Further consultation planned on GCSE science

Qualifications Wales has announced that a further consultation on GCSE science will take place in 2028, with current GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics continuing to be available while new GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) and GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) qualifications are embedded in schools.

Since announcing our decision to streamline the GCSE science offer, we have continued to listen to and engage schools, colleges, and interested organisations and individuals about content and requirements of the new qualifications - as well as the removal of separate science qualifications (GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics).

There continues to be differing views among stakeholders on what and how many science GCSEs should be available to 14 to 16-year-olds and how learners can be provided with the best foundation in science study that will prepare them for life, further learning and work.

Further consultation needed

After careful consideration, Qualifications Wales has decided that the best course of action at this stage is to carry out an additional consultation on the future range of science GCSEs that should be made available in Wales.

That consultation will take place in autumn 2028. This allows time for the new GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) and GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) qualifications to become established in schools and colleges and be awarded for the first time (in summer 2028).

Following the consultation, we will confirm the future range of science GCSEs in spring 2029. Any changes to the range of science GCSEs as a result of this consultation will come into effect for first teaching from September 2031.

Continuation of existing separate science GCSEs

As an interim measure, the current WJEC GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics will continue to be available pending the outcome of the 2028 consultation.

WJEC will be engaging with stakeholders in the coming weeks to understand the appetite for updates to the existing separate science GCSEs. Any amendments to the GCSEs will be carefully considered within the context of manageability for both centres and learners.

We are announcing this decision now as the new science GCSEs will be available for first teaching in September 2026 and this gives centres a full year to prepare their new science offer for their learners.

We understand that some centres that have previously offered separate science GCSEs have already begun to transition to the new double award as the primary science qualification. We want to take the opportunity to emphasise that centres should continue to deliver a science offer that works best for them and their learners.

Implementing new made-for-Wales GCSEs

The new GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) has been designed to readily support progression onto GCE AS and A level qualifications in biology, chemistry and physics. GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) has been designed to meet the needs of learners who will benefit from studying a science GCSE with less content than a double award. The single award has not been designed to support progression onto GCE AS and A level qualifications in the sciences.

Jo Richards, Executive Director Qualifications Policy and Reform, said: “Following our decision to introduce both new science qualifications in tandem in September 2026, development of the new science specifications has progressed well. We have now approved these qualifications and WJEC will be publishing final specifications at the end of September 2025.

“These new qualifications have been specifically designed to support the Curriculum for Wales, and the content has been developed to support learner engagement and provide opportunities for all learners to gain a solid foundation in scientific study.”

Support for centres and teachers

Over the coming year, WJEC will be rolling out a comprehensive package of professional learning and resources to support teachers in preparing to deliver these new qualifications from September 2026. These will include:

specification walk-throughs
live qualification briefings and Q&As
face-to-face ‘preparing to teach’ events
exam and non-examination assessment walk-throughs
adaptable digital resources

You can find out more about these opportunities on WJEC’s website here.

FAQs

1. What science GCSEs will centres be able to offer from September 2026?
From September 2026, centres will be able to choose from the following approved science GCSEs: GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics We will consult again on the future range of science GCSEs in autumn 2028. We will confirm the future range of science GCSEs in spring 2029. Any changes to the range of science GCSEs as a result of this consultation will come into effect for first teaching from September 2031.

1. What science GCSEs will centres be able to offer from September 2026?

From September 2026, centres will be able to choose from the following approved science GCSEs:

We will consult again on the future range of science GCSEs in autumn 2028. We will confirm the future range of science GCSEs in spring 2029. Any changes to the range of science GCSEs as a result of this consultation will come into effect for first teaching from September 2031.

2. Will there be any amendments to GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) and GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) now that the separate science GCSEs will continue to be available as an interim measure?
No, GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) and GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) are approved. WJEC will be publishing final specifications for these qualifications at the end of September 2025. The continued availability of separate science GCSEs, as an interim measure, does not necessitate any changes to these qualifications. They will continue to be available for first teaching from September 2026.

2. Will there be any amendments to GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) and GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) now that the separate science GCSEs will continue to be available as an interim measure?

No, GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) and GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) are approved. WJEC will be publishing final specifications for these qualifications at the end of September 2025. The continued availability of separate science GCSEs, as an interim measure, does not necessitate any changes to these qualifications. They will continue to be available for first teaching from September 2026.

3. Why has this decision to consult again on the range of science GCSEs, and extend the availability of separate science GCSEs as an interim measure, been taken now?
We know that there continues to be differing views among stakeholders on the availability of separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics. After careful consideration, we have decided that the best course of action at this stage is to carry out an additional consultation on the future range of science GCSEs that should be made available in Wales. This consultation will take place in autumn 2028 once the new science GCSEs have had an opportunity to become established. Any changes to the range of science GCSEs as a result of this consultation will come into effect for first teaching from September 2031. We are announcing this decision now as the new science GCSEs will be first taught in September 2026 and this gives centres a full year to prepare their new science offer for their learners.

3. Why has this decision to consult again on the range of science GCSEs, and extend the availability of separate science GCSEs as an interim measure, been taken now?

We know that there continues to be differing views among stakeholders on the availability of separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics.

After careful consideration, we have decided that the best course of action at this stage is to carry out an additional consultation on the future range of science GCSEs that should be made available in Wales. This consultation will take place in autumn 2028 once the new science GCSEs have had an opportunity to become established. Any changes to the range of science GCSEs as a result of this consultation will come into effect for first teaching from September 2031.

We are announcing this decision now as the new science GCSEs will be first taught in September 2026 and this gives centres a full year to prepare their new science offer for their learners.

4. What will the impact of this decision be on schools?
It will be for schools to decide which is the best path for their learners. In that regard, schools can continue to choose which science GCSEs they would like to offer their learners. They are used to making such decisions to meet the needs of their learners, their local context and their own curriculum planning. We know that some schools may have already started planning their science offer from September 2026. We are announcing this decision now as the new science GCSEs will be first taught in September 2026 and this gives centres a full year to prepare their new science offer for their learners.

4. What will the impact of this decision be on schools?

It will be for schools to decide which is the best path for their learners. In that regard, schools can continue to choose which science GCSEs they would like to offer their learners. They are used to making such decisions to meet the needs of their learners, their local context and their own curriculum planning.

We know that some schools may have already started planning their science offer from September 2026. We are announcing this decision now as the new science GCSEs will be first taught in September 2026 and this gives centres a full year to prepare their new science offer for their learners.

5. Which science GCSEs will provide the best progression to AS and A levels in biology, chemistry and physics?
The new GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) and the existing separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics have been designed to support progression to AS and A levels in biology, chemistry and physics. Learners will be able to progress onto science AS and A level qualifications having taken either of these science routes at GCSE.

6. Will WJEC be updating the current separate science GCSEs to align with the curriculum?
WJEC will be engaging with stakeholders in the coming weeks to understand the appetite for updates to the existing separate science GCSEs. Any amendments to the GCSEs will be carefully considered within the context of manageability for both centres and learners.

7. What are Welsh Government’s expectations about which science GCSEs a school should offer?
Following today’s announcement, Welsh Government will update its statutory guidance on 14 to 16 learning. As the guidance currently states, under Curriculum for Wales in Years 10 and 11, schools should ensure all learners follow a challenging, ambitious and stretching course that leads to a qualification in the sciences. In line with current practice in schools, for most learners this will be either GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) or separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics.

7. What are Welsh Government’s expectations about which science GCSEs a school should offer?

Following today’s announcement, Welsh Government will update its statutory guidance on 14 to 16 learning. As the guidance currently states, under Curriculum for Wales in Years 10 and 11, schools should ensure all learners follow a challenging, ambitious and stretching course that leads to a qualification in the sciences. In line with current practice in schools, for most learners this will be either GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) or separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics.

8. What are the views of higher education providers on the availability of separate science GCSEs?
Higher education providers, including the UK’s top universities such as those in the Russell Group, have consistently told us that they accept learners with a range of different science GCSEs. They have continued to reassure us that learners with GCSE The Sciences (Double Award) would be accepted on courses that have a GCSE science requirement.