Critical success factors

At centre of educational developments in Wales

Promotes parity of esteem between academic & vocational qualifications

Promotes skills

Promotes inclusion, retention and achievement

Provides a powerful network of centres and support structures

Growth in WBQ

Results 2011

Number % of entry

Advanced Core 7824 94.0 %

Diploma 7550 90.7 %

Intermediate Core 5168 87.5 %

Diploma 4847 82.0 %

Foundation Core 2541 86.7 %

Diploma 2417 82.5 %

Total Core 15533 90.5%

Diploma 14814 86.3%

Characteristics of a Baccalaureate

• broad and balanced curriculum• compulsory core offering common experience plus

optional elements/traditional subjects• parity between academic & vocational qualifications• emphasis on skills, independent learning, innovative

learning• qualification for admission to higher education,

employment and foundation for life

Curriculum Framework

Welsh Baccalaureate core

Options - range of current

qualifications

Foundation, Intermediate & Advanced Levels

Each student has a personal tutor or learning coach

• Advanced WBQ Diploma

= 120 UCAS points

in addition to Option points• Intermediate WBQ Diploma

= approx 3 A* - C grade GCSEs• Foundation WBQ Diploma

= approx 3 D - G grade GCSEs

What is the Welsh Bac worth?

•Funding now a matter for the local authority

•Previously post 16 (over 2 years) was based on NPFS system and worth c £550 per year*

•Pump prime delivery and planning funding pre-16 is no longer available

*Key Skills = 36 CEUs (3 could be claimed each year)Core = 9 CEUs ( 4.5 each year)Total = 45 x £25.04 = £1126.8 (£563.40 each year)

What about funding?

•96% received a WBQ offer from at least one of their 5 choices’ (Head of 6th Form, 2010)

HE & WBQ

Total courses

Acceptableon own

Acceptable in combination

Notacceptable

UK 20,881 16,069 4,659 153

WALES 2,809 2,220 586 3

What about universities?

Work by the UCAS Research Team, analysed a sample of over 600 Welsh Bac students who applied through UCAS for entry to HEIs in 2006. The Welsh Bac applicants showed a number of positive characteristics.

•Welsh Bac applicants demonstrated a higher success rate in the UCAS main scheme• Better A level performance.

(Abi Titley, UCAS)

CHALLENGES FOR NEW CENTRES

DELIVERY OF THE WBQ PRESENTS A CONSIDERABLE CHALLENGE

- Staffing/expertise

- Timetabling

- Resources

- Training

- Cost

- Apathy

- Reform fatigue

- Conservative culture & defence of the status quo

PUTTING TOGETHER A WBQ TEAM

WBQ CO-ORDINATOR

TUTOR/MENTORS

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

LINK

SPECIALISTS

ADMIN SUPPORT

KEY SKILLS COORDINATOR

(KS4/5 separate)

(KS4/5 separate)

Core team meetings - once a week

Regular meetings with learning coaches

REGULAR MEETINGS

ROLE OF PERSONAL TUTOR/LEARNING COACH IS KEY

Tutors guide students through the Welsh Baccalaureate

Surgery style interviews

Students entitled to 30 minutes each half term

SPREADING THE WORD

• Students

• Teachers

• Parents

• Local community

• HE

• Collaboration

EVALUATION

• Senior managers review provision

• Progression• Completion

‘WBQ provides excellent preparation for success in HE.’

Aberystwyth Uni.

‘You get life skills from the WBQ. It makes you more confident as a person’ (Nick, student)

‘The WBQ has developed a number of the employability skills that employers have asked for’. David Rosser, Director CBI in Wales

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExWfh6sGyso