Morning, Thursday, 11th September 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 vocational National 14-16 Qualifications from 2027, which include the Vocational Certificate of Secondary Education, Foundation Qualifications and the Skills Suite.
Implementation and regulation of the new qualifications mix
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the design, implementation and regulation of the new qualifications.
Introduced with the aim of aligning education with the evolving needs of learners, communities and the workforce, the agenda will examine what will be needed for the qualifications framework to effectively complement GCSEs - with first teaching of new GCSEs from September 2025 - and reflect broader goals of the Curriculum for Wales.
Stakeholder concerns and balancing academic and vocational learning
The agenda includes sessions on addressing challenges raised in consultations, including resource allocation, teacher training and funding. Areas for discussion include ensuring high-quality provision and a good balance between academic and vocational learning for students taking new qualifications alongside reformed GCSEs.
Delegates will examine concerns around maintaining rigorous standards in non-examination assessments. We expect discussion to bring out latest thinking on how vocational pathways can achieve parity of esteem with academic routes, alongside strategies to ensure timetabling, staffing and curriculum planning can be managed to effectively deliver both academic and vocational pathways.
Boosting understanding of the qualifications options
Further sessions will explore options for improving awareness of new qualifications amongst students, parents and employers, including recognition of qualifications in FE and HE institutions, as well as frameworks for evaluating their impact on student outcomes and career readiness.
Progression pathways, partnerships and meeting industry needs
Delegates will examine ways for enhancing the vocational learning experience to improve onward progression to FE, 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, including the development of green skills in line with Wales’ net zero strategy.
Discussion will consider recommendations outlined in the Education Policy Institute’s Long-run changes in school leaving rules and outcomes across the UK report, calling for urgent action in Wales to understand and improve post-16 educational outcomes and increase access to high-quality level 3 qualifications in order to improve learner progression.
Supporting learners with additional needs and regional consistency
We also expect a focus on inclusivity, including best practice in ensuring equitable access to resources for students with ALN, with updated Fair Access by Design guidance recently published by Qualifications Wales. Delegates will consider how best to foster consistency and minimise disparities across regions and sectors in implementation and provision.
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 needed 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 and sustaining 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 into frameworks so that emerging challenges can be addressed and successes can be built upon - 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. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DfE, NI; DoE, NI; and the Welsh Government.
