The Welsh Baccalaureate (also known as the Welsh Bac), for 14-19 year olds, mixes personal development skills with qualifications like A Levels, NVQs and GCSEs.

You can study the Welsh Bac in English, Welsh, or a combination of the two languages at three different levels - Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced.

Mixing Personal Development and Qualifications

A new qualification at three different levels.

 

A Flexible Qualification

The qualification gives you lots of flexibility in the way you learn. By learning in this way, you will become better prepared for further and higher education, as well as employment.

What you’ll be covering on the course

To successfully pass the Welsh Bac qualification, you must complete a ‘Core Programme’ of personal development studies along with ‘Options’.

The ‘Core Programme’ helps you develop your key skills, improves your existing skills and builds on your interests. You take part in practical activities, because the emphasis is on learning by doing.

The ‘Options’ you can choose to study include GCSEs or AS/A-Levels, Principal Learning and Project and another qualification such as a BTEC or NVQ.

Principal Learning in the Welsh Bac - Environmental and Land-based Studies

The Principal Learning Qualification, which is part of the Welsh Bac, allows you to learn through a mix of classroom study and hands-on practical work. The Principal Learning Qualification has three levels: foundation, higher and advanced. You will cover lots of environmental and land-based subjects, developing scientific, communication and business skills and take part in fieldwork to study different habitats.

Topics you will study include:

• Productive and working environments
• Plants and animals
• Developing the sustainable environment
• Research methodology and environmental analysis
• Business management and careers

Who designed the Principal Learning Qualification?

The Principal Learning Qualification was designed by employers from lots of industries:

• We led the development as the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the environmental and land-based industries. Find out more about us
• Energy and Utility Skills is the SSC for the electricity, gas and waste management and water industries. They cover waste management and have an interest in renewable energy sources, sustainability and recycling
• Improve Ltd is the SSC for food and drink manufacturing and covers secondary food processing and manufacturing
• SkillsActive is the SSC for the active and leisure learning sector and covers the sport and recreation industries
• Construction Skills is the SSC for construction and covers hard landscaping, fencing and operation of plant and machinery, together with a shared interest in land conservation and sustainability

Useful links and downloads

Welsh Baccalaureate newsletter March 2011  /  Bagloriaeth Cymru Cylchlythyr - Mawrth 2011

Welsh Baccalaureate leaflet – information for students and parents/carers

Welsh Baccalaureate leaflet – information for students and parents/carers in Welsh

Welsh Baccalaureate leaflet – information for employers

Welsh Baccalaureate leaflet – information for employers in Welsh

Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification - official website

WJEC - is one of the UK's leading exam boards and providers of educational services, operating in England and Wales

NGfL - The National Grid for Learning Cymru (NGfL Cymru) website has nearly 3,000 high quality downloadable educational resources which support all Key Stages of the Curriculum. Many of the resources are interactive, and all have been produced by practising teachers.

Careers Wales - Free, bilingual, impartial careers information, advice and guidance for all ages – linking education and business.