How to Opt Out of Functional Skills (English and Mathematics)

Overview of Functional Skills Requirements

Functional Skills (English and Mathematics) are mandatory components of many apprenticeship programs designed to ensure The Apprentice meets national literacy and numeracy standards.

The Apprentice may opt out of these modules if The Apprentice holds equivalent prior qualifications, such as GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above. For those required to take the modules, attempting the Functional Skills Mathematics exam is sufficient to meet Gateway requirements; a passing grade is not mandatory for programme completion in all contexts, but the attempt must be recorded.

Process to Opt Out of Functional Skills

The Apprentice must follow this specific sequence to ensure the Training Plan is legally compliant and correctly processed by The Platform.

1. Request a Training Plan Revision

The Apprentice must contact the Multiverse Support Team to request that the current Training Plan be voided. A new Training Plan cannot be issued until the existing version is formally voided by a support agent. The Apprentice should explicitly state the intent to change the Functional Skills status to "Opt-Out."

2. Access the Updated Training Plan

The Apprentice will receive the updated Training Plan via email. While most Apprentices use PandaDoc, some Apprentices or those with restricted network access may receive the document via DocuSign. The Apprentice must check the email associated with The Platform for this document.

3. Complete Section E5

The Apprentice must navigate to Section E5 of the Training Plan. The Apprentice must select the "Opt-Out" option. This selection must accurately reflect the prior qualifications held by The Apprentice.

4. Execute Dual Signatures

The Apprentice and The Manager (Line Manager) must both sign the updated Training Plan. The opt-out process is not valid until both digital signatures are captured.

Post-Submission: The Compliance Review Phase

Functional Skills status updates are not instantaneous. After the signed Training Plan is submitted, the Multiverse Compliance Team must manually review and verify the documentation.

Processing Timeline: Manual verification can take several business days.
Status Indicators: During the review, The Platform may display a "Decision Pending" status.
Communication: The Apprentice may continue to receive automated Functional Skills reminder emails while the status is "Decision Pending." The Apprentice should not ignore these emails until the status is officially confirmed as "Opted Out" in The Platform.

Roles and Responsibilities

Role	Responsibility
The Apprentice	Request the voiding of the old plan, select the opt-out in Section E5, and provide proof of prior qualifications (e.g., GCSE certificates) if prompted.
The Manager	Review and sign the revised Training Plan promptly to prevent delays in the Applied Learning journey.
Compliance Team	Verify the validity of the opt-out request and update the records on The Platform.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions	Answers
Question: Can The Apprentice change the Functional Skills status after the Training Plan has been signed?	Answer: No. Once a Training Plan is signed and executed, it cannot be edited. The Apprentice must contact Support to have the current plan voided and a new one reissued.
Question: What should The Apprentice do if they accidentally opted into Functional Skills?	Answer: The Apprentice must contact Support to request a new Training Plan. The Apprentice must then select the opt-out option in Section E5 and ensure both The Apprentice and The Manager sign the new document.
Question: Does The Apprentice need to provide proof of qualifications to opt out?	Answer: Yes. The Apprentice may be required to submit evidence of prior attainment, such as GCSE certificates, to the Compliance Team to justify the opt-out.
Question: Can The Apprentice opt out of Functional Skills at any point in the program?	Answer: Yes. The Apprentice can initiate an opt-out at any time by following the training plan revision process, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
Question: Should Functional Skills emails be ignored after signing the opt-out?	Answer: Not immediately. The Apprentice should only ignore these emails once the Compliance Team has finished the review and the status on The Platform is no longer "Decision Pending."