A British initiative that aims to identify, develop, and assess core skills in post-16 courses and qualifications is summarized in this bulletin. The first section discusses expectations regarding what core skills can achieve. The following section focuses on other purposes to which core skills could contribute, such as broadening the post-16 curriculum, creating opportunities for credit transfer, establishing continuity with the National Curriculum, and bridging the "academic-vocational divide." It also argues that although the current initiative alone cannot fully achieve all these purposes, it will provide a basis for them. The next section summarizes recent national developments from February 1989 through November 1990. Further Education Unit (FEU) activities in the area of core skills are then described. They include: recording of achievement; definitions, levels, and frameworks; and the important issues to be explored if the core skills initiative is to be successful, highlights what the initiative has achieved so far, predicts future developments, and comments on FEU's role. (YLB)