MYTH BUSTER: MATHS AND ENGLISH IN APPRENTICESHIPS

Are you considering an apprenticeship but feeling anxious about doing maths and English? It’s true, your apprenticeship will include maths and English sessions, known as Functional Skills if you haven’t achieved a level 2-3 at GCSE in these subjects.

Many potential apprentices worry it will be like going back to school, facing daunting exams and endless homework. However, maths and English in apprenticeships couldn’t be more different from these lessons at school. Let’s debunk some common myths to help you see there’s nothing to fear.

Myth 1: It’s Just Like School

The maths and English components of an apprenticeship are nothing like the school experience. Instead of abstract theories and complex concepts, you’ll be doing Functional Skills—practical applications of maths and English relevant to everyday life and your specific job role. For instance, instead of memorising algebraic formulas, you’ll learn how to apply your number skills to calculate expenses for a work trip. And rather than producing an essay on the use of allegory in Shakespeare, you’ll be developing the ability to write concise emails.

Myth 2: You’ll Have Lots of Sums and Essays

The days of doing lots of essays and working out quadratic equations are behind you. Apprenticeship training providers understand that learners employed in a job don’t have big stretches of time to spend on assignments. Learning is typically broken down into short chunks to fit around your work schedule. Activities might include watching a short video followed by a practical work-related exercise. The focus is on learning skills that you can quickly apply in your job role.

Myth 3: Maths and English Aren’t Relevant to My Job

You might wonder why you need to do maths and English if your job doesn’t seem to require them directly. In reality, these skills are precious across all industries. Numeracy skills can help you manage a budget, take measurements, calculate how many days holiday you’ve taken, or track mileage. Meanwhile, you need strong literacy skills to communicate clearly at work, whether you’re writing emails, preparing reports, or producing lists of tasks to share with others.

Myth 4: There’s No Support If I Struggle

Every apprentice has access to support to achieve their apprenticeship, and this is the case for maths and English too. Your apprenticeship tutor will always be able to help if you find certain aspects challenging or need clarification. You can even ask for a one-to-one session to help you understand a particular element. Plus, if you don’t pass your maths or English tests on your first try, you’ll have the chance to retake them after reviewing where you went wrong. In this way, the pressure is far less than sitting exams at school.

The Benefits of Maths and English Skills

Developing your maths and English skills will also boost your confidence and effectiveness at work. You won’t need to ask colleagues to check your grammar or calculations or just keep your fingers crossed that you didn’t make a mistake. Instead, you’ll feel more able to handle tasks on your own, and this will propel you forward in your job. Not only that, acquiring a good standard of maths and English will put you in a position to apply for a promotion when the time is right. These skills also help outside work, such as managing your personal budget or assisting your younger family members with homework.

The maths and English aspects of an apprenticeship will give you practical skills that are directly applicable to your career and daily life. So don’t let the misplaced fear of these subjects hold you back from applying for one of the many apprenticeships available in the Liverpool City Region. Don’t forget, you don’t need to have passed your maths and English GCSEs to get onto an apprenticeship.