LEARNING 
The Welsh Baccalaureate qualification (known as the WBQ) does not take the place of traditional courses your child will follow in school. It adds to it and recognizes the experiences they have both in school and outside school. It is an ‘added extra’ equivalent to 3.3 GCSE’s at either A-C (level 2) or D-G (level 1). If your child does not achieve 4 GCSEs or the equivalent in BTEC or NVQ then they cannot achieve the WBQ. Traditional GCSEs or equivalents lie at the heart of the qualification.
What is new is that the WBQ takes account of the Key Skills. These include:
•Communication
•Application of Number
•ICT
•Working with Others
•Problem solving
•Improving own learning and performance.
It also recognizes that research skills as in the Individual Investigation, community activity, Enterprise and work related education are valued by Industry, Business and Higher education.
The taught part of the WBQ, known as ‘Wales, Europe and the World’ enriches your child’s experience. Every child is exposed to challenging experiences, previously only taught to the sixth form. The most able and talented children are able to achieve their full potential by this programme of study. ‘Wales Europe and the world’ covers such topics as:
•Issues of Politics
•Politics in Wales
•Sustainable development on a world scale
•Recycling on a Welsh scale
•First Aid
•Enterprise
•Community activity
•Philosophy
•Cultural diversity in Wales
•Welsh culture.
Your child will still have to study subjects set down in national law, Welsh language, P.E, R.S, English, Maths and Science plus aspects of Personal and Social education.
Specific Welsh Baccalaureate weeks will be put aside during the next 2 years to enrich your child’s experience. There will be out of school activities, time to complete Key Skill portfolios and to experience real life scenarios in Enterprise, Community and Personal and social education.
Overall, this is an experience not to be missed, it’s exciting and challenging. We are fortunate to have been invited to take part in this initiative, exclusive to Wales.
If you would like to find out more, visit the WJEC website or attend one of our Saturday morning surgeries in the conference room at Bishop Gore School, sessions begin at 11.00 and 12.00. There will be a presentation by Mrs D. Hockenhull with time for questions.
