Delivering a National Qualifications System for Wales Qualifications Roadshow

Outline key changes to qualifications in Wales and provide feedback from latest consultations Listen to concerns/issues with implementation Visit all local authorities (January – March 14) Run 3 Welsh-medium specific events (based on the WM regions) We want and need feedback Purpose of the qualifications roadshows

Introduction and overview (15 minutes) GCSEs and A levels – the way forward (followed by discussion) (40 minutes) The Welsh Baccalaureate and Essential Skills reform (followed by discussion) (40 minutes) Vocational qualifications, performance measurement and communications strategy (followed by discussion) (25 minutes) Close Outline of the roadshow

Qualifications that are understood and valued and meet the needs of our young people and the Welsh economy Based on evidence (Review of Qualifications) and extensive stakeholder consultation. Inclusive approach is continuing in implementation: Qualifications Wales Advisory Board External Stakeholder reference group Welsh Bac steering group, etc. Vision and Evidence Base

Key Overarching Messages: Wales is... Delivering a national qualification system for Wales Focusing on literacy and numeracy Independence and more rigorous quality assurance Portable qualifications, recognised and respected throughout the UK and internationally Improved Welsh Bac focusing on skills Moving towards a single suite of high quality GCSEs and A levels

Video: Views of Higher Education on Qualifications reform

Learning Pathways review National curriculum developments Wider context

14-19 Learning Pathways review An independent Task and Finish Group reported autumn 2013, following a review of local collaborative provision at Key Stage 4 Recommendation to reduce the minimum number of courses required to form a local curriculum offer was accepted by the Welsh Government

New regulations start on 5 February 2014 (with effect from September 2014) a reduction in the number of courses that must be included in the local curriculum offer at KS4 from 30 to 25, and the vocational requirement from five to three removal of restrictions, in terms of the domains, currently applied in the selection of vocational courses at KS4; and removal of the requirement at KS4 and post-16 to meet respective points scores when compiling the course offer (not performance points) Learning Pathways – key changes

Consultation closed in January 2014 on strengthening and supporting the teaching of literacy and numeracy in the Curriculum in Wales. A summary of responses received, will be published shortly. New Programmes of Study/Areas of Learning for Maths, English and Welsh (for all key stages and Foundation Phase) will be developed. –Autumn term 2014 – publish final version (following consultation) –September 2015 – teaching starts Curriculum changes in 2015

Professor Graham Donaldson to lead a wide ranging review of the National Curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales from Foundation Phase to Key Stage 4. Linking directly to Wales’ new Qualifications system. Complement the recent consultation on strengthening and supporting the teaching of literacy and numeracy in the Curriculum in Wales. Start March report to Welsh Government end of year. wales/curriculum-for-wales/?lang=en Next steps – Curriculum review

It will also give consideration to: Schools and Physical Activity Task and Finish group Arts in Education review Review of Curriculum Cymreig, History and the story of Wales Review of Computer science and ICT Review of Welsh Second Language Next steps – Curriculum review

Qualifications Wales New independent body, emphasis on quality assurance In time, awarding most qualification 14-16, most AS and A levels, Welsh Baccalaureate Providing information and advice to stakeholders and Welsh Government Aim to simplify the system and strengthen confidence and understanding Consultation closed 20 December – now analysing responses Subject to legislation, establish the organisation September 2015

GCSEs and A Levels - the way Forward

In Wales, we are retaining the GCSE, AS and A level brand names the current grading structures modular GCSEs (where appropriate) the AS as part of the full A level GCSEs, AS and A levels

We are developing a suite of new and revised GCSEs, AS and A levels which will: meet the needs of learners and employers at least as robust as those available elsewhere be recognised and understood GCSEs, AS and A levels

To be taught from September 2015 New GCSEs in –English Language –Welsh Language –Mathematics - Numeracy –Mathematics Revised GCSEs in –English Literature –Welsh Literature (revisions kept to a minimum in both) GCSEs

