Be confident A student s guide to the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification www.welshbaccalaureate.org.uk
The Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification The Welsh Baccalaureate adds a valuable new dimension to subjects and courses you can follow between the ages of 14 to 19. It encourages independence and adds real life experience to the curriculum. By combining personal development skills with established qualifications like A Levels, NVQs and GCSEs, the Welsh Bac is a wider award that is valued by both employers and universities. The Welsh Bac is taught in English, Welsh, or a combination of the two languages depending on the medium of teaching at your school, college or training provider. The Welsh Bac is offered by WJEC, which has vast experience in developing and delivering qualifications. It is available in every Local Education Authority area throughout Wales. A list of approved Welsh Baccalaureate Centres can be found at www.welshbaccalaureate.org.uk You get life skills from the Welsh Bac. It makes you more confident as a person. Nick, Student
How the Welsh Bac benefits you The Welsh Bac combines experiences and projects that help you to develop as an individual, and will equip you for your next steps for work, university and for life. The qualification proves you have developed the Key Skills considered important by employers and universities. It also shows you have furthered your personal and social education, undertaken individual research, gained work experience and participated in a community project. You get help to succeed The Welsh Bac has a strong focus on building your strengths and you will be encouraged to think and study independently. You receive support from a personal tutor who will give you the guidance you need to help you stay focused. Rather than adding to your workload, students report that the Core activity improves their understanding and performance in their Option subjects. Teachers often say that skills gained through the Welsh Bac help students achieve their Option qualifications. The one-to-one interviews with my personal tutor are very helpful. The variety of projects, topics and Key Skills covered in the Welsh Baccalaureate are interesting and the tutor helps me to stay organised. They give me encouragement and motivate me. Hannah, Student
The three levels of the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Level Foundation Diploma Intermediate Diploma Advanced Diploma Options level D G grade at GCSE or NVQ level 1 or Principal Learning Level 1, Foundation Project qualification and an additional Level 1 qualification, or equivalent. A* C grade at GCSE or NVQ level 2 or Principal Learning Level 2 and Higher Project Qualification, or equivalent. GCE A Level or NVQ level 3 or Principal Learning Level 3 and Extended Project Qualification and an additional Level 3 qualification, or equivalent. You decide which level you want to follow by looking at the level you are working at for your Options. For example, if you re likely to get mainly A* C grades at GCSE or NVQ Level 2 you would follow the Intermediate Diploma. The value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma Core is best measured in terms of the capabilities and experiences it provides. The Welsh Baccalaureate also contributes extensively to Secondary School Performance Measures for details see www.welshbaccalaureate.org.uk.
What you ll be covering on the course To fulfil the requirements of the qualification you must complete a Core Programme of activities, along with your Options, which you choose from established academic or vocational qualifications. Your Options are selected from established courses such as GCSEs, AS/A Levels, BTEC or NVQs. The Core Programme helps you develop Key Skills through a greater breadth and balance of experience. It improves your existing skills and builds on your interests. You take part in practical activities, because the emphasis is on learning by doing. The five components of the Core Programme are: Key Skills the Key Skills are Communication, Application of Number, ICT, Working With Others, Problem Solving and Improving Own Learning and Performance. You develop these through your Options and the four components below. Wales, Europe and the World your chance to learn more about Wales and its relationship with Europe and the world. This includes a language module at a level suitable for you. Work-Related Education includes working with an employer and taking part in a team enterprise activity to help you understand how businesses work. Personal and Social Education helps you explore issues in the modern world: family, health, relationships, citizenship and sustainable development. It also includes an activity in the local community. Individual Investigation an opportunity for you to carry out personal research into an area of interest from your optional studies or the Core programme. To achieve the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma a typical student may combine two or more A Levels and the Advanced Core Programme. The Welsh Baccalaureate Core within the full Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma attracts 120 UCAS points, which is the equivalent of an A grade at A Level. It is included in offers from Universities across the UK, and is formal recognition that the experiences and skills gained are valuable when studying at degree level and beyond.
