The Skills Update

Sussex Downs College are pleased to announce the launch of our Skills Update initiative for our staff.

There are 3 main principles:

1. To actively encourage and support our staff to gain the skills and qualifications that will meet the needs of our organisation.
2. To further support our staff to acquire their basic literacy and numeracy skills/or functional skills.
3. To demonstrably raise our staff skills and competencies to improve organisational performance and facilitate learner success on programmes.

Level 2 Maths

The Level 2 Certificate in Adult Numeracy is equivalent to a GCSE Grades A to C and is now an entry / exit requirement of teacher training courses.

To get this qualification you will need to be able to do the following without the use of a calculator:

• The 4 rules (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
• Metric and imperial measurement Interpret a variety of charts and graphs
• Decimals
• Fractions
• Percentage
• Probability
• Scale drawing
• Averages
• Ratio

Level 2 English

The Level 2 Certificate in Adult Literacy is equivalent to a GCSE Grades A to C and is now an entry / exit requirement of all teacher training courses.

The qualification is a multiple choice exam and can be done online. There is no written component to the exam.

To get this qualification you will need to be able to do the following:

• Read, understand, navigate and obtain information from a range of texts of varying complexity Identify purpose, main points and specific detail
• Infer meaning which is not always explicit
• Read critically to evaluate information and compare information, ideas and opinions
• Be confident identifying and using formal and informal language
• Be clear about punctuation
• Be confident spelling words correctly from your work, studies and daily life, including familiar technical words

How does it work?

There are several ways to take these qualifications. If your skills are very rusty you could join one of our existing classes that meet once a week and work your way through the topics above until you feel ready to take your exam.

If you just need to revise a couple of things, you may prefer the e-learning brush up route where you study at your own pace, at a time of your choosing, supported by a tutor. We also have a Train to Gain option where your learning needs can be tailored specifically to fit in with your schedule.

To access the Skills Update

• Email skillsupdate@sussexdowns.ac.uk
• You will then receive logon instructions for "Mindset"
• If your results are Level 1 or below, you may want to go up to Level 2
• You can contact Anita Gayton at anita.gayton@sussexdowns.ac.uk to discuss your options

Our Team

The Skills Update Team is collaborative working between Communications, Professional Development, Employer Engagement Functional Skills Team, Human Resources and Skills for Life Team This ensures that our Skills Update policy is contained within a whole organisation approach to Skills for Life.

We also deliver a wide range of NVQ’s.Contact the Employer Engagement team for more information:

Telephone: 0845 2302 007
Email: employertraining@ sussexdowns.ac.uk
Fax: (01273) 475911
Post: Employer Training, Mountfield Road, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2XH

See what vacancies are available at Sussex Downs College

We are a ‘two ticks’ disability employer, which means that we are positive about disabled people and have made commitments to employ, retain and develop the abilities of disabled staff. Read more

We are part of the Network for Black Professionals. Visit the NBP website for more information.

We have recently signed up to become a MINDFUL EMPLOYER, making a commitment to support staff with mental health problems.