Welsh Baccalaureate National/Foundation Skills Challenge Certificate

This specification provides learners with an opportunity to achieve two qualifications. Depending on the level of the learner, they can achieve the National or Foundation Welsh Baccalaureate; and the National or Foundation Skills Challenge Certificate.

How do learners achieve a National/Foundation Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification?

To be awarded the National or Foundation Welsh Baccalaureate, or Welsh Bacc. for short, a learner needs to complete all elements of the wheel below.

The National Welsh Bacc is awarded at a Pass grade when learners achieve all elements of the wheel at an A* to C grade. The Foundation Welsh Bacc. is awarded at a Pass grade when learners achieve a Pass* or Pass in the Skills Challenge Certificate, and an A* to G in the other qualifications on the wheel. The ‘Welsh Bacc. Wheel’ demonstrates all in one place the academic ability and skills competency of a learner.

How do learners achieve a National/Foundation Skills Challenge Certificate Qualification?

The Skills Challenge Certificate is a standalone qualification. It can still be achieved and awarded even without the other qualifications that make up the Welsh Bacc. The top element of the Welsh Bacc. wheel is the Skills Challenge Certificate which has been designed to provide a vehicle for 14-16 year old learners to consolidate and develop essential and employability skills. The qualification will help learners to prepare for their future by developing skills, attributes and behaviours valued by post-16 educators and potential employers.

The Skills Challenge Certificate at National/Foundation level is graded as follows: 

National Skills Challenge Certificate – A* to C grade

Foundation Skills Challenge Certificate – Pass * or Pass

Overview of the National/Foundation Skills Challenge Certificate 

The Skills Challenge Certificate consists of 4 components:

• Individual Project (50%)
• Enterprise and Employability Challenge (20%)
• Global Citizen Challenge (15%)
• Community Challenge (15%)

Across these 4 components, 7 essential and employability skills are assessed: