The 2004 Key Skills Standards

Like all qualifications the Key Skills are regularly reviewed to ensure that the guidelines laid down for delivering and assessing the qualification are still valid. The 2004 Standards have been released as a result of a wide ranging review and consultation with users, both teachers/tutors and students.

The aim was to clarify points that were causing confusion, to remove unnecessary assessment where possible and to bring the standards up to date. This was particularly important in ICT (formally IT). Five years ago the Internet was not widely available within schools and the use of email was in its infancy. It is amazing how far we have come in such a short time. Whilst some groups still have problems accessing the Internet it is now accepted that its use is part of the way we work today.

In the following sections you will see detailed information about the 2004 standards. If you are new to Key Skills there is no need to worry about what has changed, you can work with the 2004 standards without having used previous versions.

Virtually all the changes in the main key skills have been made in order that students can use naturally occurring evidence more easily. A 500 word document is more likely to be available than one of 1000 words, images can be used as appropriate and calculations can be evidenced without always having to collect the data. There has been no change in the level or quality of evidence that is required.

Changes have been made to the wider key skills which are aimed at bring these units within the National Qualification Framework. You are advised to contact your awarding body for details about how they will implement these changes.