CASE STUDY
The new Welsh Baccalaureate
Enterprise and Employability Challenge
Ysgol Llangynwyd
The new Welsh Baccalaureate is an integral part of the Welsh Government’s drive to improve qualifications following a
comprehensive review of qualifications for 14-19 yr olds. It has been re-designed to make it even more rigorous and enable
young people to develop key skills for further or higher education, for employment and for life. Here are the views of Ysgol
Llangynwyd on how they are delivering this new qualification.
Ysgol Llangynwyd in Bridgend county is one of the first
schools to trial the new look Welsh Baccalaureate’s innovative
challenges, which are a part of the revised qualification due to
be launched in September 2015.
According to Catrin Evans, who has overall responsibility for
the Baccalaureate at Ysgol Llangynwyd, there is now a clearer
focus to the qualification,
“We offer the Baccalaureate in key stage 4 and
from our experiences the proposed changes
are very much welcomed. The simple fact that
it is now graded has given it a greater status,
among students and parents, and as a result the
commitment is so much greater”
This unique challenge has certainly caught the students’
imagination, as year 10 student Aeron Davies explains,
“What’s good about this challenge is that it’s very real.
We have been able to work with external companies
and had an idea of what’s needed to succeed in the
world of business. As part of the process I have
also had to learn new skills such as presentation,
and improved some basic skills to help with budget
planning.
I’ve enjoyed having the chance to work as a small
group with my fellow students developing a new
product and it’s quite exciting to think our idea could
become a reality. We’re looking forward now to the
result and who knows, I may have my own stall at the
eisteddfod in two years’ time!”
- Aeron Davies, Ysgol Llangynwyd
In the new Baccalaureate students are expected to complete
3 challenges and an Individual Project. Ysgol Llangynwyd has
been trialling the Enterprise and Employability Challenge, as
Catrin explains,
“As the Urdd Eisteddfod is due to visit Bridgend in
a few years’ time we decided to set a challenge of
developing a product to be sold on the Eisteddfod
field. Pupils used the opportunity to research the
Urdd’s history and values, and organised for a local
design and print company to come in to advise the
students and give them an idea of what could work
from a business perspective.
The individual groups from each class will have
to present to their peers and the five best groups
will have the chance to present their ideas to
an external panel, comprising a representative
from the company, Careers Wales and the WJEC.
The winning group will then see their ideas
become a reality – a really thrilling prospect”
In addition to the Enterprise and Employability Challenge,
every student will be expected to complete the Global
Citizenship Challenge and Community Challenge as well
as an Individual Project. The new qualification will be
implemented in September 2015. At the same time, it
is planned that a new body, Qualifications Wales, will be
formally established to regulate qualifications in Wales.
For further information visit qualifiedforlife.org.uk