Principal Learning and Project Qualifications within the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Elements of the 14-19 Diplomas that are being developed in England will be available in Wales, from 2009 within the Welsh Baccalaureate framework. The following elements may be incorporated within the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification: Principal Learning these qualifications are being developed by employers in 14 different occupational areas (lines of learning) with an emphasis on practical activities. These could be used together with or instead of other approved qualifications as part of the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Options requirements. Project This offers students the opportunity to carry out an individual project related to their studies, or an area of interest, which providing it meets the specific requirements, could be an alternative for the Individual Investigation within the Core of the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification. From September 2009, Principal Learning and Project Qualifications in the following four occupational areas will be offered in Wales: Construction and the Built Environment Creative and Media Engineering Information Technology A further six occupational areas are expected to be offered from 2010 and a further four from 2011. For further information please go to www.welshbaccalaureate.org.uk
Will it mean more exams? There is no Welsh Baccalaureate examination over and above the examinations for the Options subjects. You compile evidence of your competency in the Key Skills and submit it for assessment. You also present an Individual Investigation on an aspect of the Core (Wales, Europe and the World; Personal and Social Education; or Work-related Education) which interests you. This develops your skills in collecting information, analysing it and presenting it in a meaningful way. There is no fixed timescale for completing your Welsh Bac. Usually though, you will complete it in two years alongside your Options at the appropriate level, and submit your evidence at the end of the academic year. We do presentations and communications skills that help you in the rest of your life. Camilla, Student
Employers value this qualification The Welsh Bac is valued by employers who appreciate that it gives you the skills you need for work. They understand that it makes students more confident, better communicators and more able to work with people. The Welsh Baccalaureate at last seems to offer the right mix that employers have been waiting for developing ready made employees with the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitude to make an immediate difference on entering the workplace. Roger Evans, Plant Director, INA Bearings, Schaeffler UK I wish our young recruits had had this years ago. It s just what they and we need. Karen Murray, Manager, East Park Centre The Welsh Baccalaureate bridges the gap between education and the world of work; it s great to see young people developing more practical skills along with the theoretical skills. This will enable new employees to hit the ground running. Grant Jones, Head of Human Resources, Perkin Elmer Ltd. David Rosser, Director of the CBI in Wales said, following a visit to a Welsh Baccalaureate centre: I saw evidence of a number of the employability skills that employers have asked for being developed through the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification. Finding time in the curriculum to provide a wider course of study and develop research and presentation skills has to be a good thing, and it is right that this is accredited and a qualification awarded. Talk to your careers teacher about how the Welsh Bac can enhance your chances in a particular career.
Universities recognise this qualification Universities across the UK recognise the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification. The Advanced Welsh Bac Core is valued at 120 UCAS points (the same number of points as an A grade at A Level) when achieved as part of the full Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification, on top of the UCAS points you earn through your Options subjects. It is included in University offers and helps you improve your personal statement on applications. I ve been offered places at Manchester Uni and Aberystwyth. They both asked for two A Levels and the Welsh Bac Core. The Bac is accepted as an A at A Level which is great! Siân, student We welcome this qualification and accept the Core as having the recognised tariff value of 120 UCAS points. This applies across ALL of our Degree programmes, following acceptance by our Quality Assurance panel. Where individual programmes require specific course requirements then the University of Exeter will stipulate this within any given offer, usually in the form of A Level subjects. Dr Pamela Hoad, Head of Admissions, University of Exeter The minimum entry requirement for students studying the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Advanced Diploma, will be two A grades at A Level alongside the Core Certificate at Level 3. Some colleges may require candidates to take three A Levels in addition to the Core Certificate. Specific A Level subjects may be required for particular degree courses. Helen Charlesworth, Admissions Tutor, University of Oxford Welsh Baccalaureate students Key Skills, combined with their subject expertise, will better prepare them for study at degree level. They will also, through their work and community experience, bring a new level of employment and civic awareness which they will be able to apply to their studies. It is acceptable in all cases. Offers will be 20 points less than normal UCAS tariff offer to take into account the overall demanding nature of the award and the range of skills offered. Dr Hywel Davies, Head of Admissions and Recruitment, University of Aberystwyth
Let us have your comments on the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification If you have any comments regarding Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification we d be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us by e-mailing info@welshbaccalaureate.org.uk or wbq-cbc@wales.gsi.gov.uk Contact /Further information You can find out more by logging onto the Welsh Baccalaureate website www.welshbaccalaureate.org.uk Or by e-mailing info@welshbaccalaureate.org.uk or wbq-cbc@wales.gsi.gov.uk Alternatively call 029 2026 5010. Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification, WJEC, 245 Western Avenue, Cardiff CF5 2YX Tel: 02920 265010. Fax: 02920 575995. Welsh Assembly Government would like to thank Welsh Baccalaureate students, Higher Education Institutions and employers from across Wales who have been photographed for and quoted in these materials. ISBN: 978 0 7504 4557 3 Crown Copyright 2009 Issue Date: February 2009 This document can be made available in large print, audio or braille.