Full suite of Wave 3 Made-for-Wales approved specifications now available

We are delighted to announce that the full suite of approved specifications for our Wave 3 Made-for-Wales qualifications is now available to download.

Approved by Qualifications Wales, these qualifications will be available for first teaching from September 2027, providing schools and colleges with a full year to plan and prepare for delivery.

The Wave 3 suite includes:

Together, these qualifications represent another significant milestone in Wales' national qualifications reform programme, reinforcing WJEC's commitment to delivering high-quality, learner-centred qualifications that meet the needs of schools, colleges, learners and employers across Wales.

Commenting on the publication of the approved specifications, Ian Morgan, Chief Executive of WJEC, said: "The publication of our full suite of approved Wave 3 Made-for-Wales specifications is a significant milestone for WJEC and for education in Wales. It reflects the dedication, expertise and collaboration that has gone into developing qualifications that will support learners for many years to come.

Throughout the development process, we have worked closely with educators, employers and industry experts to ensure every qualification is relevant, rigorous and aligned to the needs of today's learners and tomorrow's workforce.

Together, our new Wave 3 qualifications provide a broad and inclusive offer for learners across Wales. Alongside our new GCSEs, our VCSEs open up exciting vocational pathways, while our Foundation Qualifications help learners build confidence and establish strong foundations for future success. Our Personal Project Qualifications encourage learners to develop and showcase valuable transferable skills, and our Skills for Life and Skills for Work Qualifications provide flexible, meaningful pathways that recognise individual strengths and prepare learners for life beyond school.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this achievement. The insight, commitment and continued collaboration of our stakeholders have been invaluable in helping us develop qualifications that will inspire learners, support teachers and meet the evolving needs of education and industry across Wales."

Comprehensive support for centres

To help schools and colleges prepare for first teaching, we have developed a comprehensive package of bilingual support, including:

Free Digital Resources – a suite of editable bilingual teaching and learning resources, including blended learning materials, worksheets, teacher guidance and skills and knowledge organisers.
Professional Learning – a programme of on-demand bilingual training, complemented by subject-specific twilight sessions and regular Subject Forum meetings.
Dedicated Regional Support: Our Regional Representative, Sophie Dobbs, is available to provide both face-to-face and online support for schools and colleges. To discuss the new qualifications or arrange a meeting, please email wave3@wjec.co.uk.
Our Wales Regional Support Team is also on hand to answer your queries on Personal Project and Skills Suite qualifications at SkillsSupportCymru@wjec.co.uk.

Additional qualification materials

Alongside the approved specifications, we will continue to publish a range of supporting materials to help centres prepare for delivery.

Our Sample Assessment Materials (SAMs) will be available during the autumn term, providing an indication of the style and structure of the assessments. This will be followed by our Guidance for Teaching, which will be published in early January and will provide practical support to help centres plan and deliver the qualifications with confidence.

Find out more

Visit our dedicated Wave 3 webpages to download the approved specifications and explore the full range of support available.

If you have any questions, please contact us at wave3@wjec.co.uk.

We look forward to continuing to work with schools and colleges as they prepare to deliver these exciting new qualifications from September 2027.