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Wales-only GCSE exams campaign starts for September launch | Wales-only GCSE exams campaign starts for September launch |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Plans to introduce new Wales-only GCSEs have been welcomed by academics and business leaders in a Welsh government promotional campaign. | Plans to introduce new Wales-only GCSEs have been welcomed by academics and business leaders in a Welsh government promotional campaign. |
The changes, from next September, include new exams in maths, English and Welsh. | The changes, from next September, include new exams in maths, English and Welsh. |
GCSEs, A and AS levels in both English and Welsh literature and the Welsh Baccalaureate have been revised. | GCSEs, A and AS levels in both English and Welsh literature and the Welsh Baccalaureate have been revised. |
But some independent schools said they might sit England's GCSEs over fears the Welsh exams may "lack credibility". | |
The campaign will be launched on Monday at St Richard Gwyn school, Barry, which is taking part in the pilot project. | The campaign will be launched on Monday at St Richard Gwyn school, Barry, which is taking part in the pilot project. |
The Welsh government said the new qualifications will place a greater focus on developing skills, particularly literacy and numeracy, and are designed to better prepare young people for work or further study. | The Welsh government said the new qualifications will place a greater focus on developing skills, particularly literacy and numeracy, and are designed to better prepare young people for work or further study. |
An outline of the changes were announced in July following concerns about improving education standards. | An outline of the changes were announced in July following concerns about improving education standards. |
'Lack portability' | 'Lack portability' |
Next year's reforms have been set out on a website and include endorsements from an Oxford University admissions official and the University of Cambridge's vice chancellor Prof Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, who was born and educated in Wales. | Next year's reforms have been set out on a website and include endorsements from an Oxford University admissions official and the University of Cambridge's vice chancellor Prof Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, who was born and educated in Wales. |
The Welsh government accepted 42 recommendations through an independent Review of Qualifications for 14-19 year olds and said it had worked with people in education. | The Welsh government accepted 42 recommendations through an independent Review of Qualifications for 14-19 year olds and said it had worked with people in education. |
The Federation of Small Businesses' Janet Jones believed the reforms had focused on literacy and numeracy. | The Federation of Small Businesses' Janet Jones believed the reforms had focused on literacy and numeracy. |
However, some fee-paying schools have opted to follow the new GCSE courses for England. | However, some fee-paying schools have opted to follow the new GCSE courses for England. |
Welsh Independent Schools Council (Wisc) said in June it believed the Wales-specific courses starting next year may "lack credibility and portability". | |
But ahead of the school visit on Monday, Education Minister Huw Lewis said: "These improved qualifications will meet the needs of young people and help support the Welsh economy. | But ahead of the school visit on Monday, Education Minister Huw Lewis said: "These improved qualifications will meet the needs of young people and help support the Welsh economy. |
"They will be recognised as a mark of excellence, trusted, valued and respected by employers and universities not only here in Wales and the UK, but internationally." | "They will be recognised as a mark of excellence, trusted, valued and respected by employers and universities not only here in Wales and the UK, but internationally." |
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