Introduction

Qualifications Wales is an integral part of the Welsh education and training system.

We have developed innovative ways of fulfilling our duties as a responsible regulator.

We lead on the reform of many qualifications and understand that successful change requires the whole system to come together to collaborate and communicate effectively.

We are committed to playing our role in that collaboration and help build the relationships required for others to successfully play their part in change.

All our strategies and plans are developed with the involvement of key stakeholders.

Wellbeing of future generations

Qualifications are important and their value must be protected for the learners that they seek to serve. The wellbeing of learners is at the heart of our actions and decisions.

We aim to ensure that learners in Wales can choose from trusted, valued and globally portable qualifications, that are relevant, fair, flexible and as far as possible bilingual.

As a responsible national public body, we have chosen to work in accordance with the expectations of the Well-being of Future Generations Act and will be formally subject to its duties from April 2025.

The Act is unique to Wales and requires public bodies to think about the long-term impact of their decisions. We have always worked in the spirit of the Act. We are now going further to consider the long-term impact of external influences and societal trends, and the impact of qualifications on the learner for their lifetime.

Corporate plan

We have developed a new corporate plan which outlines a strategic approach to achieving our purpose and principal aims. The plan has been designed with due consideration of the wellbeing of future generations and incorporates our wellbeing statement and objectives.

A range of stakeholder groups have been involved in helping shape our wellbeing objectives, telling us that looking into the future, they want to see:

  • education helping to tackle poverty by countering socio-economic inequalities, supported by an inclusive range of qualifications 
  • an emphasis on employability, with qualifications responding to the changing skills needed by business and the economy
  • the purposes of the Curriculum for Wales visibly integrated into our reforms  
  • learners gaining knowledge that will positively influence their future lives – including the meaning of sustainable development, climate change, healthy lifestyles, anti-racism and an appreciation of diversity
  • a continued focus on learner wellbeing
  • a clear realisation of the benefits of digital technology and response to developments in artificial intelligence
  • lifelong learning and adult education considered in post-16 qualifications reviews
  • qualifications and resources that are Made-for-Wales and support a bilingual nation

We have also looked at research and data on long-term issues and their significance for the qualifications system, noting that the following trends are of particular importance to our work:

  • an ageing  population – if birthrates fall in Wales, beyond 2030, it could impact the qualifications market, resulting in the need for a more flexible offer with a greater focus on life-long learning
  • inequalities - the widening poverty gap  negatively impacts the economy, health and wellbeing and educational attainment.
  • skills-based economy - the world of work is changing rapidly and transferable skills are becoming increasingly important
  • technological change - digital technology is continuing to advance quickly, including the use of artificial intelligence in all aspects of our lives
  • resilience – we must be alert to the likelihood of another pandemic and the robustness of the qualifications system, and assessment mechanisms, in such times is becoming more important

Several strategies or action plans sit under our corporate plan this supporting specific aspects of our wellbeing goals:

Strategic planning

We have established our strategic priorities and programmes of work and set them out in a rolling five-year plan, which is updated regularly. The detailed steps that we take in a given year are then outlined in our annual business plan.

Annual report

Our annual report provides an outline of delivery and developments over the last academic year. This report provides an outline of delivery and developments over the twelve-month period from the beginning of September 2023 to the end August 2024. This year has been significant for us at Qualifications Wales in many ways. 

Some highlights of the 2023-24 year within the annual report include: 

  • how we took the final step in the transition back to pre-pandemic arrangements
  • the creation of the made-for-Wales suite of National Qualifications for 14 to 16-year-olds, including VCSEs, Skills Suite, Foundation qualifications and GCSEs
  • the approach to designating other qualifications to sit alongside National 14-16 Qualifications
  • developments in post-16 vocational qualifications
  • the review of Essential Skills Wales qualifications
    being listed under the Well-being of Future Generations Act 

You can read the online version here. You can also take a look at our previous annual reports for the 2022-23, 2021-22 and 2020-21 academic years. 

Financial reporting

We receive a Remit Letter and Grant in Aid Letter at the start of each financial year setting out our annual funding and what the Welsh Government wants us to achieve during that year.

Our latest set of annual accounts covers the period between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The Accounting Officer is pleased to confirm that it is an ‘unqualified’ report from the Auditor General.

You can also review our accounts for the periods covering 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023,  1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 and 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.

The maintenance and integrity of Qualifications Wales’ website is the responsibility of Qualifications Wales; the work carried out by auditors does not involve consideration of these matters and accordingly auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially presented on the website.

Business planning

Our latest business plan sets out our operational priorities for the financial year 2023-24.

Business plan 2024-2025

Business plan 2023-2024

Business plan 2022-2023

Cymraeg

Our Choice for All strategy clearly sets out our commitment to Cymraeg (the Welsh language) and our aim to increase the availability of Welsh-medium qualifications.

It also emphasises our intention to work with awarding bodies and other partners in order to contribute towards Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 priorities. 

Choice for All sets out four strategic areas of focus:

  • prioritising qualifications to be made available in Welsh in full-time education, post-16 settings and apprenticeships
  • strengthening support for awarding bodies and their capacity to deliver Welsh-medium qualifications
  • revising our Welsh Language Support grant to focus on priority areas, new qualifications and innovative applications
  • improving information and data for learners, schools and colleges, and for our regulatory purposes

We have also produced and regularly review a Welsh Language Scheme, which sets out how we deliver our functions and responsibilities through the medium of Cymraeg as well as in English. Our latest Welsh Language Scheme Compliance Report outlines how we met our commitment under the Scheme during 2023/24.

Carbon reduction action plan

Qualifications Wales is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. We have made significant improvements to our leased office environment over the last 6 years. We support Welsh Government’s ‘Working Together to Reach Net Zero’ 2021-25 plan and the further actions that we will take are described in our 2022-24 Carbon Reduction Action Plan.