Experts recommend re-design for the ‘confusing’ Welsh Bacc
AMAJOR review of the Welsh Baccalaureate finds it gives students skills for the future, but can be confusing, repetitive and hard to explain.
The report published today says the Wales-only qualification is valuable but recommends a re-design and warns some learners taking it, as well as senior school and college management, do not fully understand its key component, the Skills Challenge Certificate (SCC).
The SCC is taken alongside GCSEs, A-levels and vocational qualifications at ages 14 to 19 to get one of the four versions of the Welsh Bacc.
More than 40,000 14 to 19 year-olds have been entered for the National Foundation and Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate this summer.
Asked about the SCC, one student taking it told the review: “Is that where if we fail two subjects we don’t get the Welsh Bacc?” Another commented: “If you tell us something about it, we might recognise it.”
The qualification was looked at in a year-long study by the University College London Institute of Education and research firm Wavehill Ltd commissioned by qualification regulator, Qualifications Wales.
Speaking to teachers, lecturers, students and Welsh Bacc coordinators in more than 20 schools and FE colleges, they also looked at how the SCC part of the qualification is designed and assessed as well as the overall qualification.
Those teaching and learning the Welsh Bacc called on the Welsh Government for greater clarity about what its expectations are and what its policy on universal adoption of the qualification is.
Although the Welsh Government says it expects all schools and colleges to deliver the Welsh Bacc, it is not a statutory requirement and some do not.
The 98-page review explains the SCC element is designed to help learners develop seven essential life and employability skills and teachers said they believe it does that. Like the whole Welsh Bacc qualification it is part of, the SCC comes in four different forms taken by
a variety of learners who must get a variety of GCSEs alongside it to pass.
The comments made to researchers reflected mixed views.
One student taking the Advanced Welsh Bacc post-16 said: “It might be useful if parents had information about the course because my mother viewed it as a waste of time” while one taking the pre-16 version commented: “My relatives said it is good because it teaches you life skills, some other subjects will give you stuff you will never use.”
Another student said: “There is a lot of work and it makes you question whether you need that qualification. It is ridiculous the amount of work they had to put in (for the) Advanced (Welsh Bacc)”.
A teacher commented: “Having been the head of careers at the school, I think it is sometimes really hard to address employability skills in your regular lessons. This is done well in the Welsh Bacc”.
Overall the study found “there is a clear purpose and vision” for the Welsh Bacc, the SCC and its components - an individual project and three challenges - but the design is complex and there is “repetition in content, learning outcomes, methods of assessment and assessment criteria.”
Some skills are “over assessed” and grading and awarding is confusing.
Making eight recommendations the report’s authors say: “The principles of the Welsh Bacc and SCC are strong and relevant and learners are developing skills that are beneficial to their future. We strongly advise that the SCC is retained and revised to build on these strengths and to reduce its complexity.”
Crucially, the report recommends considering changing the entire structure suggesting: “Qualifications Wales review the Welsh Bacc framework to:
■ A. Consider the viability of the SCC (or revised components of the SCC) as a discrete qualification, independent of the Welsh Bacc and
■ B. Consider whether the WB should continue as a composite award.”
The report also recommends reviewing information available about the Welsh Bacc and better information on the qualifications for students and their families.
A working group will now be set up by Qualifications Wales to consider how to put the recommendations into practice. A panel of teachers, students, employers and universities will be convened and a report will be made before the end of the year.
Responding to the report Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said: “I welcome this report which recognises the many strengths of the Skills Challenge Certificate and Welsh Bacc as a whole. It is particularly pleasing to see the strength of support for the SCC amongst teachers, employers and students – this endorses our view that the qualification is delivering when it comes to teaching skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
“Our challenge now is to build on these strengths, reduce complexity and consolidate the status of these qualifications amongst learners, teachers, universities and employers. This means improving the way we communicate the many benefits of this qualification.
“I expect all young people who are able to take the SCC element of the Welsh Bacc to study this part of the qualification. From this year, the Welsh Bacc will be a published performance measure for Key Stage 4 and we are also developing measures for post-16. I am also looking at what measures can be taken in terms of future funding for post-16 delivery of the Welsh Bacc.”
Philip Blaker, Chief Executive of Qualifications Wales, said: “The findings from this review give us a sound foundation for gradually evolving the qualification so that it continues to go from strength to strength.”
The WJEC said it looks forward to working with Qualifications Wales, Welsh Government and others to address the recommendations.
‘...the qualification is delivering when it comes to teaching skills needed to succeed in the workplace’ EDUCATION SECRETARY KIRSTY WILLIAMS