Morning, Thursday, 27th March 2025
Online
This conference will examine the future of vocational and skills qualifications in Wales, focusing on priorities as schools prepare for the introduction of new National 14-16 Qualifications from 2027.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the design, implementation and regulation of the Vocational Certificate of Secondary Education (VCSEs), Foundation Qualifications and the Skills Suite.
Introduced with the aim of aligning education with the evolving needs of learners, communities and the workforce, delegates will look at what will be needed for the qualifications framework to effectively complement existing GCSEs, alongside reflecting the broader goals of the Curriculum for Wales.
The agenda includes sessions on addressing challenges raised during stakeholder consultations, including resource allocation, teacher training and funding priorities. Areas for discussion include ensuring high quality provision and the balance between academic and vocational learning with students taking the new qualifications alongside reformed GCSEs, as well as addressing concerns around non-examination assessments and maintaining rigorous standards.
Sessions will also explore options for improving awareness of new qualifications amongst students, parents and employers, as well as frameworks for evaluating their impact on student outcomes and career readiness.
Delegates will discuss enhancing the vocational learning experience to improve onward progression to further education, training or employment. Strategies for developing strong partnerships between schools, colleges and employers will be considered, including collaborative approaches to delivering meaningful vocational career paths, and aligning qualifications with workforce demands and Wales’ skills needs.
Inclusivity and best practice in supporting students with additional learning needs will also be discussed. Delegates will consider practical issues and possible solutions for achieving equitable access to resources and support across regions and sectors, minimising disparities in implementation and fostering consistency.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- implementation:
- practical steps for introducing VCSEs, Foundation Qualifications and the Skills Suite - clarifying awarding body roles
- assessing what will be need to achieve the 2027 transition timeframe - priorities for alignment with the new GCSE framework
- resources:
- financial support for vocational delivery - sustainable options for funding streams
- models for collaboration on resources and potential equipment-sharing - achieving equitable distribution across regions
- teacher training:
- preparing school staff - professional development pathways - addressing workload concerns - assessing ongoing support needed from awarding bodies
- balancing academic and vocational learning:
- maintaining rigorous standards across both pathways - supporting implementation of continuous assessment - coordination with GCSE provision - reflecting learner diversity and aspirations
- collaboration:
- partnership structures with colleges and employers - opportunities for sharing expertise and facilities - putting off-site learning arrangements in place
- aligning curriculum content with workforce needs - examining best practice in forging local and regional industry links
- inclusion and equity:
- minimising disparities for disadvantaged learners - tailoring support for additional learning needs - ensuring consistent provision of resources - safeguarding fair access in remote or rural areas
- assessment approaches:
- developing fair evaluation strategies for practical components - reflecting real-world skills alongside core knowledge
- the mix and roles of internal and external assessments - ensuring pathways and qualifications support onward progression
- monitoring and evaluation:
- establishing clear impact measures and feedback mechanisms - tracking student outcomes and career readiness
- options for embedding agility in frameworks so that emerging challenges can be addressed and successes can be built on - informing future qualification revisions
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
