The Welsh Government is taking forward its manifesto commitment to review the school year, through a national conversation, with opportunities for parents, learners , education staff, private and public sector workers and employers to give their views.

Curriculum will no longer be organised by Key Stages. The principles of the Foundation Phase, now known as Foundation Learning, remain and become part of one seamless curriculum for children aged 3 to 16, providing more joined-up learning.

Expectations are framed broadly so that they can sustain learning over a series of years. While the learning continuum is the same for each learner, the pace of progress through it will differ. As a result, the progression steps can only broadly correspond to expectations at ages 5, 8, 11, 14 and 16.

Curriculum for Wales groups subjects into six areas of learning and experience. Specific subjects will still be taught, but schools can decide to bring them together so learners understand the connections between them. In the Humanities Area, for example, a topic like climate change can be looked at holistically through geography, history and impact on society. Literacy, numeracy and digital competence will be taught and applied across the curriculum and to all throughout their education.

The six areas of learning and experience are:

• Expressive Arts
• Health and Well-being
• Humanities
• Languages, Literacy and Communication
• Mathematics and Numeracy
• Science and Technology

The Framework guidance has more information about each of the Areas of Learning and Experience.

Assessment will continue to take place on a day to day basis to assess each individual’s progress, agree next steps and monitor progress over time. It will not be used to make a one-off judgement at a set age or point in time.

GCSEs will still exist but the qualifications your child studies from 14-16 will fit with the Curriculum for Wales, so may look different from today’s GCSEs.

Advice and support will be given to learners choosing their options as they prepare for their future careers.

Qualifications Wales is the independent regulator of non-degree qualifications in Wales. More information about qualifications can be found on their website. 

Careers Wales provides information and advice about careers.

A new code makes it clear what should be taught within RSE. It will include learning about healthy relationships, keeping safe including online, and being confident to raise issues with responsible adults. Teaching will be age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate, gradually building learners’ knowledge, skills and ethical values.

Faith groups and others representing children’s interests have helped teaching professionals to develop the code.  All RSE resources on Hwb are reviewed regularly to ensure they also align to the RSE Code. 

For more information Repository - Hwb (gov.wales)