Maths and English for a successful future

Why Maths and English?

Maths and English are important life skills and are used every hour of every day. They will help you to achieve your best in your studies and progress to your dream career. Maths and English qualifications could be the difference between being accepted onto a university course, securing a job or a promotion.

Benefits of Maths and English skills

  • Employers and universities want you to have them
  • They will help you to progress to higher level study
  • They will ensure you a better job
  • You will be able to access more career opportunities
  • They will help you earn more money in the future
  • They will provide you with better life opportunities
A group of Northumberland College students working on a group project in the classroom

English will help you to:

Communicate effectively and think creatively

Maths will help you to:

Solve problems, understand money and work out calculations

Find the revision technique for you:

  • Be prepared, it's never too early to start your revision
  • Use colour, liven up your revision notes by using colour and highlighters
  • Revise everywhere, use mind maps, post-it notes and written notes to support your study
  • Don't revise in bed, find a calm and comfortable place to revise but keep your bed for sleep
  • Take breaks, keep your mind alert by taking short breaks every hour
  • Recall, test what you can remember after you've revised
  • Relax, don't stress. Make time to complete activities that help you to relax
  • Stay motivated, visualise your end goal, like a place on your dream university course or employment
  • Eat and drink healthy, to improve your concentration and thinking
  • Use acronyms, AFORESTRIP, DAFOREST
  • Test yourself, track your progress and fill in the gaps

What will I study?

Students at Northumberland College working on a project together

If you have a Grade 9-4 at GCSE in Maths and/or English, you will develop your skills throughout your course. You will not have a separate class, the continued development of your Maths and English and knowledge is so important and relevant to your career goals.

If you have a grade 3 to 1 in GCSE Maths and/or English, you will develop your skills throughout your course. You will need to commit to studying 3 hours per week in class, plus time spent studying at home.

If you don't already have a grade in GCSE Maths and/or English, you will study Functional Skills. You will need to commit to studying 2 hours per week for Maths and 2 hours per week for English, plus time spent studying at home.