Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification

The Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification, also known as WBQ or Welsh Bac, was introduced in October 2006^[1]. Where offered, the WBQ runs alongside and complements qualifications such as A-levels and GCSEs. 31 schools and colleges are running a pilot scheme as of 2005^[update]. The Welsh Assembly Government has announced staged roll-out of the WBQ across Wales from September 2007 and intends that at least one quarter of Welsh students will be studying for the qualification by 2010.

The WBQ is an inclusive diploma available at three levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced

Contents 1 Level 1 Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma 2 Level 2 Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma 3 Level 3 Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma 4 Criticism 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

Level 1 Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma

The WJEC LEVEL 1 Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma Core Certificate at level 1 includes:

• Four key skills at level 1,

This must include one from the "first three" i.e. Communication, AON and ICT

and evidence of having pursued all six key skills

• Work Related Education, Team Enterprise Activities and Community Participation.
• Produce a short Individual Investigation from topics already included in the Science programme.
• NVQ Level 1 and other GCSE. At Key Stage four the Options requirements are Four grades D-G at GCSE or equivalent

Level 2 Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma

The WJEC LEVEL 2 Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma Core Certificate at level 2 includes:

• Four key skills, two at level 2, and two at level 1

Again, this must include the first three

There must be evidence of having pursued all six key skills.

• Team Enterprise, Citizenship and Community Participation.
• Individual Investigation at level 2.
• Other minimum requirements: English, Mathematics, Science (single), P.E. + Religious Education, Work-related Education, Careers Education and Guidance, PSE and Sex Education.
• Key Stage 4 options: Learners require at least four GCSE grades A* - C to be accredited with the Diploma.

Level 3 Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma

The WJEC LEVEL 3 Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma Core Certificate at level 3 includes:

• Six Key Skills , three at level 3

One of the level 3 Key Skills must be from the first three key skills, with the other three key skills at level 2.

• Work Related Education, Team Enterprise Activities and Community Participation., Language Module.
• Produce a succinct (1800 word) Individual Investigation or project from the Wales, Europe and the World segment.

The Options to be taken along with the Core can be, for example two GCE Advanced Levels, or a BTEC Level 3 Diploma.

In Wales, 63 % of WBQ students passed the qualification in 2006, compared to fewer than 50 % in 2005 and a 97 % pass rate in A-level subjects.^[2]

Criticism

Research on the Welsh Baccalaureate has been conducted by the University of Bath as well as the University of Nottingham.^[3] This research clearly shows the positive impact of the Welsh Bac in broadening the learner experience. Due to the results of this research, the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (WBQ) is currently being rolled-out in Wales. However, the following concerns have been raised.

Compared to the International Baccalaureate, the breadth of the WBQ is questionable: It is possible to achieve the WBQ with no science content, for example; whereas the IB Diploma requires study of science, maths, a first language, a second language, and 'people and societies'. The IB Diploma can be prescriptive because it is based on a unique curriculum which allows six subjects to be studied simultaneously. The A-levels and National Diplomas of the WBQ are broader and require more time per subject; which limits the number of subjects.

In 2002, Colin Jenkins and John David, who developed the original WBQ proposal for the Insitute for Welsh Affairs (IWA), criticised the WBQ because it did not follow the IWA's model, based on the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. They said they were disappointed and considered the WBQ to be "missing a huge opportunity"^[4] They considered the WBQ to be a "feeble quick fix", "not a baccalaureate", and as "curriculum 2000 with a bit of icing". They added that the language requirement was "a waste of time."^[5]

Jane Davidson, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning & Skills from 2000-2007, responded to the pair's criticism by stating that the WBQ is "a significant innovation which will broaden students' programmes and bring coherence to them. The programme will be distinctive, modern and proudly Welsh." She explained that "The contract to design and deliver the Welsh baccalaureate was awarded following a tender process... In the event we received no tenders based on the IWA model."^[6] Jeff Jones (Welsh politician), chair of the WJEC when it bid for and developed the WBQ, stated in 2011 that he thought at the time that the WBQ "looked like nonsense" but that the WJEC "needed the money and in any case we had to bid because we were the Welsh exam board". Jones added that the WBQ was “really an A level with a load of nonsense added on” and added: “It isn’t a proper Bac where students at 18 would still be required to study maths, English, a science and a language, not meaningless Mickey Mouse additions. What the heck is the use of ‘Wales and the World’ for a start? No wonder Russell Group universities who can get students from England with four A stars are not that interested. If I were a student I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole"^[7]

Although the WBQ does provide 120 additional UCAS points, a range of universities, including the most selective ones or the most selective courses, permit little or no use of the IB as a substitution for entry tariffs at A-level. For example:

• Cardiff University has told some students that it would only consider the WBQ as equivalent to a B grade at A-level, not an A grade.^[8]

• The University of Glamorgan, for 2012 entry, report entry tariffs for nursing as 3Bs at A-level or 2Bs plus the WB, therefore conveying an advantage for only those WB students who fail to get a third A-level at grade B. It is not known how many applicants are likely to fall into this category.

• The July 2011 website for Warwick University Mathematics (MORSE) course, for 2012 entry, report the required grades in three A-levels as as A* A A. The website states that 'For courses which normally require three A levels and an AS level, applicants offering the Welsh Baccalaureate will typically be required to pass the core plus achieve the A level grades listed in the ‘Typical Offers’ section of each course. Where typical offers are based on three A levels only, offers will be made on this basis and the Welsh Baccalaureate core will not be required, and it can not be substituted for one of the A levels'. In other words, whatever the educational broadening advantage of the WB, it does not confer any advantages for entry.

• According to its July 2011 website, Cambridge University parallels the position of Warwick University. The current (July 2011) website states that 'Applicants taking the Advanced Diploma in the Welsh Baccalaureate are expected to have studied three subjects at A Level as part of their qualification. Offers are conditional on achievement in the A Levels within the qualification rather than the overall Baccalaureate award'.

• Bristol University's LLB (Law) degree website, for 2012 entry, records that the usual AAA offer becomes 'Pass Advanced Diploma with at least AA at A-level' for WBQ candidates. It is not clear whether this means in practice AAA for some or all WBQ candidates.

• Aberystwyth University, in its July 2011 website, reports that 'Aberystwyth welcomes the new Welsh Baccalaureate as a valuable qualification in its own right and fully supports the inclusion of the WBQ Core in the UCAS tariff (120 points). In recognition of the additional breadth and range of skills offered by the whole qualification, we may be prepared to give a slightly reduced offer to Welsh Baccalaureate candidates, provided any course requirements are met'. The meaning of 'slightly reduced' is not specified.

• The July 2011 website for Imperial College for BSc Medical Sciences, contains reference to a separate PDF file which includes alternative qualifications but which does not list the WBQ.

See also

• Education in Wales

References

External links

• WBQ Official site
• Welsh Baccalaureate in detail
• EducationGuardian.co.uk - "The baccalaureate explained"
• Centre for the study of Education in an International Context (CEIC). Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification: Internal Evaluation
• University of Nottingham, CDELL. External evaluation of the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Pilot. 2006

The UCAS tariff report at www.ucas.com/documents/tariff/tariff_reports/wbqreport.pdf

The Bath University report (by Thompson and Hayden) on the introduction of the WB at opus.bath.ac.uk/10379/