Celebrating Success 2026: Foundation Learning Student of the Year – Tyler Read
I am very proud of myself and can’t believe I won and now have a job as an apprentice at Essex County Council!
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Gain your English and maths qualifications
If you are 16 to 18 and have not yet achieved a Grade 4, you will continue to study English and maths alongside your main course, with lessons built into your timetable. For adult learners aged 19 and over, we offer flexible and free online courses to help you improve your skills and move forward with confidence.
Learn by doing
You will build your reading, writing and numeracy skills through practical activities linked to everyday life, work and further study. Courses include GCSEs and Functional Skills, helping you develop the knowledge and confidence you need step by step.
Our facilities and your support
For adults, learning takes place online through our PASS TECH platform. This allows you to study at your own pace, working through lessons, assessments and practice exams when it suits you. You will need access to a suitable computer, a reliable internet connection and the ability to study independently. Before starting, you will attend a diagnostic assessment to make sure you are placed on the right course.
Where this could take you
Improving your English and maths can open doors to further study, employment and everyday opportunities. These qualifications are widely recognised and can support your progression, whether you want to move into a new career, continue your education or build confidence in daily life.
Student Success Stories
Olivia Heath
Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) Level 3 Technical Diploma
“I would recommend SECG because the opportunities you have to take you on the right path are brilliant.”
Our Courses
Functional Skills Maths and or English (Online)
Helping shape your career pathway
Scroll through the job areas to learn more about each pathway
Security System Installers and Repairers
£21,438
Entry Level Salary
£33,062.61
Average Salary
£49,877.43
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Responds to call-outs and repairs faulty or inoperative equipment.
- Services existing systems and tests for faults.
- Installs security systems and connects them to control panels, including intruder and fire alarms, surveillance and monitoring equipment and access control systems.
- Carries out on site surveys and determines security needs.
- Discusses security needs with clients, responds to call outs and explains operation of equipment.
Electrical and Electronic Trades
£25,542
Entry Level Salary
£40,101.37
Average Salary
£60,495.93
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Locates and repairs faults to lines and ancillary equipment.
- Connects cables to test equipment and tests for balance, resistance, insulation and any defects.
- Connects and installs transformers, fuse gear, lightning arrestors, aircraft warning lights, cable boxes and other equipment.
- Assists with the erection of wood poles or steel towers to carry overhead lines.
- Removes protective sheath from wires and cables and connects by brazing, soldering or crimping and applies conductor insulation and protective coverings.
- Places prepared parts and sub-assemblies in position, checks their alignment and secures with hand tools to install x-ray and medical equipment, aircraft instruments and other electronic equipment.
- Examines drawings, wiring diagrams and specifications to determine appropriate methods and sequence of operations.
IT User Support Technicians
£19,368
Entry Level Salary
£27,666.75
Average Salary
£44,917.96
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Reports on commonly occurring queries to detect underlying problems.
- Maintains a log of work in progress, calls received, actions taken and problems detected.
- Researches possible solutions in user guides, technical manuals and other documents.
- Refers more complex or intractable problems to appropriate IT professionals.
- Facilitates user access to systems.
- Installs and upgrades hardware, cables, operating systems and/or appropriate software.
- Advises users on how to resolve hardware and software problems.
- Provides technical support to IT users.
Database Administrators and Web Content Technicians
£17,640
Entry Level Salary
£15,966.63
Average Salary
£25,568.14
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Proof reads social media content and checks content of videos before publication on websites.
- Trains colleagues in the use of the databases and websites.
- Writes and publishes content and monitors and maintains functionality of websites.
- Extracts data and assists others in the use of the database.
- Administers, monitors and supports databases and website content.
- Tests databases and writes user guides for their operation.
- Assists in database design and creation and amends existing databases.
IT Managers
£29,538
Entry Level Salary
£54,628.99
Average Salary
£94,206.53
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Reports on IT activities to senior management.
- Plans and monitors work and maintenance schedules to ensure agreed service levels are achieved.
- Supervises the technical team and coordinates training.
- Takes responsibility for managing the development of an aspect of IT provision such as user support, network operations, service delivery or quality control.
- Liaises with users, senior staff and internal/external clients to clarify IT requirements and development needs.
- Plans, coordinates and manages the organisation’s IT provision or a specialist area of IT activity.
Information Technology Professionals
£26,424
Entry Level Salary
£45,159
Average Salary
£79,145.11
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Manages and develops the content and operation of websites, monitors traffic, and ensures the functionality of websites and web servers.
- Organises training for users and prepares documentation on IT systems.
- Meets with clients to determine their requirements and designs, tests and installs new systems to meet client's needs.
- Provides support to organisations in the operation of their IT software, hardware and networks.
IT Network Professionals
£30,600
Entry Level Salary
£46,042.30
Average Salary
£80,693.18
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Writes operational documentation and provides subsequent support and training for users.
- Ensures network security, reports on, investigates and fixes network faults.
- Creates users' accounts and provides troubleshooting service to users.
- Monitors performance and makes recommendations concerning network quality..
