VCSEs

As part of our work to reform qualifications available to 14 to 16-year-olds in Wales, we are introducing VCSEs (Vocational Certificate of Secondary Education) to our National 14–16 Qualifications suite.

VCSEs will be available in an interesting range of work-related subjects, enabling young people to learn about occupational areas through a practical approach to learning and assessment. They can also be used to add breadth to a school’s curriculum offer.

VCSEs will not be competency qualifications and therefore won’t require specialist teachers; just staff who are well prepared and confident in the occupational area. They will be designed to be deliverable within the reasonable resources and expertise available to schools, but can also be delivered through school and college partnerships and alternative provision. It will be for schools to decide how best to deliver these qualifications for their learners.

VCSEs will span both Level 1 and Level 2, the same as GCSEs.

These qualifications will be delivered by one or more of the following awarding bodies, subject to specification approval:

• • Agored Cymru
  • RSL Awards
  • TLM
  • VTCT Skills
  • WJEC
    
    

What VCSE subjects will be available?

Following a review of the existing vocational qualifications offer, and a consultation on our proposals for the new VCSE subjects, we received a range of responses from stakeholders, including teachers and lecturers, employers, awarding bodies, representative bodies, parents/carers, learners and others that shaped our decisions.  

The agreed subjects are work-related in nature, providing learners with a broad introduction to a particular employment sector.

VCSE subjects
VCSE Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry VCSE Animal Care VCSE Built Environment VCSE Business, Accounting and Finance VCSE Creative and Media Production, and Technology VCSE Engineering VCSE Hair and Beauty	VCSE Hospitality and Catering VCSE Motor Vehicle Maintenance VCSE Nature Restoration VCSE Performing Arts VCSE Public Services VCSE Retail and Customer Service VCSE Sport, Leisure and Recreation VCSE Travel and Tourism

Teachers and school leaders can find a list of the vocational and skills qualifications that will no longer be available from September 2027 in our letter to centres. 

What are the key benefits of the new VCSEs?

As well as providing learners with an introduction to an employment sector, the new VCSEs will:

• • • be available in Cymraeg and English
    • meet the aims and purposes of the Curriculum for Wales
    • develop knowledge, understanding and skills with an emphasis on practical-based approaches
    • promote positive learning experiences
    • reflect the diversity of learners and the world they live in
    • offer a range of assessment types
    • support progression into post-16 vocational study to either Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications, depending upon the most appropriate progression route
    • be deliverable within the reasonable resources available to schools (but won’t be limited to delivery in schools)
    • have a consistent grading system  
      
      

Find out more about the VCSEs in the approval criteria

The VCSE grading structure

The grading structure for VCSEs will be: 

 

Level 1	Level 2
Level 1 Pass	Level 2 Pass
Level 1 Merit	Level 2 Merit
	Level 2 Distinction
	Level 2 Distinction*

 

Progression routes to and from VCSE study

Learners who are not ready to take a VCSE qualification will be able to study any of the 15 VCSE subjects as Foundation qualifications, with the exception of performing arts where there will be a Foundation qualification in expressive arts instead. Foundation qualifications are available at Entry Level and Level 1. 

Following completion of their VCSE qualifications, learners may progress to post-16 vocational study at school, further education institutions or as part of work-based learning as a trainee or apprentice, for example. Some may progress directly into employment.   

Learners who take a combination of VCSE, GCSE and other vocational qualifications may also progress to AS and A level study.

Timeline of project delivery

VCSEs will be taught in schools for the first time from September 2027. There are a number of milestones to keep an eye out for as part of the development of these new qualifications.

 

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2024

We published the approval criteria (the conditions an awarding body needs to meet for us to approval their qualifications) for the VCSEs.
Read the VCSE approval criteria

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2025-2026

Awarding bodies will develop the VCSEs for us to approve.

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2026

Awarding bodies will publish the specifications for their approved VCSEs, one year before first teaching in schools. 

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