Welsh Baccalaureate - KS4

Welsh Baccalaureate

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Number of lessons each week

Year 10 Year 11

2 x 50 minutes

2 x 50 minutes

Course outline

Year 10 Year 11

Autumn Term 
PSE:
• Positive Relationships
• Health and emotional well-being

Spring Term 
 PSE:
• Active citizenship and
Team Enterprise Activity - 15 hours at the Foundation and Intermediate levels, which helps them understand how businesses work and develop entrepreneurial skills.

Summer Term 
PSE:
• Sustainable development and global citizenship
• Students are required to work with an employer for at least 30 hours. This will give them valuable experience of the world of work and they will complete a self-evaluation form to reflect on the experience and what they learnt.

Students are also required to engage in an activity in the local community, this is the fifth element in PSE. Candidates are expected to spend 15 hours on this activity at the Foundation and Intermediate levels.

Autumn Term 
Wales, Europe and the World
• Politics
• Social issues
• Economic and technological issues
• Cultural issues

Spring Term 
Individual Investigation
The Individual Investigation provides an opportunity for students to investigate a topic or an issue they are studying or have studied in any of their Welsh Baccalaureate Core or Options programmes. The Individual Investigation can arise from any part of the Core, may be related to the Options, and must involve consideration of a local/Wales perspective and at least one other perspective (e.g. the UK, Europe, the world), or, alternatively consideration of an issue in a more thematic way drawing examples from a variety of perspectives. The learner takes a high level of personal responsibility for the investigation which may be presented in written or oral form.

The Individual Investigation is designed to encourage experiential learning and provide opportunities for candidates to acquire and practise a range of Key Skills. Through their completion of the Investigation learners are encouraged to develop skills including autonomous learning, enquiry, creative thinking, information processing, reflection, and presentation.

Students are also required to engage in an activity in the local community, this is the fifth element in PSE. Candidates are expected to spend 15 hours on this activity at the Foundation and Intermediate levels.

Student grouping

Year 10 Year 11
Mixed Ability Grouping Foundation WBQ and Intermediate WBQ sets

Assessment pattern

Year 10 Year 11
In year 10, the following Key Skills are assessed:
• Application of Number
• Communication
• Information and Communication Technology
In year 11, the following Key Skills are assessed:
• IoLP
• WWO
In addition, the Foundation or Intermediate Diary and Individual Investigation will be submitted for assessment.

Marking and grading of work

Year 10 Year 11

Assessment of the Core
Students are required to keep a diary/record of their activities and experiences e.g. relating to Wales, Europe and the World and Personal and Social Education, plus the activities in Work-related Education and Personal and Social Education.

In addition, a verification and evaluation statement is required for the Community Participation and the Working with an Employer.
Key Skills

To gain the key skills of Communication, Application of Number, ICT, Improving Own Learning and Performance, Working with Others and Problem Solving, the students will have to provide portfolios of evidence.

Individual Investigation
There are assessment criteria at levels 1and 2 for the Individual Investigation which is pass/fail.

Language Module
Students are required to complete an approved method of self-assessment, (the European Language Portfolio may also be used), recording the progress of their language skills in any language
The WJEC Level 1 Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma will be awarded to candidates who attain the Foundation Core Certificate, and a minimum of four grades D-G at GCSE.

The WJEC Level 2 Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma will be awarded to candidates who attain the Intermediate Core Certificate, and a minimum of four grades A* - C at GCSE.

Assessment of the Core
Students are required to keep a diary/record of their activities and experiences e.g. relating to Wales, Europe and the World and Personal and Social Education, plus the activities in Work-related Education and Personal and Social Education.

In addition, a verification and evaluation statement is required for the Community Participation and the Working with an Employer.
Key Skills

To gain the key skills of Communication, Application of Number, ICT, Improving Own Learning and Performance, Working with Others and Problem Solving, the students will have to provide portfolios of evidence.

Individual Investigation
There are assessment criteria at levels 1and 2 for the Individual Investigation which is pass/fail.

Language Module
Students are required to complete an approved method of self-assessment, (the European Language Portfolio may also be used), recording the progress of their language skills in any language
The WJEC Level 1 Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma will be awarded to candidates who attain the Foundation Core Certificate, and a minimum of four grades D-G at GCSE.