- Implements and evaluates new networking environments, including software and hardware.
Information Technology Directors
£41,004
Entry Level Salary
£72,018
Average Salary
£165,785.74
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Plans, directs, reviews and provides technical oversight to IT programmes, involving the co-ordination of multiple IT projects.
- Works with client or senior management to establish and clarify the aims, objectives and requirements of an IT programme.
- Ensures that new technologies are researched and evaluated in the light of the organisation’s broad requirements.
- Prioritises and schedules major IT projects.
- Considers the required IT staffing levels, oversees recruitment and appointment of staff and directs training policy.
- Develops the periodic business plan and operational budget for IT to deliver agreed service levels.
- Directs the implementation within the organisation of IT strategy, infrastructure, procurement, procedures and standards.
- Develops in consultation with other senior management the IT strategy of the organisation.
Cyber Security Professionals
£27,864
Entry Level Salary
£52,260.22
Average Salary
£91,590.62
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Uses specialist software to gather and analyse information and evidence relating to cybercrime and presents findings to law enforcement officials or private clients.
- Deals with and reports on breaches in security.
- Makes recommendations concerning software/system quality.
- Develops quality standards and validation techniques.
- Develops test plans for security systems and undertakes and documents the testing of security systems weaknesses and errors, identifies source of problems and proposes solutions.
- Examines IT system for potential threats to its security and integrity and draws up response plans for situations where security is compromised.
Psychotherapists and Cognitive Behaviour Therapists
£27,864
Entry Level Salary
£35,660.03
Average Salary
£54,150
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Helps people come up with new ways to cope with their problems and to change their ways of thinking.
- Analyses events, behaviour, and habits to understand their mode of thinking and feelings.
- Talks with patients about their emotions, relationships and personal history.
- Assesses and provides treatment for people suffering with mental illness, stress, and emotional and relationship problems.
Clinical Psychologists
£40,914
Entry Level Salary
£42,864.80
Average Salary
£65,090.48
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Writes reports on their work and conducts applied research.
- Maintains required contacts with family members, education or other health professionals, as appropriate, and recommends possible solutions to problems presented.
- Helps patients to manage their own psychological conditions.
- Provides treatment or guidance using a variety of therapy and counselling techniques.
- Determines appropriate treatment and may refer patients to other mental health professionals.
- Administers tests to assess patients' needs through interviews, psychometric tests and observation of their behaviour.
Other Psychologists
£16,686
Entry Level Salary
£26,497
Average Salary
£66,329.06
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Applies psychological treatment methods to help athletes achieve optimum mental health and enhance sporting performance.
- Applies professional knowledge and techniques within the workplace, addressing issues such as job design, work groups, motivation etc.
- Maintains required contacts with family members, education or other health professionals, as appropriate, and recommends possible solutions to problems presented.
- Studies psychological factors in the treatment and prevention of mental illness or emotional and personality disorders.
- Analyses the effect of hereditary, social and physical factors on thought and behaviour.
- Observes and experiments on humans and animals to measure mental and physical characteristics.
- Develops treatment and guidance methods and gives treatment or guidance using a variety of therapy and counselling techniques.
- Develops and administers tests to measure intelligence, abilities, aptitudes, etc. and assesses results.
Counsellors
£21,132
Entry Level Salary
£25,763
Average Salary
£37,026.53
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Keeps accurate and confidential records.
- Refers to other appropriate sources of help.
- Presents different perspectives to the problem areas identified.
- Encourages clients to discuss their feelings in relation to their problems, aiming to ensure that an understanding of the issues is achieved.
- Meets clients face-to-face, working either one-to-one or with couples or families, or by telephone or internet.
Therapy Professionals
£20,988
Entry Level Salary
£33,307
Average Salary
£50,576.89
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Provides support and guidance to patients regarding hereditary conditions and genetic testing..
- Diagnoses and treats behavioural problems in animals.
- Adopts a holistic approach in assessing the overall health of the patient, and treats by inserting needles under the skin at particular locations according to the disorder being treated.
- Prevents, recognises and treats injuries incurred playing sports or doing exercise and helps people manage injuries and rehabilitate themselves.
- Manipulates and massages patient to discover the cause of pain, relieve discomfort, restore function and mobility and to correct irregularities in body structure.
- Diagnoses and treats disorders of vision and eye movements, monitors subsequent progress and recommends further optical, pharmacological or surgical treatment as required.
- Prescribes diet therapy and gives advice to patients, health care professionals and the public on dietetic and nutritional matters for those with special dietary requirements or to prevent illness amongst the general population.
Hairdressing and Beauty Salon Managers and Proprietors
£13,896
Entry Level Salary
£30,216.66
Average Salary
£53,766.86
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Ensures financial accounts for the business are maintained.
- Demonstrates, advises on and sells hair and/or beauty products.
- Checks and maintains any equipment, and ensures that all safety requirements are met.
- Undertakes and/or directs hair treatments and/or beauty therapy.
- Ensures clients’ records are maintained.
- Provides clients with information and advice on styles and treatments, and resolves any complaints or problems.