The new language GCSEs will focus on the skills that learners will need in their everyday lives develop the functional aspects of reading, writing and oracy build on and progress from the LNF and align with the revised curriculum be linear not include ‘coursework’ other than for oracy report separately on achievements in reading, writing and oracy GCSEs

The new Mathematics - Numeracy GCSE will focus on the skills that learners will need in their everyday lives assess candidates’ ability to solve ‘real-life’ problems include problems of increasing complexity at the higher levels The new Mathematics GCSE will include different mathematical content also include questions set in purely mathematical contexts GCSEs

Both Mathematics GCSEs will build on and progress from the LNF align with the revised curriculum be linear have three tiers have a calculator and a non-calculator paper have an additional assessment opportunity in November GCSEs

We expect most learners to take both Maths GCSEs Additional curriculum time will not be required to deliver the two new Maths GCSEs (although we accept there will be an additional assessment burden) Delivering the new Maths GCSEs

In Wales (as in England) new AS and A levels to be taught from September 2015 in –Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies –Chemistry, Computing, Economics –English Language, English Literature –English Language and Literature –History –Physics, Psychology, Sociology –Welsh –Change to Welsh Second Language also possible AS and A levels

In Wales AS and A levels to be kept as coupled qualifications No January assessments after January 2014 Re-sits limited to one per module Reduce the weighting of the AS (from the current 50%) Share the same content, if appropriate, as those in England (and possibly Northern Ireland) Assess and recognise practical skills AS and A levels

Next Steps PeriodActivity January 2014 – June 2014Specification development Autumn 2014New specifications in centres Autumn 2014 onwardsCPD programme to support staff Spring 2015New bilingual resources available September 2015Teaching of new qualifications

Questions and comments

Welsh Baccalaureate and Essential Skills

Retain strengths of current model but address weaknesses A new emphasis on skills development: literacy, numeracy and other skills for work and higher education An assessment model that is purposeful, clear, integrated with learning, through the use of ‘challenges’ More rigorous, with more robust quality assurance What are the key changes for Welsh Bac?

Grading of the challenges and an overall grade We will encourage universal adoption by schools and colleges from September 2015 ESW not required as components from 2015 – the skills will be assessed through GCSEs in Numeracy, English or Welsh and through the challenges Develop an engaging framework for learners to develop world class skills What are the key changes for Welsh Bac?

Literacy Numeracy Digital Literacy Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Planning and Organisation Creativity and Innovation Personal Effectiveness What are the skills?

High Level Model

Core assessed through challenges Identify and develop opportunities in the local/wider community and actively participate to support improvement Participate in work related activities for employment & plan and run an enterprise activity Work on a problem related to global issues such as sustainable food, recycling, citizenship/democracy Learners develop and demonstrate knowledge and skills to produce an artefact or research based project Community Challenge Enterprise and Employability Challenge Global Citizenship Challenge Individual Project

Examples of organisations currently offering challenges or competitions Guiding young people to start up

Working groups have been established to design and to advise on the delivery of the new challenges We will publish ‘off the shelf’ challenges in the Summer Schools and colleges are also welcome to propose challenges – subject to a quality assurance process by the Welsh Government When will the challenges be developed?

Working groups established to advise on assessment arrangements – working closely with higher education colleagues At level 2, literacy and numeracy will be assessed through the new GCSEs in Maths and English/Welsh (evidence of the wider skills will be within the challenges) At level 3, learners will be expected to show progression in each of the skills through the challenges We will publish guidance (clear learning outcomes, grading structure, assessment arrangements and best practice in the Summer 2014) How will the new Welsh Bac be assessed?

