Twelve-month countdown begins for new WJEC ‘Made-for-Wales’ qualifications
We recently launched the first wave of our Made-for-Wales qualifications suite including 18 new GCSE specifications, where teaching will begin from September 2025.
In a period of intense qualification development, we worked with more than 170 teaching staff from over 100 Welsh schools and more than 50 organisations, including Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning (DARPL).
Celebrating our new qualifications
In a launch event at Cardiff High School, presentations were given by Ian Morgan, our Chief Executive, Delyth Jones, Assistant Director, Qualification Development, and Richard Harry, Executive Director: Qualifications and Assessment to discuss the process of developing the qualifications to inspire and enable learners to achieve their career ambitions in a global market. There was also a special performance by learners from Cardiff High School.
Ian Morgan, Chief Executive at WJEC, said: “The approval of the first wave of specifications reflects a significant milestone in the delivery of a new suite of Made-for-Wales qualifications. Each qualification has been designed to prepare learners for a modern world and are aligned with the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales.
“Throughout the development process, we have actively engaged and listened to a broad range of stakeholders, including over 170 teaching staff from over 100 Welsh schools and more than 50 independent organisations. I am grateful for their active participation throughout the development process.
“We are confident that these qualifications will inspire and engage learners, providing them with new and updated opportunities that will produce well-rounded, informed, and capable learners equipped for future challenges.”
Rachel Clarke former Deputy Headteacher and Apex Educational consultant at DARPL, said: “We were delighted to work with WJEC in the development of these qualifications, and to see that they truly understand the importance of inclusivity and diversity. The Made-for-Wales qualifications are a wonderful opportunity for learners to engage with materials that include positive representation and will resonate and inspire them.”
Pictures from the event are available here.
Download our new specifications
The approved specifications are available to download here, and a comprehensive assessment pack for each qualification, including detailed assessment arrangements and sample assessment materials, will be published in December.
The qualifications have been designed to support a modern, inclusive and diverse educational system and prepare individuals for the future while aligning with the Curriculum for Wales.
Through the integration of a cynefin framework, teachers will be encouraged to take in an awareness of their local area and contextual factors for each school so that they can adapt their teaching accordingly.
Supporting our teachers
To support the delivery of these new qualifications, we will publish a Guidance for Teaching in January 2025 to support teachers in embedding aspects of the Curriculum for Wales into the delivery of the qualifications, as well as providing free and adaptable bilingual digital resources.
In addition, we will deliver a tailored schedule of online and face-to-face Professional Learning opportunities. These free nationwide courses will be delivered by trained subject experts who will provide insight into each qualification and offer pragmatic advice and guidance.
Our adaptable resource will be designed to support the ethos of the Curriculum for Wales, by enabling users to take contextual factors into account and tailor their methods according to their local area. This will allow teachers to create a bespoke package of resources which will support a wide breadth of teaching approaches.
Stay up to date
To keep you up to date with the latest news, opportunities and FAQs regarding the new GCSEs and related qualifications, visit our ‘Made-for-Wales’ web area. This area hosts a wealth of material, including an introduction to our Qualification Development Team who are leading the creation of the new qualifications.