Key Skills are qualifications that allow both teachers and learners to benchmark their capability in skills such as working in groups and being creative; in fact, Key Skills have been an essential part of vocational qualifications since their introduction in the 1980s, when they were known as Common Skills. 

Edexcel International offers Key Skills to both schools and colleges. They can be studied as part of a GCE Advanced, VCE or GCSE qualification, as well as within the BTEC courses where they originated. There are six key skills and each one is available at four levels.