The leading examination board in Wales, WJEC, celebrated the first year of teaching for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales at an event.
Held at Neath Port Talbot College (NPTC) the event saw speeches from Ian Morgan, WJEC Chief Executive, Naomi Davies, WJEC Skills and Pathways Qualifications Manager, and Geraint Jones, Assistant Principal Curriculum, NPTC and included a special performance from learners at NPTC.
The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales qualification is a Level 3 qualification available to all post-16 learners in schools and colleges in Wales. The syllabus supports learners to become effective, responsible and active citizens, equipping them with the skills for future study or to enter the job market.
The course content is based on the United Nations sustainable development agenda and Wales’s Well-being Goals according to the Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales). An important aspect of the course is to be able to encourage learners to investigate their journey to employment while considering the potential health, social, and financial wellbeing impacts.
The most recent Future of Skills report finding that alongside subject based knowledge, skills such as social awareness and understanding of others, collaboration, creativity and applying feedback appropriately will be in high demand in 2030. The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales qualification was influenced by this and focuses on developing these key skill areas.
Ian Morgan, Chief Executive Officer at WJEC, said:
“The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales qualification has been a tremendous success, and this is evidenced by the fantastic work of our current learners. It was wonderful to bring the education community together for this event and to celebrate both the qualification itself, and the hard work of those taking part.
“These qualifications have been designed to fine tune the learners’ integral skills, which are becoming increasingly desired in the employment market as evidenced by the Future of Skills report. Learners that will graduate from the qualification will have developed initiative, independence, and resilience to make them the best fit for their desired workforce.”
Naomi Davies, Skills and Pathways Qualifications Manager at WJEC, said:
“These qualifications are set to develop young learners for the future, and to leave them fully equipped for when they choose to leave the education system and enter the job market. Taking into account Qualifications Wales’ consultation, these qualifications will produce individuals who can work proactively both independently and collaboratively, among other traits that are instrumental to flourishing post-education. I look forward to seeing the success of the current learners undertaking the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, and to see a new generation enter the workforce.”
