Delivering aNational Qualifications

System for Wales

Qualifications Roadshow

• Outline key changes to qualifications in Wales and provide feedback from latest consultations

• Listen to concerns/issues with implementation • Visit all local authorities (January – March 14)• Run 3 Welsh-medium specific events (based on the WM regions)• We want and need feedback

Purpose of the qualifications roadshows

• Introduction and overview (15 minutes)• GCSEs and A levels – the way forward (followed by discussion)

(40 minutes)• The Welsh Baccalaureate and Essential Skills reform (followed by

discussion) (40 minutes)• Vocational qualifications, performance measurement and

communications strategy (followed by discussion) (25 minutes)• Close

Outline of the roadshow

Qualifications that are understood and valued and meet the needs of our young people and the Welsh economy

Based on evidence (Review of Qualifications) and extensive stakeholder consultation. Inclusive approach is continuing in implementation:• Qualifications Wales Advisory Board • External Stakeholder reference group• Welsh Bac steering group, etc.

Vision and Evidence Base

Key Overarching Messages: Wales is ...

Delivering a nationalqualification system for

Wales

Focusing on literacy and numeracy

Independence and more rigorous quality

assurance

Portable qualifications, recognised and respected

throughout the UK and internationally

Improved Welsh Bac focusing on skills

Moving towards a single suite of high quality GCSEs and A levels

Video: Views of Higher Education on

Qualifications reform

• Learning Pathways review• National curriculum developments

Wider context

14-19 Learning Pathways review

• An independent Task and Finish Group reported autumn 2013, following a review of local collaborative provision at Key Stage 4

• Recommendation to reduce the minimum number of courses required to form a local curriculum offer was accepted by the Welsh Government

New regulations start on 5 February 2014 (with effect from September 2014)

• a reduction in the number of courses that must be included in the local curriculum offer at KS4 from 30 to 25, and the vocational requirement from five to three

• removal of restrictions, in terms of the domains, currently applied in the selection of vocational courses at KS4; and

• removal of the requirement at KS4 and post-16 to meet respective points scores when compiling the course offer (not performance points)

14-19 Learning Pathways – key changes

• Consultation closed in January 2014 on strengthening and supporting the teaching of literacy and numeracy in the Curriculum in Wales. A summary of responses received, will be published shortly.

• New Programmes of Study/Areas of Learning for Maths, English and Welsh (for all key stages and Foundation Phase) will be developed.

– Autumn term 2014 – publish final version (following consultation)– September 2015 – teaching starts

Curriculum changes in 2015

• Professor Graham Donaldson to lead a wide ranging review of the National Curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales from Foundation Phase to Key Stage 4.

• Linking directly to Wales’ new Qualifications system. • Complement the recent consultation on strengthening and supporting

the teaching of literacy and numeracy in the Curriculum in Wales.• Start March 2014 - report to Welsh Government end of year.

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/schoolshome/curriculuminwales/curriculum-for-wales/?lang=en

Next steps – Curriculum review

It will also give consideration to: • Schools and Physical Activity Task and Finish group• Arts in Education review • Review of Curriculum Cymreig, History and the story of Wales• Review of Computer science and ICT• Review of Welsh Second Language

Next steps – Curriculum review

Qualifications Wales

• New independent body, emphasis on quality assurance• In time, awarding most qualification 14-16, most AS and A levels,

Welsh Baccalaureate• Providing information and advice to stakeholders and Welsh

Government• Aim to simplify the system and strengthen confidence and

understanding• Consultation closed 20 December – now analysing responses• Subject to legislation, establish the organisation September 2015

GCSEs and A Levels - the way Forward

In Wales, we are retaining• the GCSE, AS and A level brand names• the current grading structures• modular GCSEs (where appropriate)• the AS as part of the full A level

GCSEs, AS and A levels

We are developing a suite of new and revised GCSEs, AS and A levels which will:• meet the needs of learners and employers• at least as robust as those available elsewhere• be recognised and understood

GCSEs, AS and A levels

To be taught from September 2015• New GCSEs in

– English Language

– Welsh Language

– Mathematics - Numeracy

– Mathematics

• Revised GCSEs in– English Literature

– Welsh Literature (revisions kept to a minimum in both)

