Welsh students who fail to achieve a grade C in GCSE English and Maths will be required to continue the subjects beyond the age of 16 from 2015, the Welsh Government have said.

The reform, which is already due to take effect in England this autumn, will see students having to learn the two core subjects until they gain the key qualifications.

A Welsh Government Spokesperson said: "We already have plans in place that will require learners in Wales to continue to pursue English and maths in post-16 learning from 2015.

"In Wales we accepted the recommendations of the independent Review of Qualifications which included implementing a revised more robust Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification from September 2015. In line with the Review of Qualifications, learners will need to achieve the revised GCSE English language and the new GCSE in numeracy at A*-C in order to achieve the level 2 Welsh Baccalaureate.

"Learners who do not achieve these GCSEs at A*-C in Key Stage 4 will be required to continue to pursue them in post-16 learning. Learners who do achieve these GCSEs in Key Stage 4 will continue to develop their skills by following Essential Skills qualifications."

The Welsh Government were responding after England announced the changes today, which were the result of a report published by professor Alison Wolf. Prof Wolf's report called for teenagers to continue studying English and Maths post-16 until they attained C grades as the two subjects are the "most important in the world" and vital for young people finding jobs.

Newport's GCSE results improved this year, remaining above the Welsh average. Of all Newport entries, 67.3 per cent achieved grades A* to C compared to 66 per cent last year.