A MAJOR overhaul of what subjects are available at GCSE level in Wales has been announced.
Qualifications Wales has developed a work programme, called Qualified for the Future, that details ways to 'reimagine qualifications' that are slated to be ready for 2025.
The proposals will support the delivery of Wales’ new curriculum for 2022.
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The range of new GCSEs have been decided, with other reforms yet to be finalised.
Chief Executive Philip Blaker, said: "With the introduction of the new Curriculum for Wales in September 2022, it is crucial that we look at how we can innovate qualifications to prepare learners to succeed in an ever-changing world."
"We want to work together with others to rethink and co-construct an entirely new generation of GCSEs.
"We want everyone – learners, teachers, lecturers, employers and parents – to help re-imagine how qualifications are assessed.
"With new content and new assessment focused on experiences and well-being that will bring the new curriculum to life and meet the needs of all learners.
"We are recruiting teachers and educational professionals to help us shape the new qualifications.
"This will be a collaborative and creative process over the next few months to help us explore and reimagine the relationship between the curriculum, teaching and assessment.
"Anyone interested in joining us can apply through our website.
"This is a unique opportunity to create innovative, creative and sustainable qualifications that will respond and adapt to the ever increasing, rapid changes we face in society.
"Qualifications that will help prepare learners for life, learning and work in the fourth industrial revolution.
"Long-term thinking and planning are key to ensuring the future generations in Wales have a deeper and more focused learner experience with well-being and equality at its heart."
There will be fewer separate GCSEs in in mathematics, science and languages in order to give learners more opportunity to gain broader experiences across the whole curriculum.
The new GCSEs:
Expressive Arts
There will be new GCSEs in:
- Art and Design
- Drama
- Music
- Film and Digital Media
There will also be a new made-for-Wales Dance qualification. A choice of multi-disciplinary qualifications in Expressive Arts will continue to be available.
Health and Wellbeing
There will be new GCSEs in:
- Food and Nutrition
- Physical Education
- Health and Social Care, and Childcare
Humanities
There will be new GCSEs in:
- Business
- Geography
- History
- Religious Studies
- Social Studies
Languages, Literacy and Communication
This will include a new combined English Langugae and Literature GCSE.
There will be new GCSEs in:
- French
- German
- Spanish
There will also be a new set of small qualifications in a range of international languages, as well as a new made-for-Wales British Sign Language qualification aimed at school-aged learners.
Welsh
A choice of Welsh language qualifications that should be available to support the Curriculum for Wales will be confirmed in January 2022.
Mathematics
There will be a new combined Mathematics and Numeracy GCSE.
And two new made-for-Wales qualifications that can be taken in addition to the GCSE:
- A digitally assessed qualification that focuses on numerical proficiency
- A Level 2 qualification in Additional Mathematics.
Science and Technology
There will be new GCSEs in:
- Computer Science
- Built Environment
- Design and Technology
- Digital Technology
- Engineering and Manufacturing
- And a new, integrated GCSE Science double award qualification to replace the existing science GCSEs
Integral Skills
The current Skills Challenge Certificate will be replaced with a simpler and more manageable qualification to assess the Integral Skills of:
- Creativity and Innovation
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Personal Effectiveness
- Planning and Organising
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