National Qualifications at a glance
We've developed a handy overview of the new qualifications to save you time.
National 14–16 Qualifications
National Qualifications, comprising GCSEs, VCSEs, Foundation qualifications and the Skills Suite, have been designed to prepare 14 to 16-year-olds in Wales for life, further learning and work.
Young people in Wales can now start choosing from a range of exciting new qualifications when making their choices for Year 10.
National Qualifications are a comprehensive, relevant and equitable set of qualifications, ranging from single and double award GCSEs in subjects such as Cymraeg, English, maths and science, to the new work-related VCSEs in subjects such as public services and engineering. There is also a suite of Foundation qualifications, as well as an assortment of Skills for Life and Skills for Work units and a Personal Project.
They have been designed to support the aims and purposes of the Curriculum for Wales.
Centres can offer a bespoke combination of these new qualifications to support their learners in achieving their individual goals for life, learning and work.
As well as providing opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and understanding across a diverse range of subject and sector areas, the National Qualifications:
- make best use of digital technology
- provide skills that Welsh employers are calling for
- increase opportunities for hands-on learning
- offer a greater mix of assessment methods
- have value within and outside of Wales
We’re ensuring that young people in Wales will become qualified for the future.
A guide for centres
The guide has been designed to help educational professionals understand the changes to qualifications provision for 14 to 16-year-olds.
Reformed qualifications for 14 to 16-year-olds in Wales
Levels of learning
The National Qualifications will provide assessment opportunities at entry level, level 1 and level 2.
Creating a cohesive course of study
The National Qualifications have been designed to support breadth and depth in both learning and progression.
Each of the four types of qualification serve different, and often multiple, purposes. Learners are encouraged to study those qualifications on offer at their centre that will provide them with the best learning experience based on their strengths, interests and aspirations.
Here are some examples of how learners could combine qualifications:
What subjects are on offer?
General subjects
- Cymraeg
- Core Cymraeg
- Design and Technology
- Digital Technology
- English
- Expressive Arts
- Humanities
- Mathematics and Numeracy
- The Sciences
Work-related subjects
- Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry
- Animal Care
- Built Environment
- Business, Accounting and Finance
- Creative and Media Production, and Technology
- Engineering
- Hair and Beauty
- Health and Social Care, and Childcare
- Hospitality and Catering
- Motor Vehicle Maintenance
- Nature Restoration
- Public Services
- Retail and Customer Service
- Sport and Leisure
- Travel and Tourism
- Art and Design
- Business
- Computer Science
- Core Cymraeg
- Cymraeg Language and Literature (Single and Double Award)
- Dance
- Design and Technology
- Digital Media and Film
- Digital Technology
- Drama
- English Language and Literature (Single and Double Award)
- Food and Nutrition
- French
- Geography
- German
- Health and Social Care, and Childcare
- History
- Integrated Science (Single Award)
- Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award)
- Music
- Physical Education and Health
- Religious Studies
- Social Studies
- Spanish
- The Sciences (Double Award)
Level 2 Awards
- Additional Core Cymraeg
- Additional Mathematics
- Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry
- Animal Care
- Built Environment
- Business, Accounting and Finance
- Creative and Media Production, and Technology
- Engineering
- Hair and Beauty
- Health and Social Care, and Childcare
- Hospitality and Catering
- Motor Vehicle Maintenance
- Nature Restoration
- Public Services
- Retail and Customer Service
- Sport and Leisure
- Travel and Tourism
- Skills for Life
- Skills for Work
- Skills for Life and Work
- Personal Project
More on the Curriculum for Wales
The Curriculum for Wales provides a framework that supports each centre to develop its own curriculum and choose its qualifications offer. Arrangements for school evaluation, improvement and accountability are also changing. School performance will be evaluated based on a broad and balanced range of evidence, with less exclusive emphasis on qualification results, giving more freedom to prioritise learners’ needs when designing new qualifications.
The National Qualifications have been developed with the new curriculum in mind.
