Wales Qualifications Reform Update

Hywel Davies

UCAS Welsh Standing Group 28/5/15

Qualifications Wales

Qualifications Wales

• New independent body, emphasis on quality assurance

• In time, awarding most qualifications 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

• Subject to legislation, establish the organisation

September 2015

GCSEs, AS and A levels

In Wales, we are retaining

• the GCSE, AS and A level brand names

• the current grading structures

• unitised GCSEs (where appropriate)

• the AS as part of the full A level

• practical assessments where appropriate

GCSEs, AS and A levels

GCSEs, AS and A levels – new for 2015

New GCSEs in maths, the languages and the literatures

New AS and A levels in:

• Economics

• Art and Design

• Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology

• Business, Computing Science

• English Language, Eng. Literature

• English Language and Literature

• History, Sociology

• Welsh

• Art and Design, Food and Nutrition

• Biology, Chemistry, Physics (and reviewing the

whole GCSE science suite)

• Drama, Music, Geography, History, Religious Studies

• Modern Foreign Languages: French, German, Spanish

• Physical Education

• D&T delayed until 2017 – when Computer Science /

ICT / Digital Literacy and Welsh Second Language

are also likely to be introduced

GCSEs – new for 2016

Suite will comprise of:

• GCSE Biology

• GCSE Chemistry

• GCSE Physics

• GCSE Science (Double Award)

• GCSE Applied Science (Double Award)

• GCSE Applied Science (Single Award) *

(*Late addition – broadly half the Applied Double Award)

GCSE Sciences for 2016

• Drama

• Geography,

• Modern Foreign Languages: French, German, Spanish

• Music

• Physical Education

• Religious Studies

• Welsh Second Language

Mathematics, Further Mathematics and D&T delayed

until 2017

AS and A levels – new for 2016

Final awards in the following in summer 2017

(existing centres only):

• AS and A level in Applied Art and Design

• AS and A level in Applied Business

• AS and A level in Human Biology

• AS and A level in Economics and Business (combined

course)

• GCSE Digital Communication.

Reason – too much overlap between these subjects and

one or more of the subjects being reformed for teaching in

Wales from September 2015. Similar decision in England.

Withdrawn Qualifications

New brand and identity for Welsh Bacc

• Build on the strengths of current model but address weaknesses

• Increased rigour and ensure a robust quality assurance

• Grading at all levels and grading of each challenge

• New emphasis on development of skills for work and higher education

• Clear, purposeful assessment through new GCSEs, Individual Project

and ‘Challenges’

• ESW and WKS qualifications not used as part of the Skills Challenge

Certificate

• Encourage universal adoption by schools and colleges

Key changes

• Literacy

• Numeracy

• Digital Literacy

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Planning and Organisation

• Creativity and Innovation

• Personal Effectiveness

Essential Skills in the Welsh Bacc

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Welsh Baccalaureate

• An independent, research-based activity through which learners demonstrate knowledge and skills that are assessed through a written account or an artefact/product supported by written evidence.

Individual Project

• Develop enterprising skills and attributes and enhance employability

Enterprise & Employability

Challenge

• Understand and respond appropriately to a global issue

Global Citizenship Challenge

• Identify, develop and participate in opportunities that will benefit the local community Community Challenge

The Challenges

• WJEC has developed ‘off the shelf’ Challenges

• External organisations will develop Challenges

• Colleges will develop sector relevant Challenges

• In the longer term, schools may propose Challenges

• Quality assurance of all Challenges by WJEC

• Assessment of each Challenge will focus on two (or sometimes

more) skills areas

• Some individual, some in teams but individually assessed

Challenges

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High Level Model

17

Skills Challenge

Certificate

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GCSEs

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Supporting

Qualifications

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Welsh Baccalaureate

Welsh Bacc model

GCSE English Language or Welsh Language

GCSE Maths-Numeracy

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

GCSE English Language or Welsh Language

GCSE Maths-Numeracy

Two A levels or equivalent

Grading:

Foundation (level 1): Pass and Pass*

National (level 2): A*- C

Size = one GCSE

Grading: A* - E

Learners who have already achieved the

relevant GCSEs at grade A*-C should

demonstrate progression in literacy and

numeracy through the Project and Challenges

Size = one A level

National/Foundation Advanced

• Nine centres have trialled the

three Challenge areas

• In March evaluation of the trials

WJEC will use the lessons

learnt to develop guidance

handbooks for centres

• Developing Challenges and

resources with external

organisations, including

Employers & HEIs

WJEC support

• Developing Challenges for

areas of the curriculum

including MFL and Science

• Developing resources &

learning packages specifically

for Post-16 levels

• CPD events in April and May

for Schools and Colleges/Work

Based Learning

• Summer 2014 the final year of award of pass/fail grading model

• Interim model graded A* to C taught in 2013 and 2014, HE entry in

2015 and 2016

• Revised, refreshed model A* to E from first teaching September

2015 for HE entry in 2017

Version Control

The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma from September 2015 will

be the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate

Distinctive feature was THE CORE. Graded pass or fail until 2013 and

then A* to C

From September 2015, the Core will be the Advanced Welsh

Baccalaureate- Skills Challenge Certificate graded A* to E which is a

qualification within the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate

Changes

• UNTIL 2014 YEAR OF ENTRY: PASS OR FAIL

• 2015 AND 2016 YEARS OF ENTRY: A*-C and fail

• 2017 YEAR OF ENTRY: A*-E

Grading The Welsh Bacc

• Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate fully graded

• Same size as an A level

• Same UCAS tariff points as an A level

• Treat as an A level in terms of the offer

Offer Making 2017

• For applicants offering graded versions of this qualification from 2015 we will accept a A* grade as equivalent to a A* at A level etc

For Example, Exeter

• Requirements are as for A levels where the lower grade required is in a non-subject specified A level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Bacc Core

For Example, Bristol

Communication

• Campaign to promote the changes 3 November 2014

This included:

• New web site with a series of animations

• Printed Packs sent to all schools, colleges and training

providers to explain the changes

• Printed Parents’ guides to explain the changes

• Presentations to support centres when communicating

with parents

• Promotion of independent endorsements

Communication

• HE Admission tutors pack launched January 2015

http://qualifiedforlife.org.uk/higher-education-guide

• Welsh Government Qualifications Information Officer

appointed – Dr. Hywel Davies

• Developing an employer guide to explain the changes

• Developing case studies of the new Welsh Bacc in action

• PR campaign to promote independent endorsements

• Launch media campaign to highlight the changes to

qualifications

• Prepare for launch of Qualifications Wales!

Communication cont’d

http://qualifiedforlife.org.uk/higher-education-guide

Microsite: homepage

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Animation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfCvGYSNYdg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfCvGYSNYdghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfCvGYSNYdg

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Views of Stakeholders

on qualifications reform

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNvF90h8z4M&feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNvF90h8z4M&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNvF90h8z4M

Questions