GCSEs

The new language GCSEs will• focus on the skills that learners will need in their everyday lives• develop the functional aspects of reading, writing and oracy• build on and progress from the LNF and align with the revised curriculum• be linear• not include ‘coursework’ other than for oracy• report separately on achievements in reading, writing and oracy•

GCSEs

The new Mathematics - Numeracy GCSE will• focus on the skills that learners will need in their everyday lives• assess candidates’ ability to solve ‘real-life’ problems• include problems of increasing complexity at the higher levels

The new Mathematics GCSE will• include different mathematical content• also include questions set in purely mathematical contexts

GCSEs

Both Mathematics GCSEs will• build on and progress from the LNF• align with the revised curriculum• be linear• have three tiers• have a calculator and a non-calculator paper• have an additional assessment opportunity in November

GCSEs

• We expect most learners to take both Maths GCSEs• Additional curriculum time will not be required to deliver the two new

Maths GCSEs (although we accept there will be an additional assessment burden)

Delivering the new Maths GCSEs

• In Wales (as in England) new AS and A levels to be taught from September 2015 in

– Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies

– Chemistry, Computing, Economics

– English Language, English Literature

– English Language and Literature

– History

– Physics, Psychology, Sociology

– Welsh

– Change to Welsh Second Language also possible

AS and A levels

In Wales• AS and A levels to be kept as coupled qualifications• No January assessments after January 2014• Re-sits limited to one per module• Reduce the weighting of the AS (from the current 50%)• Share the same content, if appropriate, as those in England (and possibly Northern Ireland)• Assess and recognise practical skills

AS and A levels

Next Steps

Period Activity

January 2014 – June 2014 Specification development

Autumn 2014 New specifications in centres

Autumn 2014 onwards CPD programme to support staff

Spring 2015 New bilingual resources available

September 2015 Teaching of new qualifications

Questionsand comments

Welsh Baccalaureateand Essential Skills

• Retain strengths of current model but address weaknesses• A new emphasis on skills development: literacy, numeracy and other

skills for work and higher education• An assessment model that is purposeful, clear, integrated with

learning, through the use of ‘challenges’• More rigorous, with more robust quality assurance

What are the key changes for Welsh Bac?

• Grading of the challenges and an overall grade• We will encourage universal adoption by schools and colleges from

September 2015• ESW not required as components from 2015 – the skills will be

assessed through GCSEs in Numeracy, English or Welsh and through the challenges

• Develop an engaging framework for learners to develop world class skills

What are the key changes for Welsh Bac?

• Literacy• Numeracy• Digital Literacy• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving• Planning and Organisation• Creativity and Innovation• Personal Effectiveness

What are the skills?

High Level Model

Core assessed through challenges

Identify and develop opportunities in the local/wider community and actively participate to support improvement

Participate in work related activities for employment & plan and run an enterprise activity

Work on a problem related to global issues such as sustainable food, recycling, citizenship/democracy

Learners develop and demonstrate knowledge and skills to produce an artefact or research based project

CommunityChallenge

Enterprise andEmployability

Challenge

Global CitizenshipChallenge

Individual Project

Examples of organisations currently offering challenges or competitions

Guiding young people to start up

• Working groups have been established to design and to advise on the delivery of the new challenges

• We will publish ‘off the shelf’ challenges in the Summer• Schools and colleges are also welcome to propose challenges –

subject to a quality assurance process by the Welsh Government

When will the challenges be developed?

• Working groups established to advise on assessment arrangements – working closely with higher education colleagues

• At level 2, literacy and numeracy will be assessed through the new GCSEs in Maths and English/Welsh (evidence of the wider skills will be within the challenges)

• At level 3, learners will be expected to show progression in each of the skills through the challenges

• We will publish guidance (clear learning outcomes, grading structure, assessment arrangements and best practice in the Summer 2014)

How will the new Welsh Bac be assessed?

Welsh Bac model

GCSE English Language or Welsh (first) Language

GCSE Maths (numeracy)

Three further GCSEs or equivalent(up to two can be equivalents at KS4)

GCSE English Language or Welsh (first) Language

GCSE Maths (numeracy)

Two A levels or equivalent

Grading: Foundation (level 1): Pass and Pass*National (level 2): A*- CSize = one GCSE

Grading: A* - ELearners who have already achieved the relevant GCSEs should demonstrate progression in literacy and numeracy through the Project and ChallengesSize = one A level

National/Foundation Advanced

• We expect curriculum time to equate to one GCSE for National and one A level for Advanced

• We and WJEC will work with stakeholders to develop support/CPD and resources etc.

