Essential skills
Some skills are so important to your future that they're part of most pathways and qualifications.
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Personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS)
These skills make it easier for you to organise yourself and work as part of a team. They help you to improve your learning and solve problems so that you perform better and achieve more. They're split into six groups: independent enquiry, creative thinking, reflective learning, team working, self-management and effective participation.
Functional skills
These are the practical skills of English, maths and information and communication technology (ICT). You use them in everyday life, in learning and at work. Everyone needs good functional skills. That's why they're part of the secondary curriculum and the Diploma and, from September 2010, GCSEs and Apprenticeships. Schools and colleges are being encouraged to enter students for separate functional skills assessment to make sure that they have the best possible preparation for progression to further study and work.
Identify your essential skills
Check out your essential skills. Ask a friend or someone else who knows you well to help you assess your skills. Take action if you need to improve them. It's especially important to have good functional skills as you need them in all areas of work and adult life.
What next?
Find out about personalised pathways.
