The Personal Project: supporting independent skills development from September 2027
New Personal Project qualifications allow learners to choose their own topic, helping to foster effective engagement while developing and assessing the skills that matter for progression in life, further learning and work.
Choosing the right qualifications can shape a learner's confidence, skills, and future opportunities, whatever path they go on to take.
Personal Project qualifications offer a flexible, learner-led way to build essential skills through a subject they choose themselves. Whether they are taking their first steps towards independent study or are already working confidently at a higher level, these qualifications are designed to support their progression.
Available from September 2027, these new qualifications have been shaped by extensive engagement with stakeholders, including learners, parents, employers, and higher education providers.
In this blog, we’ll explain what the qualifications involve and how they could benefit learners on any educational journey, whatever their destination.
What are Personal Project qualifications?
Personal Project qualifications allow learners to develop and demonstrate essential skills by engaging with a topic of their choice.
They will have the opportunity to plan their project, set SMART goals and design success criteria, consider the reliability of resources, explore and generate ideas, consider and respond to the values and ideas of others, and identify successes and areas for development.
Learners are not assessed on their knowledge of their chosen topic.
Personal Project qualifications are smaller, standalone qualifications at 60 guided learning hours. They are designed to complement other qualifications within a learner's programme of study, such as GCSEs, VCSEs or Skill Suite qualifications.
Learners can achieve a Pass, Merit or Distinction depending on the level of their qualification.
With the new Skills for Life and Skills for Work qualifications, the Personal Project qualifications build on the strengths of the current Individual Project taught as part of the Skills Challenge Certificate in many schools.
Catering for all learners
One of the strengths of the Personal Project qualifications is their flexibility.
They'll be available at entry level (spanning entry level 1 to entry level 3), level 1 and level 2, catering for learners at every stage; from those building foundational skills such as organisation, creativity and independence, to those already demonstrating greater autonomy.
Project-based learning and independent study are important skills to develop for university and employment. Personal Project qualifications can provide a valuable platform, with early achievements building confidence and laying the groundwork for progression to higher level learning.
Flexibility is reflected in the assessment of the qualifications too.
Learners can showcase their skills through a range of formats, including written, oral, graphic, digital, artefact, performance, or event-based evidence. And just as in the workplace, learners are required to apply their skills practically.
Multiple awarding bodies will be offering Personal Project qualifications. Many awarding bodies have begun publishing their specifications and supporting materials, so we encourage teachers to get in touch with their chosen awarding body directly to find out more about their qualifications.
How Personal Project qualifications fit with Curriculum for Wales
Importantly, the Personal Project qualifications have been designed to align with the Curriculum for Wales.
Learners are assessed on are the integral skills as specified in the curriculum:
- Planning and organising.
- Creativity and innovation.
- Critical thinking and problem solving.
- Personal effectiveness.
By offering these qualifications, schools will be able to demonstrate they are delivering the wider learning and experiences required as part of the 14 to 16 learner entitlement.
The benefits of studying a Personal Project
Because learners choose their own subject, Personal Project qualifications tend to foster effective engagement and motivation. Working on a topic of real interest helps learners develop a deeper understanding of it, while building skills in critical thinking, research, and problem-solving that are valuable in both academic and professional settings.
These projects also give learners something concrete to draw on in future job or college interviews. A well-executed Personal Project can help a learner stand out, demonstrating dedication, initiative, and the ability to work independently; qualities that are consistently valued by employers and higher education institutions alike.