The WJEC Level 2 Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma will be awarded to candidates who attain the Intermediate Core Certificate, and a minimum of four grades A* - C at GCSE.

Educational Visits

Year 10 Year 11
Where possible, students are offered educational visits e.g. Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Big Pit, Cardiff – Bay, Welsh Assembly and museums, etc. Where possible, students are offered educational visits e.g. Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Big Pit, Cardiff – Bay, Welsh Assembly and museums, etc.

Coursework requirements

Year 10 Year 11

Requirements for the Foundation Diploma
To gain a Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma students must achieve the core certificate and optional qualifications:-
Core Certificate at level 1
• Four key skills at level 1, which must include one from Communication, Application of Number and ICT, and evidence of having pursued all six key skills.
• Diary records and verification statements where relevant, for Personal and Social Education, Wales, Europe and the world (including the language module) and Work related education
• Individual Investigation at level 1.

Options
NVQ Level 1, BTEC Introductory Diploma or equivalent, or a minimum of four grades D-G at GCSE, or equivalent.
Requirements for the Intermediate Diploma
To gain a Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma students must achieve the core certificate and optional qualifications:-
Core Certificate at level 2
• Four key skills, two at level 2 and two at level 1. These must include Communication, Application of Number and ICT and evidence of having pursued all six.
• Diary records and where relevant verification statements, for Personal and Social Education, Wales, Europe and the world (including the language module) and Work related education
• Individual Investigation at level 2.

Options
NVQ level 2 or BTEC First at pass level or four A*-C at GCSE or equivalent (e.g. two 'Double Award' GCSE or three GCSE plus two short course GCSE).

Requirements for the Foundation Diploma
To gain a Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma students must achieve the core certificate and optional qualifications:-
Core Certificate at level 1
• Four key skills at level 1, which must include one from Communication, Application of Number and ICT, and evidence of having pursued all six key skills.
• Diary records and verification statements where relevant, for Personal and Social Education, Wales, Europe and the world (including the language module) and Work related education
• Individual Investigation at level 1.

Options
NVQ Level 1, BTEC Introductory Diploma or equivalent, or a minimum of four grades D-G at GCSE, or equivalent.
Requirements for the Intermediate Diploma
To gain a Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma students must achieve the core certificate and optional qualifications:-
Core Certificate at level 2
• Four key skills, two at level 2 and two at level 1. These must include Communication, Application of Number and ICT and evidence of having pursued all six.
• Diary records and where relevant verification statements, for Personal and Social Education, Wales, Europe and the world (including the language module) and Work related education
• Individual Investigation at level 2.

Options
NVQ level 2 or BTEC First at pass level or four A*-C at GCSE or equivalent (e.g. two 'Double Award' GCSE or three GCSE plus two short course GCSE).

Tutoring and Mentoring

Year 10 Year 11

Every Welsh Baccalaureate student has a personal tutor and is entitled to a one-to-one personal tutorial every half-term. The student also has group tutorials.

The personal tutor will help the student through their studies, helping them set targets and follow individual action plans. They work together to track the student's progress, identifying and overcoming areas of difficulty, such as with study skills and completing UCAS application forms.

Working in this way helps the student develop the key skill of Improving Own Learning and Performance.

Every Welsh Baccalaureate student has a personal tutor and is entitled to a one-to-one personal tutorial every half-term. The student also has group tutorials.

The personal tutor will help the student through their studies, helping them set targets and follow individual action plans. They work together to track the student's progress, identifying and overcoming areas of difficulty, such as with study skills and completing UCAS application forms.

Working in this way helps the student develop the key skill of Improving Own Learning and Performance.

How can you help your child?

Year 10 Year 11
Ensure that deadlines are met
Attend parents’ evening
Support them in finding an appropriate activity for their Community Participation e.g.:
• helping in a nursing/residential home;
• helping in a day care centre;
• helping with nursery/early years children;
helping with sports training.

Ensure that deadlines are met
Attend parents’ evening
Support them in finding an appropriate activity for their Community Participation e.g.:
helping in a nursing/residential home;
helping in a day care centre;
helping with nursery/early years children;
helping with sports training.

 

 


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