Delivering aNational Qualifications

System for Wales:Informing and Engaging HE

Dr Hywel Davies

• “ Our tuition fee policy is an investment in the young person… the choice of institution and course should be driven by individual circumstances not by the cost of fees”

• Top 30 destinations in England for Welsh domiciles

Where do Welsh Students go to Study?

• Building on the work of Huw Evans and Ann Evans• Regional approach facilitated by UCAS• Targeting admissions staff• HELOA conference• Admissions Conference • HE Guide http://qualifiedforlife.org.uk/higher-education-guide• Identifying specific progression issues• Intervention?

Methodology

Qualifications Wales

• New independent body, emphasis on quality assurance• In time, awarding most qualifications 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• Subject to legislation, establish the organisation September 2015

Convergence and Divergence

Key Overarching Messages: Wales is ...

Delivering a nationalqualification 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 Bacc focusing on skills

Moving towards a single suite of high quality GCSEs and A levels

In Wales, we are retaining

• the GCSE, AS and A level brand names• the current grading structures• unitised GCSEs (where appropriate)• the AS as part of the full A level• practical assessments where appropriate

GCSEs, AS and A levels

• GCSE and Grading.• AS same 40% weighting• What is equivalent to an A level?• Number of A levels and the Welsh Bacc• National , mainstream qualification• Not another Baccalaureate• Not an alternative qualification• Not an international qualification

Messages for Admissions

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 - Taught from September 2015

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 additional mathematical content• also include questions set in purely mathematical contexts

GCSEs - Taught from September 2015

A levels in Wales• One Awarding Body• Similar content to E/NI, Welsh content as appropriate• Unitised/Modular• UMS retained• Science practicals part of overall assessment• Small A levels permitted without Welsh spec

Welsh Baccalaureate

• Retain strengths of current model but address weaknesses• Increased rigour and robust quality assurance• Grading at all levels and grading of each challenge• New emphasis on development of skills for work and higher education• Clear, purposeful assessment through new GCSEs, Individual Project

and ‘Challenges’• ESW and WKS qualifications not used• Encourage universal adoption by schools and colleges

Key changes

• Literacy• Numeracy• Digital Literacy• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving• Planning and Organisation• Creativity and Innovation• Personal Effectiveness

Essential Skills in the Welsh Bacc

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Welsh Baccalaureate

The Challenges

• WJEC has developed ‘off the shelf’ Challenges• External organisations will develop Challenges• Colleges will develop sector relevant Challenges• In the longer term, schools may propose Challenges• Quality assurance of all Challenges by WJEC• Assessment of each Challenge will focus on two (or sometimes

more) skills areas• Some individual, some in teams but individually assessed

Challenges

Welsh Bacc model

GCSE English Language or Welsh LanguageGCSE Maths-Numeracy

Three further GCSEs or equivalent(up to two can be equivalents at KS4)

GCSE English Language or Welsh LanguageGCSE Maths-Numeracy

Two A levels or equivalent

Grading: Foundation (level 1): Pass and Pass*National (level 2): A*- CSize = one GCSE

Grading: A* - ELearners who have already achieved the relevant GCSEs at grade A*-C should demonstrate progression in literacy and numeracy through the Project and ChallengesSize = one A level

National/Foundation Advanced

• Summer 2014 the final year of award of pass/fail grading model

• Interim model graded A* to C taught in 2013 and 2014, HE entry in 2015 and 2016

• Revised, refreshed model A* to E from first teaching September 2015 for HE entry in 2017

Version Control

The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma from September 2015 will be the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate

Distinctive feature was THE CORE. Graded pass or fail until 2013 and then A* to C

From September 2015, the Core will be the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate- Skills Challenge Certificate graded A* to E which is a qualification within the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate

Changes

Vocational Qualifications

• Adopt European categories– Initial or Continuing Vocational Education and Training (IVETs/CVETs) – now complete

– Only IVETs available pre-16 from 2014

• Welsh Bacc model gives equal status

• Stronger gatekeeping– Relevance, value, purpose, progression

– DfES/Awarding Organisation Liaison Group

– Pilot Sector Qualifications Advisory Panels being established

Vocational Qualifications

• Sector Qualification Advisory Panels

– Will offer a strategic view of qualifications within their sector, considering both employer and practitioner perspective

– Will comment on vocational qualifications approved by Welsh Government

– Will provide sector relevant advice on the delivery of Post 16 Learning Programmes

– 10 panels by December 2014 – one per Sector Subject Code

– Care Council for Wales and Construction are functioning

– Under development in Engineering and hospitality

– Panels will consider the need for new generic IVETs

Vocational Qualifications

• Examples of good practice• Expert banks • Mapping• What’s in it for HE?

HE and delivery of the Welsh Bacc

Welsh Bacc-version control

Offer-making and Entry Requirements

Timelines

Prospectus and Web sites

ESW and Access to high demand HE courses in England

Welsh Bacc-universal entitlement by end of decade

Messages for Admissions

• Campaign to promote the changes 3 November 2014

This included:• New web site with a series of animations • Printed Packs sent to all schools, colleges and training

providers to explain the changes • Printed Parents’ guides to explain the changes• Presentations to support centres when communicating

with parents • Promotion of independent endorsements

Communication

• HE Admission tutors pack launched January 2015 http://qualifiedforlife.org.uk/higher-education-guide

• Welsh Government Qualifications Information Officer appointed – Dr. Hywel Davies

• Developing an employer guide to explain the changes • Developing case studies of the new Welsh Bacc in action• PR campaign to promote independent endorsements • Launch media campaign to highlight the changes to

qualifications• Prepare for launch of Qualifications Wales!

Communication cont’d

Microsite: homepage

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Animation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfCvGYSNYdg

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Views of Stakeholders on qualifications reform

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNvF90h8z4M&feature=player_embedded

Delivering aNational Qualifications

System for Wales

Hywel.Davies13@wales.gsi.gov.uk