You can enrol online by contacting us at calatenglish&maths@croydon.gov.uk or, if you prefer face-to-face, at one of our center’s.
Enrolment sessions for courses starting in September will be held online or at our Croydon Clocktower and New Addington centers.
Dates for these sessions are published below.
We will provide you with advice and guidance based on your needs and career goals during assessment and once you start your course.
Please bring either your UK birth certificate, UK/EU passport or your Indefinite Leave to Remain Resident Permit.
Sessions can take up to 90 minutes.
Click on the toggle below for assessment dates:
We offer English and maths courses from beginner up to GCSE level.
You can find out more about our GCSE courses here.
If English is not your first language, we also offer a range of courses in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
GCSE courses start each year, in September.
All of our English and Maths courses are free to learners with the right to residence in the UK, including asylum-seekers. Please bring passport or residence permit / Home Office papers as proof of eligibility.
Please note that you must be 19+ and not on a student visa / overseas student.
Functional Skills are recognised GCSE alternative qualifications, with a Functional Skills Level 2 course being equivalent to a GCSE grade 4 (C). However, there are some instances where functional skills Level 2 is not considered equivalent, such as for becoming a teacher, so do check before enrolling.
Functional Skills are essential as they equip you with the practical literacy, numeracy, and digital skills required for everyday tasks, employment, and further education. These skills enable better communication, problem-solving, and effective use of technology, making you more competent and confident in your personal and professional lives.
These courses are designed for those who wish to improve their basic skills in English, Maths, and ICT. They are suitable for those who did not achieve the desired grades in GCSEs, individuals seeking to enhance their employability, and anyone looking to develop skills for daily life and further education.
The courses run progressively from Entry Levels 1, 2, and 3, advancing to Level 1 and then to Level 2. Typically, you’ll start at a level appropriate to your current skills and knowledge, moving up to higher levels as you develop greater proficiency.
On these courses, you will gain practical skills in three main areas: English, Maths, and ICT. English courses cover reading, writing, and speaking & listening. Maths courses focus on number operations, measurements, shapes, space, and data handling. ICT courses teach the use of devices, creating and editing documents, and effective digital communication.
The following is a broad overview of what is taught in each of the course areas:
After completing Functional Skills courses, you can progress to higher levels of education, such as GCSEs or A-levels. Completing the courses will also enhance your job prospects, qualify you for apprenticeships, and allow you to pursue further vocational training or higher education courses that require a strong foundation in English, Maths, and ICT.
We have courses starting at various times during the year at Croydon Clocktower, Strand House and Online during the daytime, evenings and Saturdays. We will offer you the courses we have available at the level appropriate to you.
During an assessment session, you will undergo practical evaluations tailored to the level you are studying. These assessments typically involve tasks that reflect real-life scenarios, testing skills in reading, writing, numeracy, and ICT. The results determine your proficiency and readiness to advance to the next level or complete the qualification.
Come along to one of the assessment sessions shown below, no appointment necessary.
Our functional skills courses are all now full. We will add new dates for courses starting in September 2025 and new assessment dates for these courses will appear here in July.
You can find our site locations here.
On the day you attend, please ensure you have the correct documents with you:
Sessions can take up to 2 hours.
If you are unable to attend one of the enrolment sessions, or would just like more information about our English and Maths courses, please fill in the short form below and we’ll contact you.
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