Plans to Deliver National 14-16 Qualifications

As centres across Wales prepare to deliver the first wave of National Qualifications from September 2025, we would like to understand what your initial thoughts are on your qualifications offer.  

The National Qualifications will form the majority of the qualification offer for use on publicly-funded programmes of learning for 14 to 16-year-olds in Wales. They will constitute a comprehensive range of qualifications spanning Entry Level to Level 2 of Welsh Government’s Credit and Qualifications Framework (CQFW).  

Welsh Government has published its 14 to 16 learner guidance to help centres design their curriculum and meet the new learner entitlement, which outlines the curriculum that all learners in Years 10 and 11 will be entitled to. 

The learner entitlement means that centres should organise their curriculum time and resources around four key components: 

• qualifications in literacy and numeracy 

• qualifications to encourage breadth 

• wider learning and experiences across the curriculum 

• reflections on learning and progress and post-16 planning 

The carefully curated set of coherent and inclusive National Qualifications provides learners with all abilities, interests and aptitudes with opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and understanding across a diverse range of subject and sector areas.   

We are asking you to let us know which National Qualifications you are currently considering offering in your centre. Following the publication of Wave 1 GCSE specifications by WJEC and the Welsh Government guidance, and with further information still to follow on Wave 2 and Wave 3 qualifications, we recognise that you won’t yet have firmed up your future offer, and that you may change your choices over time.