BUSINESSES and organisations including Admiral Insurance, the Principality building society, Brains Brewery and Oxford and Cambridge universities have all welcomed Wales’ new look qualifications, according to the education minister Huw Lewis.
Due to come into force next September, the new qualifications include two new GCSEs in maths, new GCSEs in English Language and Welsh Language, revised English and Welsh Literature GCSEs, a "more rigorous" Welsh Baccalaureate, and revised A levels and AS qualifications.
The new qualifications will place a greater focus on developing skills, particularly literacy and numeracy.
Dr Samina Khan, director of undergraduate admissions and outreach at Oxford University, said: "We expect our students to be independent thinkers, highly motivated and prepared to be flexible. I truly believe that these new qualifications, especially the refocused and strengthened Welsh Baccalaureate, will help develop students in that direction.”
Subject to legislation, a new independent body, Qualifications Wales, will support the changes and be responsible for regulation and quality assurance.
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