• We will provide support through the regional consortia• New brand and identity being developed for the new Welsh Bac

Next steps

Questionsand comments

PerformanceMeasures

From 2013• Separate reporting of English Language/Welsh First Language and Mathematics

From 2016• Whole Year 11 cohorts used for reporting, not learners aged 15 at the start of the year• No qualification worth more than 2 GCSEs

Measurement of Performance: Key Stage 4

From 2017• Welsh Bac measures introduced - to replace threshold measures • Max 40% contribution of non-GCSEs to threshold/Welsh Bac measures• Maths requirement of the L2 inclusive measure and Welsh Bac

measures will be the new numeracy based GCSE• English/Welsh requirement of these will be the new GCSEs in English

Language and Welsh Language. Literature GCSEs will not count• Essential Skills Wales and Wider Key Skills qualifications will not attract

performance points, and will not be required for the revised Welsh Bac

Measurement of Performance: Key Stage 4

Further review to consider:• exact composition of the threshold (including Welsh Bac) and capped

points measures• What relative emphasis and weighting we should place on threshold

measures vs points scores• Specifically, should there be a shift towards greater emphasis on points

scores rather than threshold measures

Findings to be announced this academic year

This is not a review of banding methodology

Measurement of Performance: further work

It will take into account• Issues from the Minister’s conference speech• Early entry issues• The wish to encourage use of the Welsh Bac, balanced against the

need to ensure quality of delivery• Whether any qualifications should be required/excluded/weighted

– e.g. to encourage take up of both Maths GCSEs• the impact on curriculum, especially in the Welsh medium sector

Measurement of Performance: further work

Extracts from speech• “The level 2 inclusive…can create a fixation on the C grade and a

disproportionate focus on learners in the middle of the ability spectrum• We need measures that provide motivation across the ability range,

encourage aspiration to the highest grades, and recognise the achievements of learners working at level 1

• Early entry has led to learners having to settle for C grades when they could have achieved more”

Measurement of Performance at KS4: further work

Extracts from speech…• “We should reward schools and colleges for helping every learner to

achieve the very best grades they can, for instance through more emphasis on capped points scores

• I will look at how we can make sure that, as well as the new GCSEs testing literacy and numeracy, most learners also take the second maths GCSE and at least one science GCSE”

Measurement of Performance at KS4: further work - cont

• A project is looking at developing consistent measures across sectors• Also looking at learner destination data, to help inform policy and learner

choice• Measures likely to reflect:

– completion of courses

– attainment of qualifications

– destination

– learner Voice

• It will take into account Review of Qualifications recommendations, e.g. attainment of Welsh Bac as a measure, aspiration to higher grades

Measurement of Performance: Post 16

Vocational Qualifications

• Adopt European categories– Initial or Continuing Vocational Education and Training (IVETs/CVETs) – now complete

– Only IVETs available pre-16 from 2014

• Stronger gatekeeping– Relevance, value, purpose, progression

– DfES/Awarding Organisation Liaison Group set up

– Pilot Sector Qualifications Advisory Panels being established to check relevance

– Panels will consider the need for new generic IVETs

• Welsh Bac model gives equal status

Vocational Qualifications

Next steps

• National conference with independent champions held Dec 2013• Launched campaign to inform all Higher Education institutions (HEIs)

in Wales, and those HEI institutions in England with significant amount of Welsh learners, about changes in Wales

• Launched campaign to inform Wales’ anchor companies and small businesses about changes to the qualifications landscape over the next 18 months

• Launched new brand identity and website for Qualifications Wales with timeline for change

Communications Campaign 2013

• Qualifications Roadshows throughout Wales• Workforce development plan – CPD, resources etc for practitioners,

to support delivery• Campaign to communicate the new qualifications landscape to

parents/carers/learners pack • Continue to highlight the support of independent champions

Further information www.qualificationswales.org

Communication - Next steps

Questionsand comments

Delivering aNational Qualifications

System for Wales

Qualifications Roadshow