow up to two hours in order to complete a full assessment and receive advice and guidance on the best course for you.

At the assessment we will answer any questions you might have, find out what level of English you are starting from and then find a class that meets your needs.

The assessment

We need to check that you will be funded by the government for the course. To do this we need to see some ID.

• If you were born in the UK please show your birth certificate, driving license or passport.
• If you are an EU citizen please show your passport/ID card.
• Otherwise, please show your resident’s permit, passport with visa or whatever documentation you have that explains your resident status.

We will also need your National Insurance Number. 

We will talk with you about classes at a venue to suit you.

Course dates

We run classes during the school term times.

Classes are one session per week at the following times (no evening classes on Friday):

• Morning classes are from 9.15am until 11.45am
• Afternoon classes are from 12:30pm until 3pm
• Evening classes are from 6:30pm until 9pm (6pm - 8.30pm or 6.15pm – 8.45pm in some venues)

Childcare

We have a crèche service available at some venues. If you need crèche, let us know when you speak with a member of the English team and we will do our best to find you a suitable class.

English skill level

You should have good basic English speaking skills, but it doesn't matter how confident you are at spelling or reading and writing, we can help you. We welcome absolute beginners up to GCSE level.

Entry requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to show that you have good basic English skills (Full Entry Level 3 or above). 

There are no other formal entry requirements.

Qualification

Qualifications are available across five levels: Entry 1, 2, 3 and Level 1 and 2. To pass a Functional Skills qualification you will have an assessment in Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening.

Functional Skills level 2 is often taken as an equivalent qualification to GCSE.

Oher English courses do you offer

• We offer GCSE English courses that start in September each year. You will need to sit a pre-course assessment for GCSE either in July or the beginning of September. Please contact Graeme Sutherland on 024 7697 2506 or email graeme.sutherland@coventry.gov.uk if you would like information about GCSEs
• We offer ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes - which are courses for people beginning with the English language. Please phone on 024 7683 2100 or email esolclasses@coventry.gov.uk for information.

Dyslexia

If you have been diagnosed with dyslexia, or given extra time to do work at school or college, please discuss this with staff at enrolment.

Visual Impairment

• Specialist English classes with access to assistive technology are held at Cheylesmore Community Centre.
• Braille: Learn or improve your Braille skills.  Classes are primarily for learners with visual impairment, and priority will be given, but places may be available for other interested learners.

For further information please contact Graeme Sutherland:
Telephone: 024 7697 2506
Email: graeme.sutherland@coventry.gov.uk

I would like some more information

If you need further information or would like to speak to someone, please contact one of the following:

• Graeme on 024 7644 5803 or email graeme.sutherland@coventry.gov.uk 
• Sarah on 024 7697 8729 or email sarah.brookes@coventry.gov.uk
• Catherine on 024 7697 6456 or email catherine.fisher@coventry.gov.uk