Support for centres
There are a number of stakeholders working together to realise the Curriculum for Wales’ ambition, and you can see what our roles and responsibilities are below.
- Welsh Government: sets education policy.
Oversees the education system and the role of qualifications within it, setting policy direction and providing guidance.
- Qualifications Wales: independent regulator for publicly funded 14-19 qualifications in Wales.
Sets out the design requirements, approves, monitors and evaluates qualifications to align with the Curriculum for Wales.
- Awarding bodies: develop the qualifications in line with Qualifications Wales’ design requirements.
WJEC is developing the new GCSEs and related qualifications, while a range of awarding bodies will develop the VCSEs, Foundation qualifications and Skills Suite.
Our approach to qualification development
We have involved a range of partners, teachers, learners, expert advisers, employers, colleges, training providers and universities to aid the design of the new qualifications.
Before each qualification is taught in classrooms, we go through an extensive process of research, consultation and work on qualification development with awarding bodies.
Timeline of project delivery
- We delivered our first public consultation to establish the outline guiding principles that should shape the reformed qualifications. Stakeholders were specifically asked what should happen with GCSEs and the Skills Challenge Certificate.
- We completed research into the perceptions and experiences of teachers and learners regarding non-exam assessment.
- We commissioned research into international educational assessment systems and their involvement of teachers.
- We delivered our second public consultation asking for views on the integral skills within the Skills Challenge Certificate, as well as the range of subjects that should be available for GCSEs.
- We also published our decision on Welsh language qualifications at GCSE.
- We delivered our third public consultation specifically relating to our subject proposals for GCSEs.
- We published a number of additional documents relating to these decisions:
- We delivered a number of webinars to present the consultation outcomes and subject-level decisions:
- We delivered our fourth public consultation to establish views on the reformed vocational qualifications offer.
- We published approval criteria for all reformed GCSEs.
- We published revised qualification-level Approval Criteria and Conditions and Requirements for National GCSE qualifications.
- We published our Statement of Policy Intent for National 14–16 Qualifications.
- We published the approved list of sports and physical activities for GCSE in Physical Education and Health.
- WJEC published specifications for Wave 1 GCSEs.
- We delivered our public consultation on our proposed approach for designating qualifications for 14 to 16-year-olds.
- We also published revised rules in our Designation Handbook.
- We published final approval criteria for National Qualifications being taught from 2027.
- We published our Vision for National 14–16 Qualifications.
- We published our Recognition Criteria for National 14-16 Qualifications Decisions Report.
- We published a Change Charter in collaboration with Welsh Government, WJEC and Adnodd.
- We published a centre guide to the National Qualifications.
- We published a centre readiness guide to digital-only exams.
- We published a centre discussion guide for managing learner workload.
- Wave 1 GCSEs are taught in schools for the first time.
- WJEC published specifications for Wave 2 GCSEs.
- Awarding bodies began developing specifications for VCSEs, Foundation qualifications and the Skills Suite.
- We published an update regarding the provision of separate science GCSEs in Wales.
- We published a suite of subject-specific blogs relating to Wave 1 GCSEs:
- Wave 2 GCSEs are taught in schools for the first time.
- Awarding bodies continue developing specifications for VCSEs, Foundation qualifications and the Skills Suite.
- Awarding bodies published specifications for Wave 3 qualifications.
- We published approval criteria for new GCSE qualifications in Cymraeg Language and English Language for learners in post-16 settings.
- We published a suite of subject-specific blogs relating to Wave 2 GCSEs:
- Wave 1 GCSEs will be awarded for the first time.
- VCSEs, Foundation qualifications and the Skills Suite will be taught in schools for the first time.
- Wave 2 GCSEs will be awarded for the first time.
Get involved
Stay up-to-date with the open consultations and review closed activities on our Have Your Say platform. You can also ask any queries you may have about qualification reform for 14 to 16-year-olds, and our Qualification Managers will get back to you directly.