- Controls the allocation, training and remuneration of staff.
- Determines staffing, financial, material and other short- and long-term needs.
Beauticians and Related Occupations
£21,906
Entry Level Salary
£11,036.81
Average Salary
£22,030.13
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Applies make-up to hide blemishes or enhance facial features and advises clients on skin care and make-up techniques.
- Maintains client records, sells and advises on cosmetic products and services, and ensures appropriate health and safety issues are addressed..
- Advises clients on diet and exercise to assist in weight loss and slimming.
- Recognises problems and refers clients to medical practitioners if appropriate.
- Performs specialist treatments for conditions such as acne, applies skin rejuvenation therapies.
- Cleans, shapes and polishes finger and toe nails, applies nail extensions.
- Uses waxing, threading, sugaring and other epilation techniques to remove any unwanted body hair.
- Massages scalp, face and other parts of the body and carries out spray tanning.
- Discusses clients requirements, analyses and advises client on appropriate skin care, and applies treatments to the face or body.
Electrical and Electronics Technicians
£20,016
Entry Level Salary
£31,693.28
Average Salary
£52,817.59
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Interprets and reviews technical drawings.
- Visits and advises clients on the use and servicing of electrical and electronic systems and equipment.
- Diagnoses and detects faults and implements procedures to maintain efficient operation of systems and equipment.
- Plans installation methods, checks completed installation for safety and controls or undertakes the initial running of the new electrical or electronic equipment or system.
- Sets up equipment, undertakes tests, takes readings, performs calculations and records and interprets data.
- Plans and prepares work and test schedules based on specifications and drawings.
Vehicle Technicians, Mechanics and Electricians
£22,842
Entry Level Salary
£34,414
Average Salary
£49,310.10
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Repairs and services air conditioning, heating and engine-cooling systems.
- Installs additional electrical amenities such as radio/CD players, aerials.
- Checks condition of electrical/electronic systems and carries out servicing tasks.
- Diagnoses faults in electrical/electronic circuitry, removes faulty components and fits replacements.
- Carries out routine maintenance checks on oil and air filters, brakes and other vehicle parts/systems.
- Reassembles, tests, adjusts and tunes the appropriate parts, systems or entire engine.
- Removes, dismantles, repairs and replaces defective parts and prepares new parts using appropriate tools.
- Visually checks, test drives or uses test equipment to diagnose engine and mechanical faults.
Electricians and Electrical Fitters
£21,492
Entry Level Salary
£39,398.99
Average Salary
£52,896.75
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Examines electrical plant or machinery, domestic appliances and other electrical assembly for faults using test equipment and replaces worn parts and faulty wiring.
- Installs electrical plant, machinery and other electrical fixtures and appliances such as fuse boxes, generators, light sockets etc..
- Assembles parts and sub-assemblies using hand tools and by brazing, riveting or welding.
- Cuts, bends and installs electrical conduit.
- Selects, cuts and lays wires and connects to sockets, plugs or terminals by crimping, soldering, brazing or bolting.
- Examines drawings, specifications and wiring diagrams to determine the method and sequence of operations.
Hotel and Accommodation Managers and Proprietors
£23,418
Entry Level Salary
£31,314.48
Average Salary
£55,720.31
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Arranges for payment of bills, keeps accounts and ensures adherence to licensing and other statutory regulations.
- Approves and arranges shipboard entertainment and shore trips and liaises with ship’s agent to ensure that ship is adequately provisioned.
- Ensures physical comfort of residents or passengers and makes special arrangements for children, the elderly and the infirm if required.
- Determines financial, staffing, material and other short- and long-term needs.
- Analyses demand and decides on type, standard and cost of services to be offered.
Restaurant and Catering Establishment Managers and Proprietors
£22,212
Entry Level Salary
£21,181.33
Average Salary
£51,220.29
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Determines staffing, financial, material and other short- and long-term requirements.
- Checks that supplies are properly used and accounted for to prevent wastage and loss and to keep within budget limit.
- Plans and arranges food preparation in collaboration with other staff and organises the provision of waiting or counter staff.
- Verifies that quality of food, beverages and waiting service is as required, that kitchen and dining areas are kept clean and appropriate hygiene standards are maintained in compliance with statutory requirements.
- Purchases or directs the purchasing of supplies and arranges for preparation of accounts.
- Discusses customer’s requirements for special occasions.
- Decides on range and quality of meals and beverages to be provided.
- Plans catering services and directs staff.
Catering and Bar Managers
£22,968
Entry Level Salary
£26,045
Average Salary
£39,692.85
Potential Salary
Daily Tasks
- Checks that supplies are properly used and accounted for to prevent wastage and loss and to keep within budget limit.
- Verifies that quality of food, beverages and waiting service are as required and that kitchen and dining areas are kept clean in compliance with statutory requirements.
- Purchases or directs the purchasing of supplies and arranges for preparation of accounts.
- Decides on range and quality of meals and beverages to be provided or discusses customer’s requirements for special occasions.
- Plans catering or bar services and supervises staff.