Made for Wales. Ready for the world: Two Waves in motion

I hope you have settled into the new academic year and that your teachers, lecturers and learners are engaging positively with our Made-for-Wales qualifications.

As our Wave 1 qualifications enter their second year of delivery and teaching has begun for Wave 2, we know how important it is to have the right support in place when introducing new qualifications. We are committed to supporting you every step of the way and would like to remind you of the comprehensive range of resources available.

From our free, adaptable Digital Resources designed to enhance teaching and learning, to our Professional Learning programme and dedicated subject teams, a wide range of support is available to help you deliver these qualifications with confidence. Whether you need practical classroom resources, expert guidance or ongoing advice throughout the academic year, we are here to help.

Additional support for Wave 1

In July, we wrote to centres about our plans to develop additional exemplar materials for non-examination assessment units for our Wave 1 qualifications being assessed for the first time in 2027, drawing on candidate work. If your centre confirmed interest in contributing, a reminder that the submission deadline is 23 October. Selected materials will be developed and shared with centres by 15 February 2027, ahead of marking and submission.

The implementation of our Made-for-Wales qualifications has been a collective achievement. We are grateful for the feedback centres have given us along the way. Our teams have listened and made changes that we believe will have a positive impact on your experience of delivery. That work continues.

A robust suite of vocational qualifications

Wave 3 brings a diverse range of qualifications to the Made-for-Wales portfolio, from industry-focused Vocational Certificates for Secondary Education to a Skills Suite and Personal Project building on the success of our Skills Challenge Certificate, alongside Foundation qualifications. Developed through the same co-construction approach that shaped Waves 1 and 2, and informed by expanded industry partnerships, these qualifications are designed to deliver market value and stronger connections to the world of work. Together, they complement our existing Made-for-Wales GCSEs and related qualifications, providing learners with a broader range of pathways to success.

We are pleased to confirm that all our approved specifications for these qualifications are now available, alongside Sample Assessment Materials, giving you the opportunity to plan with confidence and prepare for first teaching from September 2027. Guidance for Teaching will follow in January.

Free, adaptable Digital Resources will be published in phases from late autumn 2026, with the full bilingual suite ready by summer 2027. To complement these resources, our dedicated Wave 3 Professional Learning offer will provide teachers and lecturers with free, bilingual, and on-demand opportunities that can be accessed at a time that suits them.

Sophie Dobbs, our Regional Representative, remains on hand to support your preparation. If you have any questions or would like further guidance, please get in touch at wave3@wjec.co.uk.

Engaging with the educational community

This term has provided many valuable opportunities to connect directly with colleagues across the education sector, enabling us to hear first-hand about the challenges and opportunities facing schools and colleges.

At our fourth Made-for-Wales webinar, we provided senior leaders from across Wales with the latest updates on our new qualifications and the support available to help them prepare for delivery. Attendance continues to grow, and we value the strong engagement and contributions from those who join us. These webinars have become an important channel for stakeholders to share feedback directly, helping to inform and shape our ongoing work.

Beyond our online events, our sector partnerships continue to strengthen through our sponsorship of the National Education Show and the Colegau Cymru Annual Conference. These opportunities have enabled us to share our vision for our new qualifications and highlight the extensive support available to schools and colleges.

Finally, our annual Innovation Award exhibitions in Cardiff and Bangor, run in partnership with Welsh Government, provided a valuable opportunity to see first-hand the creativity, innovation and talent of Welsh learners. The standard of work on display was exceptional and is a powerful reminder of the talent emerging through our schools and colleges, and I look forward to celebrating this year’s winner at the awards ceremony in December.

Meeting with our schools and colleges

We continue to welcome open dialogue with our educational community. As part of this commitment, I have ongoing visits planned to schools and colleges across Wales to hear directly from teachers, lecturers and learners about their experiences with our qualifications. This term, I’ve visited Ysgol Friars in Gwynedd and King Henry VIII 3-19 School in Abergavenny. If you would like to arrange a visit, please contact me via lorna.turner@wjec.co.uk.

On behalf of everyone at WJEC, I want to thank you for your ongoing support, dedication, and professionalism. Together, we continue to shape a brighter future for education in Wales.

Yours sincerely,

Ian