The Welsh Baccalaureate (Bacc) has been redesigned for first teaching from September 2015. The Bacc is a composite qualification that includes a Skills Challenge Certificate; this assesses the skills that young people need for college, university, employment and life. Alongside the Skills Challenge Certificate, learners take a selection of GCSE and vocational qualifications appropriate to their needs in order to be awarded the Bacc.

Grading the Skills Challenge Certificate

The Skills Challenge Certificate is awarded at two levels in KS4 and is equivalent to one GCSE:

• Foundation Skills Challeng Certificate (level 1) – equivalent to grades D to G at GCSE, P1

• Skills Challenge Certificate (level 2) – equivalent to grades A* to C at GCSE

The Skills Challenge Certificate assesses essential skills such as literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving, planning and organisation, creativity and innovation and personal effectiveness. Literacy and numeracy are assessed through appropriate GCSEs at Foundation and National levels. All other skills are assessed through the Skills Challenge Certificate. The new Welsh Baccalaureate comprises a core, or ‘Skills Challenge Certificate’, alongside Supporting Qualifications. The requirements of both the Skills Challenge Certificate and Supporting Qualifications must be met to achieve the overarching qualification.

 

Learners need to complete four assessments as part of the Skills Challenge Certificate:

 

An Individual Project (50%): This is an independent, research-based assignment on a subject of the learner’s choice. Learners demonstrate the knowledge and skills to produce a written investigation or an artefact/product supported by written research (1,000 to 2,000 words).

 

Enterprise and Employability Challenge (20%): This challenge requires learners to demonstrate entrepreneurship to demonstrate the skills often required by employers, which in turn improves employability. Learners will take challenges that are designed locally or nationally. These Challenges have been designed by the centre.

 

Global Citizenship Challenge (15%): This challenge requires learners to demonstrate an understanding of, and appropriate response to, a global issue. Learners will take challenges that are designed locally or nationally.

 

Community Challenge (15%): This challenge requires learners to identify, develop and participate in opportunities that will benefit the community. Learners will take challenges that are designed locally or nationally.

 

Welsh Baccalaureate

Supporting Qualifications

In order to acquire the Foundation or National level Bacc qualifications, learners must achieve:

• GCSE English Language or GCSE Welsh Language (grades A*-G for Foundation, grades A*-C for National);

• GCSE Mathematics (grades A*-G for Foundation, grades A*-C for National);

• A minimum of three further GCSEs (grades A*-G, grades A*-C for National). At Key Stage 4, up to two of these may be equivalent qualifications.

 

Grading the National / Foundation Welsh Baccalaureate

The grading of the National / Foundation Welsh Baccalaureate (Skills Challenge Certificate) is National Pass (P2) and Foundation Pass (P1).

Further information about the Welsh Bacc can be found on the WJEC website.

Subject Leader: Mrs Siân James

Examination Board: WJEC

Examinations: 0%

Coursework: 100%

Entry Requirements:

All pupils will undertake the course.

What is The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate?

The Welsh Baccalaureate is a composite qualification that includes a Skills Challenge Certificate; this assesses the skills that young people need for college, university, employment and life. Alongside the Skills Challenge Certificate, learners take a selection of AS, A level and vocational qualifications appropriate to their needs in order to be awarded the Bacc.

The Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate is awarded at level 3 in the sixth form.

The Skills Challenge Certificate assesses essential skills such as literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, critical thinking and problemsolving, planning and organisation, creativity and innovation and personal effectiveness.

Literacy and numeracy are assessed through appropriate GCSEs with credit in these areas being carried forward to Advanced level. All other skills are assessed through the Skills Challenge Certificate.

The Welsh Baccalaureate comprises a core, or ‘Skills Challenge Certificate’, alongside Supporting Qualifications. The requirements of both the Skills Challenge Certificate and Supporting Qualifications must be met to achieve the overarching qualification.

What will I learn whilst studying the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate?

The Skills Challenge Certificate develops essential skills such as literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, critical thinking and problemsolving, planning and organisation, creativity and innovation and personal effectiveness. You also become a more independent learner which prepares you well for university and further education.

Course Content:

Learners need to complete four assessments as part of the Skills Challenge Certificate:

An Individual Project (50%)

Enterprise and Employability Challenge (20%)

Global Citizenship Challenge (15%)

Community Challenge (15%)

Supporting Qualifications

In order to acquire the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate, learners must achieve:

GCSE English Language or GCSE Welsh Language (grades A*- C);

GCSE Mathematics (grades A*-C); Two A levels, or equivalent.

This requirement must be met through the achievement of no more than three separate qualifications. Grading the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and UCAS Points.

The Individual Project and each challenge is graded Pass, Merit and Distinction. The combination of these grades decides the final grade for the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate. The Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate is graded in the same way as every other Advanced level, namely A* to E, and also achieves the same number of UCAS points. Last year, 85% of our students had an university offer which included The Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

Link to the website of the course:

 https://www.cbac.co.uk/qualifications/welsh-baccalaureate/welsh-bacc-from-2015/Advanced/