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Vocational Training / Key Skills

Key Skills have been included in the Advanced Modern Apprenticeship (AMA) and Foundation Modern Apprenticeship (FMA) programmes to give candidates the chance to show their ability in the following areas:

  • Communication
  • Information Technology
  • Application of number
  • Working with others
  • Improving own learning and performance

Please click on the links below for:

Further information on Key Skills, including copies of the Key Skills Specifications, can be found on the QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) website at www.qca.org.uk

Key Skill 2000/2001 Support Materials for IT NVQs

The NTO has developed, with the assistance from the DfEE Key Skills Support Programme, a way of introducing Part A* and Part B** of Key Skills at Levels 2 & 3 to help with building a Key Skills portfolio.

To access the Key Skills resource pack for practising your key skills (Part A), please click on the following document (available as a PDF file):

  • Key Skills Resource Pack for the IT NVQs

To access the Key Skills support material for the IT NVQs (Part B) and record your evidence please click on the following documents (available as PDF files):

  • Developing IT – NVQ Level 2 & 3
  • Installing & Supporting IT – NVQ Level 2 & 3
  • Operating IT – NVQ Level 2 & 3
  • Using IT – NVQ Level 2 & 3
  • Key Skill Logbook - Communications and Application of Number

IT Key Skills 2000 diagnostic materials

These booklets were developed by the NTO, with the assistance from the DfEE Key Skills Support Programme, as a way of introducing the Information Technology Key Skills at Levels 1, 2 and 3. Their aim is to help compare what an individual can do against the requirements of the IT Key Skills Levels. It is a self-assessment tool that can be used privately or with others e.g. teacher/tutor, manager, or a colleague.

It is not a qualification in itself and does not contain any ways of measuring an individual's knowledge and understanding. Instead, the pack concentrates on asking a series of simple questions about IT related activities and skills - what you do, rather than how well you do it. Completing a pack will give a good idea of what an individual will need to do to fill any skills gaps, should they wish to work towards a formal Key Skills qualification.

To access the Key Skills diagnostic material for the IT Key Skills please click on the documents below (available as PDF files):

  • IT Key Skills Self Assessment – Level 1
  • IT Key Skills Self Assessment – Level 2
  • IT Key Skills Self Assessment – Level 3

* Part A - What you need to know: This sets out the knowledge and techniques the candidate needs to be able to develop, select and apply in order to achieve the Key Skill at that level.
** Part B - What you must do: This covers what needs to be included in a candidate’s portfolio in order to achieve the Key Skill at that level.

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