Skills Suite qualifications are entry level, level 1 and level 2 qualifications, usually taken by learners between the ages of 14 and 16. They have been developed to meet the specific needs of learners in Wales.
The Skills Suite is a wide-ranging and customisable set of skills qualifications available as part of the National Qualifications for 14 to 16-year-olds in Wales. They allow learners to create their own learning pathway to develop effective and relevant work and life skills.
The suite comprises:
They will be first taught in schools and colleges from September 2027.
These qualifications will be delivered by one or more of the following awarding bodies, subject to specification approval:
The Skills Suite is available from entry level to level 2 of the Credit and Qualifications Framework.
There are at least 28 Skills for Life topics and 19 Skills for Work topics (depending on the awarding body), enabling all types of learners to develop skills in areas they have told us they would like to explore. In addition to the topics listed below, different awarding bodies might be offering an international languages unit for both Skills for Life and Skills for Work, as well as up to three additional units of their choosing.
Each topic is taught and assessed as a standalone, bitesize unit, and learners are able to mix and match units to create a learning pathway that suits their strengths, interests and progression aspirations.
Learners can take a combination of Skills for Life and Skills for Work units to achieve:
The level achieved will be determined by the combination of units taken by each learner. For example, if a learner achieves an award, with 20 GLH at level 1 and 40 GLH at level 2, they will secure a level 2 qualification overall.
Learners who have not accumulated sufficient units to be able to claim a qualification will be able to claim unit certification.
The Personal Project is a standalone project completed independently by learners on a topic of their choice, enabling them to develop their skills exploring a subject matter they’re passionate about.
Following completion of their project, learners are assessed on their application of four integral skills as outlined in the Curriculum for Wales:
Learners are able to demonstrate their proficiency of these skills via a wide range of evidence types.
As well as allowing learners to create qualifications to suit their needs, interests and aspirations, the Skills Suite:
The grading structure for Skills for Life, Skills for Work, and Skills for Life and Work is:
The grading structure for the Personal Project is:
As the Skills Suite is available at entry level, level 1 and level 2, the qualifications are designed to work for all learners and can be taken alongside GCSEs, VCSEs and/or Foundation qualifications.
Therefore, learners taking these qualifications may progress to post-16 academic or vocational study, either at school, a further education institution, university or as part of their work-based learning. Some will choose to go straight into employment.
Each awarding body has made sample assessment materials available to support the delivery of their Skills Suite qualifications.
Additional resources and guidance, such as schemes of work, worksheets and professional learning events, are also often provided by awarding bodies.
Additional resources and training will be available from Adnodd and Dysgu in due course.
You can explore the full range of qualification options for learners aged 14 to 16, including GCSEs, VCSEs and Foundation qualifications. These qualifications can be taken alongside VCSEs to support a broad range of progression pathways.
For insights into the development process, view our project timeline which features key research findings, consultation activity and important project milestones.
