WJEC’s Skills for Life and Skills for Work qualifications approved, strengthening Wales’ new National 14–16 Qualification offer

We are thrilled to announce that our Skills for Life and Skills for Work qualifications have been approved by Qualifications Wales as part of Wales’ new National 14–16 Qualifications offer.

This milestone solidifies our position as the leading awarding body delivering high-quality qualifications, designed to meet the needs of learners, educators, and employers across the country.  

By working closely with teachers, centres and sector partners, we’ve ensured that our Skills Suite reflects real-world contexts and supports learners in making genuine progress at a pace that suits them. This approval marks an exciting milestone, not just for WJEC, but for every young person in Wales who deserves accessible, relevant and empowering learning opportunities.” 

Empowering learners through a flexible, inclusive skills suite 

The newly approved qualifications form part of our Skills Suite, available from Entry Level 1 through to Level 2, ensuring that every learner - regardless of starting point - can progress confidently through a programme that recognises achievement at each stage.  

Designed around a flexible, unitised structure, the Skills Suite supports steady development and reduces the pressure associated with high-stakes assessment. Each unit is delivered in a bite sized, standalone format, enabling learners to build a pathway that reflects their interests, strengths and progression goals.  

By rooting learning in real-world contexts and aligning opportunities with the Six Areas of Learning and Experience within the Curriculum for Wales, the Skills Suite provides meaningful, hands-on education that strengthens confidence, independence, and future readiness. 

A broad, relevant and engaging range of unit options

To demonstrate the breadth and relevance of these qualifications, the Skills Suite includes an extensive variety of Skills for Life units, such as:

Both Skills for Life and Skills for Work also offer international languages units, enabling learners to develop communication skills relevant to global contexts.  

These units ensure that learners can explore diverse interests and build the knowledge and capabilities that will support them throughout school, further education, employment, and adult life. 

Part of Wales’ reformed National 14–16 Qualifications offer 

From September 2027, the Skills Suite - including Skills for Life, Skills for Work, and the Personal Project - will be available to all 14–16yearolds in Wales as a core component of the new National 14-16 Qualifications offer.  

Learners will be able to take Skills Suite units alongside GCSEs, VCSEs and Foundation Qualifications, enabling schools and colleges to tailor programmes that best support individual pathways and align with the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales.  

A trusted qualification partner for Wales 

We brings more than 75 years’ of experience developing high-quality, bilingual qualifications for learners across the nation. As the only awarding body offering qualifications across every suite of the new National 14–16 Qualifications offer, we continue to play a leading role in shaping an inclusive, modern and ambitious qualification landscape for Wales.  

Stay up to date  

Please note that draft specifications will be published shortly. However, due to regulatory requirements, the final approved versions cannot be published until 1 September. To receive the latest updates, please subscribe to our mailing list. 

In addition, our Regional Support Representative, Sophie Dobbs, is also available to provide face-to-face and online support. To discuss our qualifications or book a meeting, please email wave3@wjec.co.uk    

Further information 

To find out more about our new suite of Made-for-Wales Wave 3 qualifications visit our bespoke web area.  

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