Welsh Bac model GCSE English Language or Welsh (first) Language GCSE Maths (numeracy) Three further GCSEs or equivalent (up to two can be equivalents at KS4) GCSE English Language or Welsh (first) Language GCSE Maths (numeracy) Two A levels or equivalent Grading: Foundation (level 1): Pass and Pass* National (level 2): A*- C Size = one GCSE Grading: A* - E Learners who have already achieved the relevant GCSEs should demonstrate progression in literacy and numeracy through the Project and Challenges Size = one A level National/Foundation Advanced

We expect curriculum time to equate to one GCSE for National and one A level for Advanced We and WJEC will work with stakeholders to develop support/CPD and resources etc. We will provide support through the regional consortia New brand and identity being developed for the new Welsh Bac Next steps

Questions and comments

Performance Measures

From 2013 Separate reporting of English Language/Welsh First Language and Mathematics From 2016 Whole Year 11 cohorts used for reporting, not learners aged 15 at the start of the year No qualification worth more than 2 GCSEs Measurement of Performance: Key Stage 4

From 2017 Welsh Bac measures introduced - to replace threshold measures Max 40% contribution of non-GCSEs to threshold/Welsh Bac measures Maths requirement of the L2 inclusive measure and Welsh Bac measures will be the new numeracy based GCSE English/Welsh requirement of these will be the new GCSEs in English Language and Welsh Language. Literature GCSEs will not count Essential Skills Wales and Wider Key Skills qualifications will not attract performance points, and will not be required for the revised Welsh Bac Measurement of Performance: Key Stage 4

Further review to consider: exact composition of the threshold (including Welsh Bac) and capped points measures What relative emphasis and weighting we should place on threshold measures vs points scores Specifically, should there be a shift towards greater emphasis on points scores rather than threshold measures Findings to be announced this academic year This is not a review of banding methodology Measurement of Performance: further work

It will take into account Issues from the Minister’s conference speech Early entry issues The wish to encourage use of the Welsh Bac, balanced against the need to ensure quality of delivery Whether any qualifications should be required/excluded/weighted – e.g. to encourage take up of both Maths GCSEs the impact on curriculum, especially in the Welsh medium sector Measurement of Performance: further work

Extracts from speech “The level 2 inclusive…can create a fixation on the C grade and a disproportionate focus on learners in the middle of the ability spectrum We need measures that provide motivation across the ability range, encourage aspiration to the highest grades, and recognise the achievements of learners working at level 1 Early entry has led to learners having to settle for C grades when they could have achieved more” Measurement of Performance at KS4: further work

Extracts from speech… “We should reward schools and colleges for helping every learner to achieve the very best grades they can, for instance through more emphasis on capped points scores I will look at how we can make sure that, as well as the new GCSEs testing literacy and numeracy, most learners also take the second maths GCSE and at least one science GCSE” Measurement of Performance at KS4: further work - cont

A project is looking at developing consistent measures across sectors Also looking at learner destination data, to help inform policy and learner choice Measures likely to reflect: –completion of courses –attainment of qualifications –destination –learner Voice It will take into account Review of Qualifications recommendations, e.g. attainment of Welsh Bac as a measure, aspiration to higher grades Measurement of Performance: Post 16

Vocational Qualifications

Adopt European categories –Initial or Continuing Vocational Education and Training (IVETs/CVETs) – now complete –Only IVETs available pre-16 from 2014 Stronger gatekeeping –Relevance, value, purpose, progression –DfES/Awarding Organisation Liaison Group set up –Pilot Sector Qualifications Advisory Panels being established to check relevance –Panels will consider the need for new generic IVETs Welsh Bac model gives equal status Vocational Qualifications

Next steps

National conference with independent champions held Dec 2013 Launched campaign to inform all Higher Education institutions (HEIs) in Wales, and those HEI institutions in England with significant amount of Welsh learners, about changes in Wales Launched campaign to inform Wales’ anchor companies and small businesses about changes to the qualifications landscape over the next 18 months Launched new brand identity and website for Qualifications Wales with timeline for change Communications Campaign 2013

Qualifications Roadshows throughout Wales Workforce development plan – CPD, resources etc for practitioners, to support delivery Campaign to communicate the new qualifications landscape to parents/carers/learners pack Continue to highlight the support of independent champions Further information Communication - Next steps

Questions and comments

Delivering a National Qualifications System for Wales Qualifications Roadshow