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Welcome

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Starting in Term 2, we have developed a programme for 11-16 year olds, taking place every Thursday. Choose from Functional English & Maths Tutoring or Bushcraft in the morning, social outdoor lunch if you wish, and Bushcraft in the afternoons. Stay for just an hour, or the whole day, it's up to you.

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Functional Skills

'Functional Skills' is the overarching term for the subjects Functional English and Functional Maths. Students wishing to embark on a college course, apprenticeship or employment are usually required to have GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 as a minimum to demonstrate basic literacy and numeracy skills. Rather than repeating the course, students who did not take or pass GCSEs are usually recommended to follow Functional Skills instead.  This is because the syllabus covers basic literacy and numeracy skills in real-life contexts such as starting a business or renting a flat, whilst missing out the higher level skills covered in GCSEs such as advanced algebra, simultaneous equations, deep analysis of literature and creative writing.

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Passing Functional English and Functional Maths exams at the top level provides recognised qualifications equivalent to GCSE grade C/4.

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Tutoring at Free Spirits is with Gemma - an experienced, qualified teacher and former college Functional Skills tutor. You can choose whether to take the Functional Skills exams or not. The exams will be taken online on a device of your choice, and at a date and time that is convenient to you. We have various tools to help you prepare for the online exams, including an initial screening tool to see what level of skill you have so far. You can also buy additional practice resources to use at home if you wish.

Bushcraft

Dawn and Tracy, who run our In The Wild nature sessions, also deliver all of our Bushcraft sessions. They have a wealth of Bushcraft knowledge, as well as experience working with children and teenagers of all ages, including those with SEN and neurodivergences.

 

Dawn and Tracy are both DBS checked, and Tracy is a First Aider.

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You are welcome to visit Free Spirits and say hi to Gemma, Dawn and Tracy before making a booking onto one of our Thursday Youth sessions.

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©2025 by Free Spirits Education C.I.C.
Community Interest Company No.13700534
Ofsted Reg No. 2671211
Norman Court Training & Education Centre, West Tytherley, Salisbury SP5 1NH, UK
07753 620246

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