Second wave of Made-for-Wales qualifications approved
Following a period of intense qualification development, we are delighted to announce that our specifications for the second wave of our Made-for-Wales GCSEs and related qualifications have been approved by Qualifications Wales. These specifications are available to teach from September 2026.
Commenting on this achievement, Ian Morgan, WJEC’s Chief Executive:
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"The approval of the second wave of specifications marks a key milestone in the development of our new suite of Made-for-Wales qualifications. Each qualification has been purposefully designed to equip learners for the demands of a modern world and is fully aligned with the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales. |
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Throughout the development process, we have actively engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including more than 170 educators from over 100 Welsh schools and representatives from over 50 independent organisations. I sincerely appreciate their valuable contributions and ongoing commitment. We are confident that these new qualifications will inspire and motivate learners, offering refreshed and meaningful opportunities that support the development of informed, capable, and well-rounded individuals, ready to meet the challenges of the future." |
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The approved specifications are available to download from the following subject pages:
GCSEs
Non-GCSE qualification
Supporting the ambitions of the Curriculum for Wales
The qualifications have been developed with the Curriculum for Wales in mind. However, this won’t all be visible in the specification as that’s just the first part of the jigsaw. A comprehensive assessment pack for each qualification, including detailed assessment arrangements and sample assessment materials, will be published in December.
In addition, to support the delivery of these new qualifications, we will publish Guidance for Teaching in January; this Guidance will support teachers in preparing for assessment and will highlight opportunities for embedding aspects of the Curriculum for Wales into the delivery of the qualifications.
FREE adaptable resources and Professional Learning
To support the delivery of these qualifications, we will be producing a package of FREE adaptable digital resources. We will begin publishing these materials from the end of the autumn term, further information is available via the following announcement.
Alongside these resources, we are also delivering a tailored schedule of online and face-to-face Professional Learning opportunities. These FREE nationwide courses are available to centres across Wales. Each course will be delivered by trained subject experts who will provide insight into each qualification and offer pragmatic advice and guidance. Further information on these courses, including our Pan Wales Roadshow is available here.
Stay up to date
To keep you up to date with the latest news, opportunities and FAQs regarding the new qualifications, visit our ‘Made-for-Wales’ web area. This area hosts a wealth of material, including an introduction to our Qualification Development Team who are leading the creation of the new qualifications.
