Can I extend the time on the course?

We can always give you more time by extending your course duration by 3 or 6 months. This will be an additional charge starting from £345 for 3 months. Please contact the college directly to arrange a course extension.

Is this the same qualification I would achieve in a traditional school or college?

Yes! You study the same curriculum, take the same examinations, and get the same qualification. The only difference is that the course is specially designed to be studied in your own time, at your own pace.

Can I enrol with low grades?

Barston believes everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. Our learning advisors will be able to guide you through the best course choices in terms of your ability, previous experience and outcome.

Can I purchase just the exam?

At Barston, we believe the combination of our unique support and bespoke learning platform allows our students to achieve high pass rates. For this reason, we do not offer exams on their own.

When do I receive my course materials?

As soon as you’re enrolled, we will get your course material ready. If you’re studying online, you’ll receive your login to our online learning portal, within 48 hours. For some courses, you’ll also have the option to receive a printed copy of your course materials in the post. If you’ve chosen this option, we’ll aim to get this delivered to your door within 10 working days.

When do the courses start?

Because this isn’t traditional classroom learning, simply put, you call the shots! When you enrol on a course, you’ll be given a timeframe throughout which you’ll have access to your tutor support and our online platform. The rest is up to you, which allows you to study in your own time, at your own pace.

What if I want to cancel my course?

No stress, we offer a fourteen-day, money-back guarantee. If you wish to cancel your course you will need to email our cancellations team at cancellations@barstoncollege.wpenginepowered.com within 14 days, along with a reason for cancelling, and we will provide you with a full refund.

When will an awarding body send my qualification?

Before an awarding body can issue your new certificate, you must successfully complete your studies and pass an assessment and validation process. Simply, your tutor will mark all your work, which will be sent out to an external moderator. The moderator is someone who checks your work against the learning outcomes of your course, pre-set by the awarding body. Outcomes help them identify what qualifications they’ll receive when they graduate. Every student worldwide goes through this process. Once you’ve passed your assessment, we’ll get in touch with the relevant awarding body to send your certificate. Depending on the awarding body’s availability, this can take a couple of months. However, qualifications have been sent to graduates in as little as a week. Should you require your qualification, let’s say, for a job application, we can send out a confirmation letter. This letter will have your student number and the relevant awarding body to contact to evidence your success. Learn more about our awarding bodies.

What is an awarding body?

An awarding body is a professional organisation that sets the standards of education for different course subjects. They decide on the acceptable standard of work required by learners to achieve certification. At Barston, we have regular external visits from each of the awarding bodies to ensure that we are meeting their criteria as an education provider; this allows us to continue offering their accredited and official qualifications.

What is an assessment?

An assessment is how we measure your learning and academic progress throughout the course. The grading of your assessment is determined by how well you have mastered certain target skills required for the task set. Assessments are extremely valuable for tutors as they indicate how much of the course material you have mastered, or if there is anything you have misunderstood. Using this information will allow your tutor to develop your learning plan to keep you on track for achieving a good overall result. Assessments can be in many formats such as multiple-choice questions, quizzes, observations, and witness statements.

Are there any age limits?

We’re firm believers that education should be available to everyone, so we welcome students of all ages – in fact, our oldest student is 92! As a guide, our courses are generally designed for students who are above 16, with the exception of GCSEs and Functional Skills, which are created for learners aged 14 and over. You can find more specific age limitations on individual course pages.

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Functional Skills courses

Functional Skills Courses Online

Everybody deserves a top-quality education. Whatever your background or previous education experience, it’s never too late to gain the qualifications you’re entitled to, and functional skills courses (previously key skills courses) are a great place to start. Gaining your Functional Skills via Barston College online college is a cost-effective and convenient way to increase your employability. It’s important to have basic Maths, English and ICT skills. Functional Skills are a great way to achieve this. You can gain these qualifications and many more when online learning with Barston College.

View all Functional Skills courses

Nationally Recognised

Essential to any career, our nationally recognised functional skills courses strengthen your employability. Our level 2 qualification is the equivalent of achieving a GCSE.

20% Higher Grades

Barston College students achieve 20% higher grades than the national average, compared to traditional colleges. Get qualified quickly with us.

Expert course tutors

You're never alone. Our personal tutors are hand-picked by Barston College to help and support you whenever you need help. All our courses come with unlimited student support.

Get started with one of our Functional Skills courses below

More about our Functional Skills courses

A Functional Skills level 2 course is the nationally recognised equivalent of a GCSE, so whether you’re aiming for higher education or want to land your dream job, these online courses can help you take your next step.

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My tutors are all so brilliant and beyond helpful! … After my experience with these tutors I couldn't recommend Barston College enough to anybody looking for an online school.

insha Shahzad

A-level Politics, A-level English Language

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