THE NEW GCSEs
THE BIGGEST CHANGES...
■ No longer possible to sit separate GCSEs in physics, chemistry and biology.
■ English language and literature merged into one qualification.
■ Welsh language and literature merged into one qualification.
■ One maths and numeracy GCSE combining the separate qualifications.
■ In English, Welsh, maths and the sciences, pupils will have the option of taking a double GCSE or a less demanding single-grade GCSE.
■ New GCSEs in digital media and film, engineering.
■ More digital and on-screen assessments.
TEACHING FROM SEPTEMBER 2025, NEW GCSES IN...
■ Art and Design
■ Drama
■ Music
■ Food and Nutrition
■ Business
■ Geography
■ History
■ Religious Studies
■ Cymraeg Language and Literature (Single Award)
■ Cymraeg Language and Literature (Double Award)
■ Core Cymraeg
■ English Language and Literature (Single Award)
■ English Language and Literature (Double Award)
■ French
■ German
■ Spanish
■ Mathematics and Numeracy (Double Award)
■ Computer Science
■ The Sciences (Double Award)
■ The Sciences (Single Award)
■ Plus, a new Level 2 qualification in Additional Core Cymraeg.
FIRST TEACHING FROM SEPTEMBER 2026, NEW GCSES IN...
■ Dance
■ Digital Media and Film
■ Health and Social Care, and Childcare
■ Physical Education and Health
■ Social Studies
■ British Sign Language
■ Design and Technology
■ Engineering
■ Plus, a new Level 2 qualification in Additional Mathematics.
AND UPDATED GCSES IN...
■ Built Environment
■ Digital Technology
■ Computer Science
■ The Sciences (Double Award)
■ The Sciences (Single Award)
■ Plus, a new Level 2 qualification in Additional Core Cymraeg.
FROM SEPTEMBER 2027...
In addition to the qualifications listed for 2025 and 2026, schools will be able to choose from an “inclusive and bilingual range of new and updated qualifications designed to support the curriculum”.
The Level 1 Number, Measure and Data qualification will be introduced as part of the full 14-16 qualification offer that will come into effect in 2027.